What is notary fees?
Definition
During a real estate purchase, a succession or a donation, notary fees are to be paid. They include all the sums requested by the notary following the completion of a service. They cover several types of expenditure: rights, disbursements and Notary remuneration.
Emoluments, free fees, disbursements … Composition of notary fees
The remuneration of the notary consists of the emoluments fixed by the public authorities and free fees, within the framework of notarial activities not tariffed by law. Each notarial act has its own pricing. It is the same for all notaries. Add to the disbursements or disbursements. These sums, advanced by the notary, are used to remunerate other stakeholders, to cover the cost of certain documents or travel costs.
Finally, rights are taxes due to the State and communities (for example VAT or registration rights). Donated to the public treasury, they vary according to the nature of the act and the good. Overall, about 10 % of notary fees go directly to the notarywhen 80 % of the amount paid is intended for the public treasury. The remaining 10% represent disbursements.
Who pays notary fees?
In the case of a real estate sale, notary fees are borne by the buyer. As part of a succession, all heirs must participate in their payment.
What are the notary fees for a succession in 2025?
Following a death, a notary can be mandated by the heirs in order to manage the succession. If its appeal is not always compulsory, it is however in the context:
- the sharing of the goods of a succession with Testament,
- of a succession with real estate,
- succession equal to or greater than 5,000 euros,,
- of a donation between spouses.
Fees are then to be expected by the heirs.
Set of fixed or variable prices scale
The fees requested can be fixed or variable. They vary according to the notarial act and the value of the property. The amount of emoluments was set by the decree of February 20, 2020 and has entered into force since January 1, 2021. In 2025, an act of notoriety is for example invoiced 56.60 euros excluding tax (67.92 euros including tax) and an inventory 75.46 euros.
Amount of notary fees for a succession
With regard to a declaration or a sharing of succession and the certificate of real estate property, the notary fees vary according to the property and are expressed as a percentage. The higher the value of the property, the lower the percentage.
For example, for a succession sharing, the notary applies a rate of 4.837 % for goods of less than 6,500 euros and a rate of 0.998 % for those exceeding 60,000 euros.
What are the notary fees for a donation?
If a manual donation can make it possible to do without a notary, it is sometimes compulsory to use its services. As part of a donation, the calculation of the notary’s emoluments is also linked to the value of the proposed property.
Amount of costs for a donation of money in 2025
In 2025, for a donation of money or intangible goods, the rates vary depending on plate slices.
Amount of notary fees for donation-sharing
The amount of emoluments for a donation-sharing is proportional to the value in full ownership of the given goods. Here are the rates applicable in 2025:
How much does notary fees cost for a new or old real estate purchase?
As part of a real estate sale, notaries’ emoluments are set by the State. They represent between 7 to 8% of the sale price in the old and 2 to 3% in new. They are decreasing depending on the value of the property. Here is the price scale in 2025:
- From 0 to 6,500 euros = 3.87%
- From 6,500 to 17,000 euros = 1.596%
- From 17,000 to 60,000 euros = 1.064%
- More than 60,000 euros = 0.799%
As explained by the France’s notaries site, “these are slices, the emoluments are therefore calculated successively”. In 2024, notary fees in old real estate revolved around 7 to 8% of the cost of purchase. Higher than in new, they are mostly made up of transfer duties. In new, the costs corresponded to 2 to 3% of the price of the property. He returns to the purchaser of the property to pay the notary fees.
How to calculate the amount of notary fees for a real estate sale?
Simulation to calculate notary costs for the purchase of a house, an apartment or land
The government has set up an online simulator to help future buyers calculate notary fees for the purchase of their property. To do this, simply fill in the following information:
- the type of good (old, new, field),
- the department,
- the acquisition price,
- The type of loan (without loan, loan without mortgage guarantee, loan with mortgage warranty).
In a few clicks, an estimate of detailed notary fees, with emoluments, disbursements, taxes and total cost.
Contact ADIL for an estimate of notary fees
The results of the simulation are communicated as an indication. In case of questions or need for details, it is advisable to turn to ADIL (Departmental Information Agency on Housing) of its department. The latter’s mission is to inform users about the legal and financial aspects in terms of housing.
How to lower notary costs?
Difficult to lower notary costs when you know they are composed to 80% fixed taxes taken by the state. However, it is possible to consult several notaries to find out their prices. Note that the first consultation is free. Since 2016, notaries can reduce their costs. This discount, supervised by law, peaks at 20% since January 1, 2021. Before, it was capped at 10%. It can only apply on a transaction of at least 100,000 euros.
