French Notarial Records Dictionary for Genealogy
French notarial records are treasure troves of genealogical information often overlooked by researchers. This glossary offers translations and explanations of terminology found in French notarial acts, contracts, and wills. It covers legal documents from the 16th to early 20th centuries. These records often reveal family relationships, economic status, and details of daily life not found elsewhere.
Marriage Contracts (Contrats de mariage)
| French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Contrat de mariage | Marriage contract | Legal document establishing property rights between spouses |
| Régime dotal | Dowry system | Marriage property arrangement where wife’s dowry remains her property |
| Communauté de biens | Community property | Marriage regime where certain assets are jointly owned |
| Séparation de biens | Separation of property | Marriage regime where spouses maintain separate ownership |
| Apport | Contribution | Property or assets brought into the marriage |
| Dot | Dowry | Assets a bride brings to marriage, typically from her parents |
| Trousseau | Trousseau | Clothing, linens, and personal items bride brings to marriage |
| Douaire | Dower | Provision for widow’s financial security after husband’s death |
| Préciput | Preciput | Right of surviving spouse to take certain property before division |
| Propres | Personal property | Assets that remain separate property of one spouse |
| Acquêts | Acquired property | Assets acquired during marriage (typically jointly owned) |
| Conquêts | Joint acquisitions | Property acquired jointly during marriage |
| Biens paraphernaux | Paraphernal goods | Wife’s property beyond dowry that she controls |
| Conventions matrimoniales | Marriage agreements | Terms and conditions of the marriage contract |
| Avantages matrimoniaux | Marriage advantages | Benefits conferred between spouses in contract |
Wills and Successions (Testaments et successions)
| French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Testament | Will | Legal document expressing how a person wants property distributed after death |
| Testament olographe | Holographic will | Will entirely handwritten by testator |
| Testament authentique | Authentic will | Will prepared by notary in presence of witnesses |
| Testament mystique | Mystic/sealed will | Secret will sealed and delivered to notary |
| Testateur/Testatrice | Testator/Testatrix | Person making the will |
| Codicille | Codicil | Addition or supplement to a will |
| Légataire universel | Universal legatee | Person receiving all or remainder of estate |
| Légataire à titre universel | Partial universal legatee | Person receiving fraction or category of estate |
| Légataire particulier | Specific legatee | Person receiving specific items from estate |
| Héritier/Héritière | Heir | Person entitled to inherit by law |
| Succession | Estate/Inheritance | Property and rights passing after death |
| Inventaire après décès | Post-mortem inventory | Detailed listing of deceased’s possessions |
| Partage | Division | Distribution of inheritance among heirs |
| Tuteur testamentaire | Testamentary guardian | Guardian appointed in will for minor children |
| Exécuteur testamentaire | Executor | Person charged with executing terms of will |
| Legs | Legacy/Bequest | Gift left in a will |
| Usufruit | Usufruct | Right to use and benefit from property without ownership |
| Nue-propriété | Bare ownership | Ownership without right of use (complement to usufruct) |
Sales and Property Documents (Actes de vente et propriétés)
| French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Acte de vente | Deed of sale | Document recording transfer of property ownership |
| Quittance | Receipt/Discharge | Document proving payment has been made and releasing the debtor from obligation |
| Vendeur/Vendeuse | Seller | Person selling property |
| Acquéreur/Acquéreuse | Buyer/Purchaser | Person buying property |
| Bien immobilier | Real estate | Land and buildings |
| Bien meuble | Movable property | Personal possessions, furniture, etc. |
| Immeuble | Building/Real estate | Building or immovable property |
| Cadastre | Land registry | Official record of land ownership and values |
| Bornage | Boundary marking | Establishment of property boundaries |
| Servitude | Easement | Right of access across another’s property |
| Mitoyenneté | Joint ownership | Shared ownership (e.g., of a wall between properties) |
| Bail | Lease | Contract for renting property |
| Bailleur | Lessor/Landlord | Person granting use of property |
| Preneur | Lessee/Tenant | Person receiving use of property |
| Fermage | Farm lease | Rental of agricultural land |
| Hypothèque | Mortgage | Security interest in property for debt |
| Rente | Annuity/Income | Regular payment, often from property |
| Arpent | Arpent | Old French land measure (varies by region) |
Guardianships and Curatorships (Tutelles et curatelles)
| French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Tutelle | Guardianship | Legal protection for minor or incapacitated person |
| Tuteur/Tutrice | Guardian | Person responsible for minor child and their property |
| Subrogé tuteur | Deputy guardian | Person overseeing guardian’s actions |
| Conseil de famille | Family council | Assembly of relatives making decisions for orphaned minors |
| Émancipation | Emancipation | Legal process granting minor some adult rights |
| Curatelle | Curatorship | Less restrictive form of guardianship |
| Curateur/Curatrice | Curator | Person assisting with legal and financial matters |
| Mineur(e) | Minor | Person under legal age |
| Pupille | Ward | Minor under guardianship |
| Interdit(e) | Legally incapacitated | Person declared legally incompetent |
| Avis de parents | Family opinion | Formal consultation of relatives |
| Assemblée de parents | Family assembly | Meeting of relatives to discuss minor’s interests |
| Nomination de tuteur | Guardian appointment | Legal process appointing guardian |
| Compte de tutelle | Guardianship account | Financial accounting of minor’s assets by guardian |
Understanding French Notarial Records
French notarial records are particularly valuable for genealogical research for several reasons:
Historical Context
- The French notarial system dates back to the Middle Ages
- Notaries (notaires) were public officials with broader powers than modern notaries
- Records were carefully preserved, with many surviving from the 16th century onward
- Notaries served as record-keepers in times before consistent government record-keeping
Research Value
- Notarial records often contain information not found in vital records
- They provide insights into economic status, property ownership, and family relationships
- Contracts frequently name extended family members, revealing connections
- Records may include signatures or marks of participants
Finding Notarial Records
- Records over 100 years old are typically in departmental archives, but some successor notaries keep them in their archives.
- Records are organized by notary name, location, and date range
- Indexes (répertoires) can help locate specific documents
This glossary is part of our comprehensive French Genealogy Dictionary. For terms related to other document types, please visit our main dictionary page.
Last updated: April 16, 2025
