Hi
We have a proposed latest date for the signing of the Acte de Vente. We are selling the property. Do we have to attend for signing? or a). Can it be done electronically/remotely? b). Could we use an individual as our Proxy? And if a Proxy is allowed do they have to working in a certain profession, eg professional.
Thank you
It depends on the notaire (and the agent), but these days it is possible to sign remotely and its always been that you can designate a proxy, who can be anyone. Speak to your agent (if you have one) and the notaire.
Our first french house was done by proxy in 1989 because it was winter and there were no ferries at that time. The notaire arranged it all and we received details via the post. It was a french national who signed on our behalf.
You can ask the notaire to prepare a procuration (Power or Attorney), one of their staff members will then sign on you behalf at the appropriate time in the ceremony - just make dure you have a good read of the Acte de Vente before signing the procuration.
You can do electronic signatures if the notaire’s IT is up to it, but easiest to do a procuration. Ask the notaire to send you the forms, read them, sign them, get the signatures witnesses and send it back.
When we bought this house in 1993 from the owner in Paris, we never met her, ever. When we bought the adjoining piece of land from an old man in the village in 2000, his son in law met us at the notaire’s.
So yes, entirely possible. 
My final acte de vente last year was not attended by the boss of the building company so just me and the notaire and it was all done on a big screen above his desk with my signature done on a pad. I was given a special pass code to access all the paperwork via an email the notaire sent later that day and then a couple of days later, received a tome of all the paperwork when I was asked to go and collect it from their office. I sold the old house without the buyers being present as they did not arrive until next day and then I was sent a hard copy of their acte. Notaires can be very accomodating according to client’s demands