Legal

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

How can I obtain free law advice in France?

One reader's question, answered: obtaining free law advice in France.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bailiff seizes Ryanair plane in legal row

Airline agrees to pay money owed to department of Charente after official takes control of aircraft on tarmac at Bordeaux

Availability of legal aid in France

Is there any form of legal aid available in France to help bring a law case? F.B.

Potatoes were banned due to leprosy fears

There was a period when the humble spud was potato-non-grata in France

Now, you can sign on the dotted line... electronically

More than two-thirds of legal transactions are now signed electronically at notaires’ offices in France and the first to be signed this way à distance , when the two different parties are not in the same office, have already been carried out.

Legal action over Lyme disease

Disease is transmitted by ticks

Bordeaux wine giant loses ‘fake’ bottle case

Château Pétrus name confusing buyers

Urssaf fined man 99 times in a day

Start-up business boss saw thousands vanish from his bank account

Court ruling ends five-year nativity row

Decision welcomed as 'common sense'

Couple vow to fight baby name ruling

Row over accent in Breton language rumbles on

Workers donate leave so colleague can care for son

2014 law allows colleagues to give holiday leave to colleagues with handicapped or severely ill child

Make sense of … Huissiers de Justice

Huissiers are usually described as ‘bailiffs’ in English but the term fails to get across the wide range of tasks that they do. Here we explain some of the other parts of their job

Slew of legal challenges over EU exit