Fees and first meeting

How the first meeting works

1. You get in touch

   By email or by telephone. Describe in a few lines what your request is about: estate, joint ownership, will, life insurance. You can write to us in English.

2. You gather a few documents

   The list below will help you collect the essentials. You do not need everything: we start with what you have.

3. We review your situation together

   By video call, or at the office in Nice. We identify your rights, the deadlines running and the risks.

4. You leave with a strategy

   The possible options (agreement, sale, court action), their chances, duration and approximate cost, summarised in writing in English. You then decide, without obligation, how to proceed.

Documents to provide

For an estate

• the death certificate;
• the deceased's marriage certificate, prenuptial agreement or civil partnership agreement, if any;
• the will or any gift between spouses, if they exist;
• the notary's contact details;
• the affidavit of heirship (acte de notoriété);
• any draft statement of the estate or draft estate tax return prepared by the notary;
• correspondence with the notary and the other heirs;
• any information about the assets: title deeds, bank statements, life insurance policies, tax notices;
• any known earlier gifts.

For joint ownership after a divorce or separation

• the divorce judgment or agreement, and any interim measures order;
• the prenuptial agreement or civil partnership agreement;
• the title deed to the property;
• the mortgage repayment schedule and proof of the payments made by each party;
• property tax notices, invoices for works and charges paid;
• any valuations of the property;
• correspondence with the former partner or their lawyer.

Documents in English are welcome. Where official translations are required for French proceedings, we will tell you which ones.

Fees

Lawyers' fees in France are freely agreed, but they are always set in advance, in writing, in a fee agreement (convention d'honoraires) that you sign before any work begins. No amount will be requested without your prior knowledge.

The financial terms are presented at the first exchange, before any commitment on your part.

Legal expenses insurance

If you have legal expenses insurance (through a home insurance policy, a bank card or a dedicated policy), it may cover part of the fees, depending on your contract. Declare the dispute to your insurer before incurring costs; you remain free to choose your lawyer.

Procedural costs (court experts, bailiffs, a notary appointed by the court) are in addition to the fees; they are announced to you in advance. At the end of the proceedings, part of them may be ordered against the other party.

The firm does not accept French legal aid (aide juridictionnelle).

What happens next?

If you entrust your case to the firm, you receive the fee agreement, then an action plan. You are informed of each step, receive a copy of every document and are consulted before every important decision.

Get in touch

Frequently asked questions

The information on this page is general and does not replace legal advice.