Since the law liberalizing the establishment of notaries in France, notarial studies have been created in the former Languedoc Roussillon.
Published in August 2015, the law for growth, activity and equal economic opportunities, wanted by Emmanuel Macron, reformed the notary profession. In the years that followed, a first wave allowed the installation of nearly 700 new notaries across the national territory.
From 2019-2020, the landscape of the profession was turned upside down, with a renewal of its profile. “It is true that, overnight, we saw new colleagues move in, most of whom previously worked within our studies”explains Me Jean-Luc Brieu, president of the Chamber of Notaries of Pyrénées-Orientales.
“For 20 years, studies have become structured”
In the former Languedoc Roussillon, the increase in the number of notarial studies occurred in three waves.
“The history of notarial studies is diversificationalerts Me Philippe Martin, regional president of notaries. However, DNA remains family law.” However, he adds, the studies “have, for 20 years, been structured to respond to the immediacy of new construction for investments linked to tax exemption laws”.
New missions for notaries
This increased competition within this regulated, managed legal profession, as Me Jean-Luc Brieu recalls, “by public officers, which means that we cannot do anything”has given rise to situations that were hitherto frequent in the business world.
Today, the government plans to entrust them with new missions. As of January 1, they will assume new responsibilities in the authentication of public documents intended abroad. This role was until now carried out by various administrative and judicial authorities.
Hope? The real estate market is picking up again
This new mission is, of course, welcome, but remains, according to professionals, limited. In fact, it is on a very specific market that they place their hopes: that of… real estate. “We are a profession which remains linked to the economic situation, recalls Me Jean-Luc Brieu. If tomorrow it starts again…”. As if to remind us of the cyclical nature of the real estate market, which alternates good periods with periods of crisis.
“We have often turned our backs”said one of them. Especially since, as Céline Deschamps, spokesperson for the Superior Council of Notaries, points out, “Today we face cautious optimism”. The reason? Precisely, the evolution of the real estate market. “The decline in transaction volumes is easing, we are at the end of the bearish cycle”.
Between a drop in prices which “continue” and the announcement, by the Prime Minister, of a “extension of the conditions of access to the zero-rate loan”optimism, even “measure”reigns. Especially since the CSN has made its evaluations. “Based on the projections made on the compromises and sales promises, we will be, at the end of November, on a decline of 2.5%. So far from – 10% to – 30%.”
