Urgently looking English speaking notary, preferably not too far from Vendee. Who could you recommend please? Many thanks.
In case you don’t get specific recommendations, there’s a site that lets you find notaires near you. It lets you select which language you need as well.
ETA: Today is a public holiday here so you may need to wait until Monday to hear from notaires.
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I must confess to flinching every time I read a post using the word Notary when, in fact, the person is talking about a French Notaire.. 
as I presumed Notary was an American word (hang my head in shame)
BUT I have now discovered that Notary exists in English English…
An English Notary is a qualified Lawyer blah blah
so apologies all round.
However, I still reckon it’s best to use the word Notaire when talking about buying property/whatever in France and here’s why…
The role of notaire is unique to France. They are legal experts who can offer advice, but they are appointed by the French government and as such act on behalf of the State, rather than on behalf of a client.
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In the US ,a notary’s primary (perhaps only) function is to witness signatures on legal documents. A very different and limited role from a French notaire.
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Exactly!
… strikes me we’d be better off to call a spade a spade and a Notaire a Notaire (certainly here in France) 
As an aside, I’d not heard the word Notary during my years in UK (and never during our day trip to USA).
In the UK we used the family Solicitor for anything legal.
Notaries are to be found in the UK. From the Notaries Society website …
A Notary is a qualified lawyer - a member of the oldest branch of the legal profession in the United Kingdom. Notaries are appointed by the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury and are subject to regulation by the Master of the Faculties. The rules which affect Notaries are very similar to the rules which affect Solicitors. …
Notaries are primarily concerned with the authentication and certification of signatures, authority and capacity relating to documents for use abroad.
They are also authorised to conduct general legal practice (excluding the conduct of court proceedings) such as conveyancing and probate. They may exercise the powers of a Commissioner for Oaths.
The majority of Notaries Public also practise as solicitors but the Scrivener Notaries do not, nor do some 150 of the general notaries.
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Yes, my family had one come out to their house when they needed documentation signed and legally witnessed a few times.
Not in the US. I think the bar is pretty low. I’m sure they have training and whatnot in order to have a commission, but the notaries I have run into in the US are basically clerks. Many bank officials and tellers are notaries.
If you ever need a notary in the US find a biggish branch of UPS. They usually have sales clerks who are notaries and witnessing docs, certifying copies etc, they do on the spot for a very modest fee.
Hmmm… I still think it best to refer to the French legal folk involved in Property Purchase/Sale in France as “Notaires”.. even if talking in English.
Let’s get used to saying the word Notaire, so it rolls off the tongue
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We have found Maître Louis CAGNIART 18 Place Emile Zola – 79300 BRESSUIRE to be very helpful. Somewhat casual in appearance but speaks reasonable English. Send e-mail to louis.cagniart@notaires.fr
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Really kind from you to share this lead, thank you very much Robert
We used this lady for two of our sucessive house purchases in France, both times shared with a local Notaire via tele communication because we are far south in Provence
Thank you Susannah - happy both times went succesfull
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I took it for granted anglophones referring to a ‘notary’ in writing, talking about France, was officious spellcheck interference by their computer/tablet/smartphone.
It might well be that some folk don’t bother to check what the automatic-interference gives..
I reckon that as Notaire and Notary are very different roles, it is as well (perhaps) to use the word which relates to the country in which one needs/uses that particular role. Then any advice which is given/received is (hopefully) correct
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