Answering key questions on expatriate living
Family law, matrimonial property regimes, assets, real estate, tax... when you make the move to live abroad, all of these and more may be very different. So gathering as much information as possible before you leave is crucial, but that task is made easier by ‘S'expatrier mode d'emploi’, the only expatriation show organised by those institutions directly involved in expatriation and international mobility, which include the Superior Council of Notaries.
On 26 March this year, six notaries made themselves available to answer the many questions asked by potential expatriates at this one-day event hosted at the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, and provide a broad range of explanatory information at three conference sessions.
The involvement of French Notaries at this event once again underlines their commitment to supporting expatriates. French Notaries are always ready to help explain and anticipate the legal and tax issues that can sometimes accompany expatriate living: regular free information sessions are hosted for fellow citizens living in many countries around the world and held in conjunction with local French Consulates, and media partnerships are in place for channelling information to French nationals living abroad.
The 17th Conference of African Ambassadors
The continent of Africa has experienced an abysmal shortfall in annual investment year on year for a decade. Meeting to consider potential options for reversing this situation, a number of experts, including Rémi Rioux, Chief Executive Officer of the French Development Agency, discussed ‘The New Challenges of Financing Africa’ on 19 March 2025 at the Conseil Supérieur du Notariat alongside the 17th Paris Conference of African Ambassadors, hosted by Africa Press. Discussions ranged from infrastructure to business, health, climate and more... All the challenges of the future, in fact.
This conference also underlines the commitment of the French notariat to promoting cooperation between countries in the French-speaking world, and especially with African members of the Association du Notariat Francophone (ANF). It also highlights its commitment to the perpetuation and promotion of the French language, in which the continent of Africa has a major role to play: 18 of the 28 ANF members are African notariats.
Helping French residents of the Balearic Islands
Which matrimonial property regime applies to French residents of the Balearic Islands? And what are its consequences of expatriation on their estate in terms of inheritance? These and many other questions were answered by three representatives of the Superior Council of Notaries on 7 March at the Lycée Français International in Palma de Mallorca during the meeting hosted in partnership with the Consulate General of France in Barcelona, and opened by Samantha Cazebonne, Senator for French residents overseas. French nationals living in Mallorca, Minorca and Ibiza were able to use videoconferencing to access valuable advice from French notaries and gain a clearer understanding of the legal challenges they may face while living abroad. These notarial meetings have been hugely successful ever since they were introduced in 2009, with more than 100 already hosted in around
30 countries. And there is no lack of requests for more from French Consulates around the world...
Constructive discussions with Austria, Belgium and Spain
The winter has been a very productive period for French Notaries and their Austrian, Belgian and Spanish counterparts. The bilateral meetings hosted in Paris gave notaries from all three countries the opportunity to get together, compare perspectives and take inspiration from each other. The Austrian notariat, currently represented on the Board of the Council of Notariats of the European Union (CNUE), sought the opinion of the Superior Council of Notaries on current European issues, given its long experience as a CNUE board member. French Notaries were delighted to welcome Concepción Pilar Barrio Del Olmo, who was elected last November as the new President of Spain’s Notarial Council, and to discuss with her two challenges shared by both notariats: digital technology and money laundering. More technical issues around governance of the profession, digital strategy and communication were discussed at the meeting between staff members of the two national notarial councils and the Fédération Royale du Notariat de Belgique. All those present enjoyed the opportunity to take away new ideas for future action.
Live with Dritan Tola, Albanian Ambassador to France
“Notarial deeds are integral to ensuring legal certainty and, from our perspective, are priority goals for strengthening the rule of law in the wider sense.”
To mark the signature of a cooperation agreement between the French and Albanian notariats, Dritan Tola, the Albanian Ambassador to France, talks about this cooperation and its importance to his country’s accession to the European Union.
27 January this year saw the signature of a cooperation agreement by the French and Albanian notariats. Could you please begin by outlining the Franco-Albanian relationship, and how this new agreement fits into that?
This agreement between the Albanian and French notariats focuses mainly on bilateral notarial cooperation. The joint work done over the past
two years has delivered extremely positive progress with a large number of cooperation projects and a much stronger relationship, not only politically, but also economically, culturally, in defence and across the French-speaking world. The relationship between Albania and France is a very long one, but it has gained new momentum with historic visits, such as the one made by President Macron to Albania in October 2023, and the return visit of the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to Paris in April 2024. The cooperation agreement between our two notarial chambers is also an integral part of this new era of bilateral cooperation, with its particular emphasis on the need to prioritise innovation.
“Notarial deeds are integral to ensuring legal certainty and, from our perspective, are priority goals for strengthening the rule of law in the wider sense.”
What are you currently working on in relation to the recent agreement?
This agreement reflects the relationship between our two notarial chambers and marks a new stage in our cooperation by addressing more practical issues, such as exchanging information and digital expertise. Innovation, particularly in digital archiving, is a priority for us. We, as an Albanian institution, want to be able to digitise paper printed deeds and all notarial deeds in Albania. The aim of this agreement is to set up a mechanism for exchanging information and legal experience between our two institutions. The Superior Council of French Notaries and the Albanian Chamber of Notaries are considering - with help from a French company - the implementation of a specific project to digitise not only notarial deeds, but also property documents.
How do you see the notariat contributing to Albania’s full membership of the European Union?
Exchanging information and legal experience is an important part not only of combatting money laundering and the financing of terrorism, but also in the more general context of Albania's efforts to achieve European integration and full membership of the European Union.
Notarial deeds play an important role in ensuring legal certainty in our country. For Albania, this is an extremely important objective in the broader context of strengthening the rule of law. So we very much hope to develop the project to digitise notarial deeds to provide greater guarantees of legal certainty for private individuals and institutions in respect of all property transactions concluded in Albania. We are really delighted with this cooperation between our two notarial institutions. I was there myself at the signature of the agreement by the Presidents of both institutions: the President of the Superior Council of French Notaries Maître Savouré, and the President of the Albanian Chamber of Notaries Mimoza Sadushaj. We’ll now be working to move cooperation forward through practical projects that could be funded and supported by our two states, our two governments, and which will be integral to this new and dynamic relationship between our two countries.
French schools abroad :a level of excellence recognised in Paris
On 13 March, the Grand Amphitheatre of the Sorbonne in Paris hosted the first Palmes de l'Enseignement Français à l'Étranger (EFE) awards, the first-ever event to celebrate the excellence and commitment of those involved in the global French language education network partnered by the Superior Council of French Notaries. The patron of the event was no less than the French President, and the ceremony showcased some of the remarkable initiatives undertaken by French schools abroad.
Paying tribute to initiatives that lead by example
The Palmes de l'Enseignement Français à l'Etranger were created to reward and promote innovative projects and initiatives undertaken by French schools abroad. “Those of us who live in other countries often get the impression that we're being observed from afar, and that we don't always receive recognition for the work being done by so many people, but actually what they are doing is impressive. So the idea of these awards was to pay tribute to this network and all those who give their commitment to promoting France beyond our borders”, explains Samantha Cazebonne, Senator for French residents overseas and the driving force behind EFE Awards.
The essential role played by French notaries in assisting expatriates
For the Superior Council of French Notaries, partnering this event is perfectly logical when you consider the involvement French notaries have in the daily lives of expatriates. The CSN assists French nationals living abroad with a broad range of legal issues, mainly by offering free advice at open events hosted in French consulates. “We have a dedicated team that regularly visits foreign delegations and consulates and gives legal advice to French nationals living abroad”, explains Frédéric Varin, Notary and Head of the CSN Expatriate Unit.
A natural collaboration for French notaries
French schools abroad play an essential role in making local communities aware of the local presence of notaries and the services they can provide. As CSN Vice-President Pierre-Jean Meyssan emphasises, “schools often provide an important channel for flagging up the presence of French notaries in consulates. So it was only natural that we should partner the Palmes des Établissements Français de l'Etranger”. Samantha Cazebonne also welcomes this synergy: “The notaries I've had the good fortune to meet on my visits to consulates have legal expertise that can be extremely useful, not only for school leaders, but for parents too.” This collaboration evidences the commitment notaries have to supporting French communities abroad and contributing to their legal and social wellbeing.
Franco-Vietnamese cooperation
Supporting digital development for Vietnamese property transactions
Following changes to land ownership and notarial legislation in Vietnam last year, the Superior Council of Notaries shared its expertise with the Vietnam Ministry of Justice and notaries at a conference hosted in Hanoi on 20 February 2025. The focus for these discussions? Digital solutions for property transactions.
The CSN delegation visit to Vietnam met with the country’s Minister of Justice Hai Ninh Nguyen. During their meeting, they discussed the land reforms currently underway, the notarial legislation and France-Vietnam cooperation projects.
When the new notarial law enters into force in Vietnam on 1 July this year, it will mark the beginning of digitalisation for the country’s notarial profession; a development to which French Notaries have made a particularly significant contribution, as the Vietnam Ministry of Justice representative was kind enough to point out at the conference. This conference had its origins in the working meeting hosted in France with Vietnamese Minister of Justice Hai Ninh Nguyen on 4 October last year, which provided an opportunity to gain a better understanding of his priorities around the issue of digitalisation. An initial online training module led by Jean Deleage, CSN representative for Southeast Asia, was held a few weeks later for students at the Académie Judiciaire. As the first country in the world to introduce electronic notarial deeds into its legislation back in 2000, France was very much a trailblazer in the digital transition. Today, more than 90% of French notarial deeds are electronic in form.
Progress towards digitalisation
Digital technology is a central issue for Vietnam today. The new General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party has stated his intention to drive the economic development of the country by embracing the digital world. At the conference, Thierry Vachon, Secretary of the International Union of Latin Notaries, gave delegates an overview of the digital solutions implemented by the profession in France. His presentation was eagerly awaited by the Vietnamese authorities, and generated many responses. Vietnam’s Minister of Justice Hai Ninh Nguyen then invited the CSN to share its expertise by
assisting in the drafting of implementing legislation.
Secure transactions
Another important issue for the government is the legal certainty of property transactions, which are seen as vital to the country’s future development. Laurent Dejoie, Honorary Chairman of the Superior Council of Notaries, gave a presentation outlining the role played by French Notaries in this area of law, from checking personal identity to referencing land registry data and ‘purging’ pre-emption rights. Further discussions will be held over the coming months.
“I hope that the International Union of Latin Notaries and the French Superior Council of Notaries will continue to work alongside Vietnam and support its implementation of legal regulations for the notarial profession, and particularly with the process of driving our digital transformation forward.”
Hai Ninh Nguyen, the Vietnamese Minister of Justice
Sustained growth | |||
The Vietnamese 6% year on year, | In 2022, the country overtook No. 1 trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
| In 2024, trade flows $68 billion up 16% on the previous year. | 2024 saw $ 3.72 billion in foreign direct investment flow into the property sector, representing 18.8% off all foreign investment, second only to manufacturing. |
Indian Ocean
Progressing structural reform in The Comoros
Under the terms of their cooperation agreement, a delegation from the Superior Council of Notaries visited The Comoros on 22 and 23 February this year to run a training course on payment in lieu and joint ownership. The visit also provided the opportunity to discuss land reform and the revision of notarial legislation with the Comorian Minister of Justice and the Secretary General of the Government
Bertrand Mace and Haroun Patel, who are both Superior Council of Notaries delegates for the Indian Ocean, travelled to The Comoros to run a training course on payment in lieu and joint ownership. There they met with Secretary General of the Government Nour El-Fath Azali to discuss plans for the revision of notarial legislation.
The Union of The Comoros and France share a long history and very close links. French Notaries have been working for more than 15 years now with the country’s institutions on structuring their notarial profession. In 2011, they were able to help their counterparts draft their first notarial law on the basis of continental law. The level of cooperation between the two has gone from strength to strength ever since. In 2018, the relationship was formalised in an agreement that is now renewed every two years.
Support for a wide range of challenges
The Superior Council of Notaries has made a number of commitments to The Comoros National Chamber of Notaries (CNC): to provide at least three training sessions per year, lend the support and expertise required to revise the national notarial law to align with the standards set by the International Union of Latin Notaries (UNIL) with the ultimate aim of becoming a member, to assist The Comoros in achieving security of property ownership through land reforms developed and implemented collaboratively with the Ministry of the Economy and the Ordre des Géomètres-Experts professional surveyors body. Disputes over land are commonplace in the archipelago, with the majority resulting from a lack of harmonisation of the rules. The public authorities want to put an end to this in order to encourage investment and strengthen the country's economic development.
A notarial law that will soon be brought up to date
While attending the most recent training session on payment in lieu and joint ownership, the two Superior Council of Notaries delegates for the Indian Ocean Bertrand Macé and Haroun Patel took the opportunity to discuss these issues with the Comorian Minister of Justice Saïd Omar Houmadi, the Secretary General of the Government Nour El-Fath Azali, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Regional Development & Planning Abel Maimouda. The new notarial law developed out of a joint project by French Notaries and the CNC to bring the legislation up to date was also discussed just a few
months before its adoption by Parliament. Its provisions include tighter professional discipline, entry to the profession purely on the basis of competitive examination, and new conditions governing the creation of training opportunities appropriate to the local population.
Some Key Numbers | |||
The Union of the | The Comoros are densely | Around 40% | 2030 is the deadline by |
Diary
- 5 to 8 May 2025 World Bank Land Conference on ‘Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action’ Washington, USA
- 12 May 2025 Notarial meetings with French nationals in Italy at the French Embassy in Rome (Palazzo Farnese), Italy
- 27 May 2025 Notarial meetings with Franch nationals in Germany at the Lycée français Victor-Hugo in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- 8 and 9 July 2025 Convention of Mediterranean Jurists in Rabat, Morocco
- 2 to 4 October 2025 Congress of the International Union of Notaries on ‘The changing face of the notariat: New technologies – New missions’ Berlin, Germany
- 24 to 26 September 2025 121st Congress of French Notaries on ‘Families and notarial creativity: supporting the dynasties of today’ Montpellier, France