KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

What happens if you are buying a French property but can’t attend the completion meeting at the notaire’s office in person? Matthew Cameron explains how a power of attorney can be used and how it works

- Matthew Cameron

Occasionally it is possible to prepare articles on questions of French law and tax that directly relate to current affairs. We can take as examples the recent changes in European inheritance law by virtue of the EU Succession Regulation that came into force in 2015, or the implications of Brexit, the consequences of which are still ongoing.

Rarely, though, is the current climate so febrile that there is no way of knowing whether this article will be entirely superseded and irrelevant or still in the minds of readers by the time it is published. At the time of writing – in mid-March 2020 – clients concerned that they may be unable to attend completion meetings at the offices of their notaire are regularly asking whether they need to travel, or whether this can be avoided.

The worldwide pandemic of Covid-19 is increasing at an alarming rate; who knows how far-reaching it will become, or how long it will last, and how strict any travel bans will be?

COMPLETION IN PERSON

For those who have not yet bought their house in France, it is pertinent to appreciate that there is still a completion meeting that will need to take place at the office of the notaire. All parties are in principle required to attend the meeting to sign the deeds, or to designate someone to sign on their behalf.

Generally, we advise clients that it is in their interest to attend the completion meeting if at all possible, in particular when they are buying – it will usually at least allow them to collect the keys, and possibly have a last discussion with their seller about matters such as the location of the meters and so on. It will also offer them the opportunity to visit the property just before completion, to ensure that everything is still in place.