Housebuying in France - translation of documents

[johnymac]

Hi all,
As usual I am going against the grain and have decided to buy a small house in France. However my wife wants someone to act on our behalf, translating documents and making changes where appropriate. She has found some UK companies who will undertake the job but it comes at quite a cost (£1200 - £1800) on top of the notaire fees of 10%. Are there any recent purchasers on here who can't speak the language and have had a similar problem? If so what have you done? I really hope we can save some money here without going in blind if possible.
And before anyone says it. Yes I am a tightwad!

[Puggit]

8 years ago, but we paid. French house buying is not as straight forward as here, lots of little nuances and rules.

I strongly suggest you pay. You could provide the Notaire with power of attorney but you won't have a clue what here signing for you.

ETA - will there be a translation service when you visit the Notaire with the vendor to sign everything over?

Edited by Puggit on Tuesday 19th July 07:23

[johnymac]

Zulu 10 said:

We completed on our house in Correze (19) a little over a year ago, and although we could broadly understand the legal documents we were slightly wary of being caught out by nuances in the detail.
Also given that the notaire's role is broadly neutral, we decided to engage support on our side, and found an Englishman who was prior to retirement a lawyer in the UK, and is now living and licensed in France.
We conducted all the business by e-mail so never actually met him, but he was extremely efficient and clearly well versed in dealing with the 'Gallic Shrug'.
We had a slightly protracted purchase, and at the end his bill was I think somewhere around £700, which we considered a sensible insurance.
If you're interested I'll PM you his details.

Hi Zulu,
Thanks for the info. If you could let us have his details it would be appreciated.
John

[andoverben]

We are in the process of doing the same thing near Bergerac. Although not a Lawyer we are using the services of someone to translate all of the documents they were someone who was recommended to us who translates Legal Documents for a Job. They are English but she has lived in France since she was about 10 I think so is essentially a Native Speaker in English and French.

Will PM you her Email Address.

[smifffymoto]

You could employ your own notaire,you can appoint any notaire you like in France,even on the other side of the country.

Andoverben,I have used Maitre Louton in Eymet for both my purchases.He speaks very good English and is well up to date regarding wills etc.

[A common lawyer]

You can use your own notaire, although their role is, strictly speaking, a public one (i.e. it's not really "your" notaire or "their" notaire). I can put you in touch with an English-speaking notaire, although most of my contacts are in Paris, and local knowledge can usually grease the wheels far better than a big-shot from the capital.

Alternatively, you can pay a translator. Coincidentally, I now translate legal documents for a living always glad to help out PHers where possible.