The amount paid to the notaire as a provision for costs (provision sur frais), commonly — though somewhat inaccurately — referred to as “notaire’s fees”, actually includes:
- taxes;
- disbursements;
- administrative formalities; and
- the notaire’s remuneration.
The notaire’s remuneration takes two forms: regulated fees (émoluments) and professional fees (honoraires).
The French Government regulates émoluments. They are calculated according to a statutory scale, which may include a percentage of the transaction value, together with fixed amounts for the formalities carried out.
The regulated fees charged by notaires are therefore the same throughout France.
This system is designed to have a redistributive effect: remuneration from higher-value matters helps offset the cost of handling more modest matters, for which regulated fees may not cover the actual cost of the work involved.
Honoraires, by contrast, are fees set freely by the notaire. They apply in particular to certain business-law matters and advisory services.
To help you estimate the provision for costs that you may be asked to pay in connection with a property sale, you can use the calculation tool available on our website. Please feel free to contact us if you would like an estimate of the costs involved in a mortgage, a gift, an inheritance or another notarial matter.
Please note: certain provisions or arrangements may result in additional costs, for example the creation of an easement, deferred payment of the purchase price, a delegation or the holding of funds in escrow. Please feel free to contact us.
For property transactions, you can also use the following online tool to estimate the costs associated with your purchase:
Estimate the costs of buying a property in France
To estimate the French capital gains tax on the sale of property (plus-value immobilière):