Background
      
            

In application of Article L. 462-4-1 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce), the Autorité de la concurrence launched two public consultations to prepare two new opinions on the freedom of establishment of commissioners of justice and notaries and propose a review of the latest maps adopted in 2023 and 2024.



To contribute to the new opinions and proposed maps of zones for the installation of commissioners of justice's and notaries' offices, interested stakeholders are invited to answer the questionnaires available online by clicking on the links below before 2 October 2025
      
      

                
          
        
            The law provides for a review of the installation maps at least every two years



The maps for commissioners of justice and notaries, made public by the joint decrees of the Ministers of Justice and Economy of 26 December 2023[1] and 27 février 2024[2], must be revised within two years of their adoption[3]. 



These maps are subject to a prior proposal by the Autorité de la concurrence. 



In addition, the Autorité is required to make "all recommendations to improve access to public or ministerial offices with a view to strengthening the territorial cohesion of services and gradually increasing the number of offices in the territory" (Art. L. 462-4-1 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce)).

A first installation map for commissioners of justice



Since 1 July 2022, the professions of court bailiff and judicial auctioneer have been brought together within the new profession of commissioner of justice. Consequently, since this date, the Minister of Justice only creates offices of commissioners of justice, to which all qualified professionals or "qualified" commissioners of justice may be appointed, regardless of their original profession.

Previous decrees issued pursuant to Article 52 of the Law for Growth and Activity 



Following the Autorité's opinion[4], the Government, by joint decrees of the Ministers of Justice and Economy of 26 December 2023 and 27 February 2024, recommended the establishment of 502 notaries and 33 commissioners of justice over the period 2023-2025.

Consultation with interested parties



The public consultations launched today mark the beginning of work to revise the maps of zones for the establishment of the professions of commissioner of justice and notary. 



Interested parties are therefore invited to participate in these consultations, particularly on the following topics:


	applications for offices created during the period 2023-2025;
	applications for the creation of offices during the period 2025-2027;
	the impact of the merger of the professions of court bailiff and judicial auctioneer into the single profession of commissioner of justice since July 2022;
	the economic situation of the offices;
	generative artificial intelligence and its impact on the professions;
	the frequency of the Autorité's opinions;
	the extension of the free installation system to Alsace-Moselle.




As in previous years, the Autorité's objective is to have as accurate and objective an overview as possible of the economic situation of notaries and commissioners of justice, particularly those whose offices have recently been created, in order to formulate its recommendations to the government.
      
      
      

                
          
        
          
            Questionnaire for the commissioners of justice
      
          
        
                  
            
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            Questionnaire for the notaries
      
          
        
                  
            
            Access
      
          
              
      

                
          
  
    Contact(s)
          
                
          
              
          
        
              


      
      
      
  
    
      
            Chloé Duretête
      
      
            Communication officer
      
    
    
      
            01 55 04 01 20
      
      
     Contact us by e-mail 
 
    
  

      
      

              
      

      

                
          
        
            

[1] Decree of 26 December 2023 issued pursuant to Article 52 of Law 2015-990 of 6 August 2015 for Growth, Activity and Equal Economic Opportunities for the profession of commissioner of justice.



[2] Decree of 27 February 2024 issued pursuant to Article 52 of Law 2015-990 of 6 August 2015 for Growth, Activity and Equal Economic Opportunities for the profession of notary.



[3] In its opinion 25-A-09 du 31 juillet 2025, the Autorité recommends the frequency of its opinions should be extended from two years to five years.



[4] Opinion 23-A-09 of 7 July 2023 on the freedom of establishment of commissioners of justice and a proposed map of establishment areas, together with recommendations on the pace of creation of new commissioner of justice offices..



Opinion 23-A-10 of 7 July 2023 on the freedom of establishment of notaries and a proposed revised map of establishment areas, together with recommendations on the pace of creation of new notarial offices.

Public Consultations on Notaries and Commissioners of Justice in France

The Autorité de la concurrence in France has launched two public consultations to prepare new opinions regarding the freedom of establishment for commissioners of justice and notaries. This initiative is part of a legal requirement to review the establishment maps every two years, as stipulated in Article L. 462-4-1 of the French Commercial Code.

Stakeholders are invited to participate by answering online questionnaires before the deadline of October 2, 2025. The consultations aim to gather insights on various topics, including the creation of new offices, the impact of the merger of court bailiffs and judicial auctioneers into the single profession of commissioner of justice, and the influence of generative artificial intelligence on these professions.

Since July 1, 2022, the new profession of commissioner of justice has been established, combining the roles of court bailiff and judicial auctioneer. The French government has previously recommended the establishment of 502 notaries and 33 commissioners of justice for the period from 2023 to 2025, based on the Autorité's opinions.

The Autorité's goal is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the economic situation of notaries and commissioners of justice, particularly those with newly created offices, to formulate informed recommendations to the government.



Freedom of establishment for notaries and commissioners of justice - The Autorité launches two public consultations to prepare opinions on the freedom of establishment of these professionals and propose a review of the maps adopted in 2023 and 2024

Public Consultations on Notaries and Commissioners of Justice in France

The French competition authority has initiated two public consultations to gather input on the freedom of establishment for notaries and commissioners of justice, aiming to revise the establishment maps adopted in 2023 and 2024.