Legal

Couple sue French commune for letting acorns fall on their roof

They claim the acorns caused damage totalling €6,000

Sister to sue French hospitals for twin’s death after dog bite

The Irish woman alleges staff misdiagnosed septic shock and gave her sister paracetamol not antibiotics

Why the new road names in France and who is affected?

All properties must now have standardised address by law

news

French rugby assault case puts spotlight on trial by social media

Online platforms should protect the presumption of innocence of anyone appealing a conviction, says French lawyer

Is an English ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’ valid in France?

LPAs are put in place by many wishing to ensure that their financial and or health affairs are protected should their circumstances change

What are the rules for a handwritten will in France?

John Kitching of French Law Consultancy answers a reader query

12 key Q&As for anyone selling a property in France

Documents, charges, capital gains, notaires…we answer key questions

What can I do about weeds growing from French neighbour’s garden?

There are a number of options which can be explored

Five things you can use the government’s new legal app for

Free application looks to expand access to French justice system with contact details and free simulations

Explainer: Difference between contravention, délit and crime in France

We walk through how crimes are classified and tried in the French legal system where only the most serious have a jury

Did you know? France has a team ready to defend foreigners' rights

We speak to a key public rights official working with the Defender of Rights about administrative difficulties and how to find help in your area

Drivers in France ‘strongly advised’ to avoid dashboard cameras

A high-profile legal case recently showed how useful dashcams can be, but French regulations are unclear over whether they can be used as evidence

Judges do consider dashcam evidence, says top French motoring lawyer

The avocat’s comments come despite France’s official data use agency ‘strongly advising’ against the use of the gadgets

Lawyer raises legal questions over France’s mandatory property form

The form will allow authorities to know who is liable for taxe d’habitation, which is now only levied on second homeowners

Herbalists want new French government to lift 80 year ban on practice

Pharmacists in France continue to block the legal recognition of ‘herboristes’ who use plants for healing

No refund given for faulty ride-on mower bought online?

There is a legal 14-day cooling-off period with online purchases, however returns might be at the buyer's cost

France ordered to pay €1 compensation for ‘climate inaction’

The case has been hailed as ‘historic’ by climate change campaigners, after the court ordered the state to pay symbolic damages to four NGOs

French farmer’s long fight against Monsanto draws to close

Farmer Paul François has been locked in a legal battle with the controversial multinational corporation since 2004

What to do if your neighbours are burning garden waste

In our monthly column Legal Notes, reader questions are answered and explained.

Macron defends appointment of minister accused of rape

The French President says the accused minister has the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. But women’s rights groups question: Would the same logic apply if he were accused of murder?

Can a French estate be left to an unmarried partner?

In our monthly column Legal Notes, reader questions are answered and explained.

French law on authorisation for public gatherings overturned

Organised street gatherings are now allowed without authorisation, although gatherings of over 5,000 people are still banned under Covid-19 health guidelines.

Ex-French PM and wife to appeal guilty sentence

Ex-French Prime Minister François Fillon and his wife Penelope, who was born in Wales, were found guilty of embezzling over €1 million of public funds yesterday (June 29). They will appeal the ruling.

Brexit card site open in October: How to prove residency?

All Britons living in France before the end of the transition must apply for new “Brexit deal” cards to benefit from the Withdrawal Agreement.

Investigations into French handling of Covid-19 begin

An investigation into how well the French government handled the Covid-19 pandemic is underway in a Paris courthouse, with parliamentary investigations due to begin in coming weeks.

Hospital stays: what is a personne de confiance?

Patients who go into hospital for an extended stay are always asked if they have named a personne de confiance . What does it mean?

French restaurateur wins Covid payment from insurer

A restaurateur in France has won a court case against insurance giant Axa, after the latter said it would not pay compensation for loss of earnings after the government imposed confinement.

Why is it not obligatory to wear a mask in France?

Wearing a mask in France is not obligatory - except on public transport - despite recommendations from medical institution l'Académie de Médecine and the support of several mayors. We explore why.

France's Covid-19 lockdown rules challenged in court

PM: Brits abroad for 15+ years to get UK right to vote

British citizens who have been living overseas for more than 15 years will get the right to vote in UK parliamentary elections, a letter from Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised.

French couple look to Europe in fight for treetop home

A couple living in a tree house plan to go to the European Court of Justice to defend their right to continue living in their cabin.

Small French village gifted surprise €14m legacy

A small village in southern France has been unexpectedly gifted €14 million after a businessman who used to spend his childhood holidays there left the fortune in his will.

2020: Scam alert over how we write the year in France

The year 2020 could be vulnerable to scams, it has emerged, as many people in France tend to write the date as with just two numbers - which this year would be “20” rather than “2020” in full.

Buyer pulled out in France – do I get compensation?

I signed a compromis de vente with a buyer for my property at the notaire’s, then he pulled out without giving a reason. Will I receive compensation? J.T.

Why have we got a bill for drainage we can't use?

Our village has been connected to mains drainage. We have not yet been able to have the work done for our home to be connected to it but have received a bill from Suez Eau France charging us €396.55 for “ Collecte et Traitement des Eaux Usées ” [collection and treatment of waste water]. Surely it is illegal to charge for something that is not being done? S.D.

Rights in France over damp and woodworm in new home

We bought a house in June. Prior to seeing it, I asked the owner and estate agent if there was damp or woodworm. They denied it and I have an email confirming it. They also denied any problem during visits. We had a survey done, which found woodworm in both lofts and a damp/condensation problem through poor ventilation. Had we known, we would not have bought the house. The owner failed to do a parasite survey as part of the diagnostics. The agent and notaire failed to mention this and said there was no need for a termite report in this area. I understand now that this particular diagnostic is a requirement. I am now considering going to an independent notaire. SW

French toddler Fañch permitted Breton spelling of name

A Breton toddler named Fañch has been officially allowed to keep the “ñ” on his name, after the French Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that it was legal.

Drug users in French city of Rennes face €450 fine

People who smoke cannabis or take other illegal drugs in the French city of Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany) will soon be faced with a €200 fine, rising to €450 in some cases, in a new trial to “attack demand”.

Legal action against an artisan for shoddy work?

How can we take action against an artisan whose work on our patio was shoddy? It cost more than €5,000 and the paving slabs are loose and wobbly. In the UK we would go to a small claims court. A.B.

Legal battle destroyed my dream life in French gite

A gite owner has been forced to sell up for €350,000 less than the valuation of her home after a series of court cases left her facing huge legal fees.

Animal rights groups hit back as MPs attend bullfight

Animal rights groups have hit back and reignited a debate over the legality of bullfighting in France after two ministers were seen attending a bullfight in the south of the country.

Free legal advice available in France

If you are in any situation where you may need to get involved in legal proceedings, there are ways to get at least some initial advice for free.

France to ban electric scooters from pavements

Electric foot scooters - or trottinettes - will no longer be permitted to ride on pedestrian pavements in France, ministers have confirmed, as part of a new set of laws on similar transport methods.

Online poll opens on free public transport in France

An online consultation on the idea of free public transport in France has been opened by the Senate, with the public invited to have their say on the idea before May 31.

More revealed on illegal €57m Provence Château Diter

More details have come to light on how the Château Diter - the €57m Côte d’Azur château that French authorities have ordered to be torn down - was able to grow to such an extent in the first place.

France sees fewer protests ahead of final Grand Débat

This weekend’s gilets jaunes protests - on the 17th consecutive Saturday of the movement - attracted a new low of 26,600 people across France, on the last weekend before the symbolic final Grand Débat .

French dog owners ordered to pay for horse accident

The owners of two dogs that inadvertently caused a serious horse-riding accident have been deemed responsible, and ordered to pay €815,000 in compensation and costs, a French court has ruled.

Club Med ordered to pay €10k to French holiday couple

Holiday company Club Med has been ordered to pay €10,000 to a French couple after cancelling their luxury holiday cruise less than 24 hours before it was due to begin.

Gilets jaunes: Rise in numbers on 15th protest weekend

There was a rise in the number of gilets jaunes protesters across France this weekend, as 46,600 people - including 5,800 in Paris - were counted on the 15th consecutive Saturday of the movement.

French 'hunter' who shot girl, 10, fined

A French man in his 70s who accidentally shot and seriously injured a 10-year-old girl has been handed a three-month suspended prison sentence and €450 in fines.

Row over how loud bells toll

Village faces five-figure bill if court rules church bells are ringing too loud

French Assemblée votes in divisive ‘anti-vandal’ law

The French Assemblée Nationale has voted in a controversial new “anti-vandal” bill by 387 to 92, in response to the violence seen during some of the gilets jaunes protests since November.

Wealthy villa owners in France lose coastal path fight

Hikers will soon be able to walk along a pristine stretch of Brittany coastline after a 36-year legal battle with local villa owners.

My French fight to obtain TV cash-back offer

A Connexion reader has had to fight for eight months to obtain a €1,000 money-back offer advertised on a wide-screen television she bought at a home furnishings chain.

Tenant owes landlord €46k in ‘Airbnb rent’

A tenant who sublet her Paris property on rentals website Airbnb without proper consent has been ordered to pay her landlord all the money she received in illegal rents.

Are non-RGE workers not legally registered?

I have been advised to only use renovation professionals who are ‘RGE’ registered – does this mean other workers are not legally registered? T.B.

Does French law take precedence over British law?

My sister has gone through a divorce in the UK. The judge awarded their house in France to him. I read a post which said that French law takes precedence over English law in France and the judge cannot force her to sell. My sister’s ex-husband says that the house is now his and he can do what he wants with it – but would he still need my sister’s permission to sell? He is in the process of selling. P.H.