However the family law remains poorly known French

Multiplication of the divorces, development of blended families or couples collaborating boom: the boundaries of the traditional family have never moved during the past few years. However the family law remains poorly known French. Starting from this observation, the Chamber of notaries of Paris organizes for the fifth consecutive year a week of information on the subject, which begins today, with free consultations and conferences at the key themes.

These briefings should not be unnecessary, judging by the results of a survey conducted by the Chamber of notaries and the BVA Institute last December. 42 of respondents believe and a homosexual couple pacsé can adopt a child, which is prohibited by current legislation. Furthermore, a heterosexual couple pacsé does not have the right to adopt nor, this that only 17 of those polled know. Although 175.000 pairs have chosen to be pacser in 2009 ( 20 compared to 2008), differences in legislation between pacs and marriage remain unclear for the opinion. Only 42 of the French for example are aware that, in a couple pacsé, death and in the absence of will, the legacy is not automatic, the difference of a married couple. It is also on succession issues that gaps are greatest. 38 of the French believe to co-sign a will by those who will benefit, which is totally false. Others may finally have nasty surprises: a French ten knows only that the rate of tax on an estate for two common-law is 60 (it is 0 for two married people or pacsées). 30 of them even think that this rate is not more than 5.

This week of information should also be a way for notaries to insist on a topical theme, that of dependence. Here again, "existing mechanisms are poorly known," said Christian Lefebvre, President of the Chamber of notaries of Paris. In addition to the systems of guardianship and curatorship, which are often experienced as of strictures, "protection on measurement techniques can be imagined," insists Barbara Thomas-David, notary in Champigny-sur-Marne. This is the case of incremental donations, with reserve of usufruct, for example. The Act of March 2007 has also created the mandate of future protection, yet little used, which allows a person to select a representative for the day where it can no longer deal with one of his interests or those of his children. It can be concluded by private act or a notarial deed. Notaries emphasize the benefit of the latter, in which "the powers of the agent are more extensive." "They are on any type of offence, and not only the Conservatory acts or current management."

It is that the notaries do not intend to let lawyers interfere too strongly on a domain that they consider as their. The Act of counsel, created by the modernization law legal professions and which should go in second reading in the National Assembly on 1 March, is still experienced as a threat. And the profession does not lack an opportunity to recall that it is an act which is lower than that of the authentic Act, reserved for notaries.