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Power of Attorney at the Notary’s Office

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I am a Swiss tax resident. My mother, who passed away this year, lived in France in a house she owned and did not make a will. Can I appoint a notary in Switzerland?

Yes, but… The law applicable to your mother’s estate is French law, since her tax residence was in France. You may choose any notary you wish, but only a French notary can file the deeds recording the transfer of ownership of your mother’s real estate with the Land Registry (Article…
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My father has passed away. The notary handling the estate only shows me a copy of his will and informs me that the original is with another notary. Is this legal?

Yes. Only the notary who holds the will (to whom your father entrusted it) is the custodian of the original. As soon as he is informed of the testator’s death, he must immediately draw up a report of opening and condition of the will, specifying the circumstances of its deposit…
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My Charente-Maritime notary has to come to Paris to sign a deed of sale. As he doesn't have any premises in Paris, can this signature take place in my buyer's professional warehouses?

No. Article 12.1 of the national regulations governing notaries stipulates that " In the interests of the dignity and independence of his functions, the notary may, save in exceptional circumstances, only receive clients and deeds in his office, in ancillary premises and in one or more ancillary offices or in…
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My notary refuses to establish the act for which I requested him, because I have not transferred the advanced costs, he asked me to the office account. Does he have the right?

Yes, because the National Notarial Regulations ( article 9-1) expressly forbids him from receiving an act without having provisioned a sufficient amount, to cover the expenses, rights, emoluments and fees. The notary cannot consent to his client in advance, through any form or capacity.
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My widowed mother has passed away. To establish the certificate of notoriety (acte de notoriété), the notary is asking me to provide her family record book (livret de famille). I cannot find it. Can I obtain a copy?

No. In the event of loss, it is not possible to obtain a copy of the family record book. According to Article 15 of Decree No. 74-449 of 15 May 1974, only a second family record book may be issued, and only to spouses or parents who do not possess…
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