[quote user="P2"] A Notaire might want to speak English so that it is an additional factor in his / her favour in obtaining work, just as having a qualification etc can add[/quote] True if thats his want. Cannot argue with that but that was not my point. [quote user="P2"] Plus, I would not trust an immobilier to translate for me - they have a vested interest in selling the house NOT in providing me with translations, some of which might be detrimental.[/quote] Again true but agin that was not my point. And anyway hasn't the Notaire a vested interest in selling a property? He is in the business of earning as well as an immobilier. [quote user="P2"] To go back in history every nation would have been confined to their country because they could go no where because those people would not speak the language. Paul[/quote] Agreed but we are not talking about people migrating to another country we are talking about people having the common decency to try at least to learn the language they have migrated to. Yes I admit that buying or selling a house or any legal transaction in France can be very daunting so why not take someone who is aufait with the language and not expect the person who is conducting the transaction to speak in your mother tongue because you cannot speak theirs.