Fees and Discounts of Our Practice

Maximum Discounts on Gifts Permitted by Law

In this context, our notarial office applies the maximum discount permitted for gift deeds (donations):

• A 20% discount from €100,000 per donor for all gifts

Examples:

1. For a gift by two parents to their two children of a property worth a total of €320,000 (i.e. €160,000 per donor), the scale provides for proportional notarial remuneration of €5,025.08 (VAT included).

Amount of our net discount in this case: €220.36 (applied to the amount excluding tax)
Our fee after applying the discount: €4,760.64 (VAT included)

2. For a gift by two parents to their two children of a property worth a total of €800,000 (i.e. €400,000 per donor), the scale provides for proportional notarial remuneration of €10,773.56 (VAT included).

Amount of our net discount in this case: €1,101.80 (applied to the amount excluding tax)
Our fee after applying the discount: €9,451.39 (VAT included)

3. For a gift by two parents to their two children of a property worth a total of €2,000,000 (i.e. €1,000,000 per donor), the scale provides for proportional notarial remuneration of €25,144.76 (VAT included).

Amount of our net discount in this case: €3,305.36 (applied to the amount excluding tax)
Our fee after applying the discount: €21,178.31 (VAT included)
In accordance with the legislative and regulatory provisions governing notaries' remuneration (Law No. 2015-990 of 6 August 2015, Decree No. 2016-230 of 26 February 2016 and the Order (arrêté) of 26 February 2016), a notary's ability to grant partial discounts is strictly regulated (see Article A444-174 of the French Commercial Code):

• A partial discount is only possible for services subject to a proportional scale fee ("émolument proportionnel"),
• The discount rate is capped at 20%, applicable to the portion of the fee calculated on assessment brackets of €100,000 or more,
• For certain specific deeds, but only for assessment brackets of €10,000,000 or more, the partial discount on the fee may go up to a maximum of 40%,
• Partial discounts granted on proportional fees must be displayed in the office's waiting room as well as on its website,
• The policy adopted by the notarial office regarding partial fee discounts must be the same for all services of the same nature and is not negotiable.

Notarial Fees: Transparency, Legal Certainty and Wealth Optimisation

A Notarial Approach Based on Clarity and Trust

In any real estate or wealth-related project, controlling costs is a legitimate concern.
Our practice has chosen an approach based on fee transparency, education and forward planning.
Contrary to popular belief, "notary fees" ("frais de notaire") do not constitute the notary's remuneration. They mainly consist of taxes and duties passed on to the State, as well as administrative costs incurred for your file.
The portion corresponding to the notary's remuneration is strictly governed by national regulations.
Our role is to give you a clear, structured and predictable view of these costs.

Understanding Notary Fees Precisely

A notarial cost estimate breaks down into three categories:
1) Taxes and registration duties
These represent the largest share and are set by law.
They are paid in full to the French Treasury (Trésor public).
2) Disbursements (débours)
These are costs advanced on your behalf (land registry, planning/urbanism, administrative documents, formalities).
3) The notary's fees (émoluments)
These constitute the notary's regulated remuneration for the deed carried out.
Their calculation is set by decree.
This structure guarantees perfect fairness among citizens.

Our Discount Policy

Notarial regulations allow, in certain situations and for certain types of deeds, discounts on fees (émoluments).

Frequently Asked Questions About Notary Fees

Can notary fees be reduced?

The tax portion cannot be reduced.
However, certain discounts provided for by regulation may apply to fees (émoluments) in specific cases.

Do all notaries charge the same fees?

Fee scales are set nationally.
The scope for discounts is governed by regulation.

When should you request an estimate?

Ideally as early as the planning stage of your project, so that costs can be factored into your wealth strategy.

A Notarial Practice Committed to Transparency

Choosing a notary means choosing a trusted partner for major decisions.
Our practice is committed to providing:

• clear information
• a comprehensive wealth-management approach
• full cost predictability
• legally secure advice

Request a Personalised Estimate

For any acquisition, transfer or wealth-related transaction, a prior estimate allows you to make decisions with confidence.
Contact our practice for a simulation tailored to your situation.

Contact our practice

The amount paid to the notary as an "advance on costs" ("provision sur frais"), commonly but inaccurately referred to as "notary fees," actually includes:

• Taxes,
• Disbursements,
• Formalities,
• The notary's remuneration.

This remuneration can take two distinct forms: fees (émoluments) or professional fees (honoraires). Émoluments correspond to an amount calculated as a percentage plus a flat amount per formality completed, all set by government decree.
The notary's émoluments are therefore the same for all notaries in France.
This method of remuneration has a redistributive purpose: it allows the remuneration from larger files to cover the cost of more modest files, where the amount of émoluments does not cover the real cost of the service.
Honoraires (professional fees), on the other hand, are freely set by the notary. They apply in particular to commercial matters or advisory work.

• Notaries' fee scale — Article A444-53 of the French Commercial Code
• Decree No. 2016-230 of 26 February 2016 on the fees of certain legal professionals and the inter-professional fund for access to law and justice
• Order (Arrêté) of 26 February 2016 setting the regulated fees of notaries.

Once the deed has been signed and the administrative formalities completed, you will be sent a final account statement, which is often (but not always) accompanied by a refund of any overpaid costs. This statement may sometimes arrive later than expected, due to processing times at the relevant administrative departments (the land registry office for a sale, or the tax office for an inheritance declaration, for example).