In summary…
No wealth management firm can replace a notary or a chartered accountant: certain legal acts must be handled by a notary, and a company's accounting falls under the purview of a chartered accountant. The right firm is one that clearly defines who does what, in what order, and coordinates all aspects of the process. Balmont Conseil works with a network of international notaries, lawyers, and chartered accountants, and carries out its customized services in collaboration with your existing notary or accountant.
Balmont Conseil is a firm not independent In regulatory terms: financial investment advisor member of ANACOFI-CIF and insurance broker (ORIAS 13003497), he receives commissions on the contracts subscribed.
A Lyon-based business owner is preparing to sell his company. His accountant is handling the books, his notary is waiting for the deed, a lawyer has discussed tax implications, and no one has considered what he will do with the sale proceeds. It is during this interim period that a wealth management advisor comes in.
1. Who does what: four jobs, four roles
| Professional | What he does | Which is confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Notary | As a public and ministerial officer, he authenticates and preserves documents. His services are mandatory for real estate sales, marriage contracts, inheritance agreements, the division of an estate including a will or real estate, certain donations (real estate, between spouses), and affidavits of heirship. | Remuneration by emoluments for services regulated by decree, and by freely agreed fees for the rest |
| Chartered Accountant | Maintains, reviews, and assesses company accounts. Also assists business owners in sales or acquisitions: negotiation, legal, tax, and financial structuring. | Registration in the directory of the Order of Chartered Accountants |
| Tax lawyer | Advises on the tax law of a transaction | Specialization designation "tax law and customs law", one of 28 designations; a maximum of two per lawyer |
| Wealth Management Advisor | Look at the whole picture: savings, insurance, investments, inheritance, and the effect of each decision on your assets. | ORIAS number, categories (financial investment advisor, broker), written response regarding their status |
Specifically. The wealth management advisor does not sign the deed of gift for a property or keep your company's accounts. Their role lies elsewhere: establishing the order of decisions, quantifying their impact on your assets, and ensuring that each of the other three receives the correct information. The roles involved in a case abroad are detailed in Notary, lawyer, accountant and advisor: who does what in an international case.
2. Four cases, four moments where they intersect
The sale of a company
For the sale of shares in a limited liability company (SARL), the registration fee is 3% of the price, after a €23,000 allowance prorated to the share capital transferred. By default, the buyer pays it, unless otherwise stipulated in the deed, and the formality takes place within one month of the deed (Service-Public, verified July 22, 2026). According to the French Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ordre des experts-comptables), the transfer of a business is a complex operation with tax, social, legal, asset-related, and financial consequences, which must be sufficiently anticipated and prepared. The chartered accountant values the company, a lawyer drafts the agreement, and the advisor prepares the use of the proceeds before the signing. See selling your business in Lyon.
The holding company
When a holding company receives dividends from its subsidiary under the parent-subsidiary regime, a portion of the expenses and charges amounting to 5% of the dividend income remains taxable (BOFiP, BOI-IS-BASE-10-10-20, § 90, which cites Article 216 of the French General Tax Code). The calculation falls under the purview of the chartered accountant; the legal interpretation of the structure falls under the purview of the lawyer; and the use of the cash accumulated within the holding company falls under the purview of the advisor. See asset holding company.
Inheritance
Giving away shares in a SARL (limited liability company) or EURL (single-member limited liability company) requires a notarial deed: without it, the deed is void (Service-Public, verified September 9, 2026). The Dutreil agreement can exempt 75% of the value of the transferred shares from tax, provided four conditions regarding commitment and activity are met. The standard tax allowance for a child is €100,000 per donor, over 15 years (Service-Public, verified May 13, 2026). The notary receives the deed, a legal expert secures the agreement, and the advisor calculates what each child receives and when. See Dutreil pact.
Leaving for abroad
The exit tax applies to individuals who have been French tax residents for at least six of the last ten years and whose securities are worth at least €800,000 or represent at least 50% of a company's profits (impots.gouv.fr). In this case, tax residency analysis is the work of a lawyer or tax advisor; the notary handles the marriage contract and inheritance; and the advisor coordinates the products and provides ongoing support remotely after the departure. Balmont Conseil leverages its network of international notaries, lawyers, and accountants for this purpose. See the exit tax in 2026.
For the technician. Service-Public, "Notary" fact sheet (F2164), verified on September 14, 2026; company fact sheets F36015 (transfer of SARL shares, verified on July 22, 2026) and F36019 (gift of SARL shares, verified on September 9, 2026); fact sheet on gift tax (verified on May 13, 2026). BOFiP, BOI-IS-BASE-10-10-20-20210311, § 90. National Bar Council, specialization designations (list published by the Minister of Justice on December 28, 2011). Order of Chartered Accountants, "Companies" page.
3. How they coordinate: four requirements
- A contact person who keeps the list. One person keeps a list of open questions and decisions to be made, and provides you with an updated list in writing.
- Each in their own field. The notary responds on the deed, the accountant on the accounts, the lawyer on tax law, the advisor on the estate, and each says it in writing.
- The order is written before the first signature. Sale, donation, departure: the order of the steps changes the result; it is decided before acting.
- You are not the postman. The documents circulate between professionals, with your agreement, instead of going through you.
4. Seven questions to ask a firm
- What types of professionals do you work with (notaries, lawyers, accountants), and in which countries?
- In a case like mine, who does what, and in what order?
- Who is charging me for what: your fees or commissions, the notary's fees, the accountant's and lawyer's fees?
- Do you receive remuneration from one of these professionals, or do you pay them?
- Can you work with my current notary and accountant?
- What happens if one of them disagrees with your recommendation?
- What is your ORIAS number, are you self-employed or not, and how are you paid?
For a leader, the page dedicated to the required documents he elaborates on the last question.
At Balmont Consulting
Founded in January 2013, Balmont Conseil, a single-member simplified joint-stock company (SASU), has been advising business leaders, professionals, and families for nearly 14 years. We work with a network of international notaries, lawyers, and accountants, as well as 23 partner companies and asset management firms. We have no financial ties to any bank or insurance company.
| Step | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Contract X-ray | Free |
| Initial meeting, in Lyon or via videoconference | Free |
| Balance sheet | Fixed price announced |
| A customized service, conducted in conjunction with your notary or accountant. | €500 including VAT per hour |
| Contracts signed through us | Commissions paid by the supplier; example: entry fees of 0.5 % on Luxembourg life insurance contracts |
| Annual follow-up, possible remotely | Free |
Our position
A firm that claims to do everything itself isn't a complete firm: it's a firm that doesn't disclose what it doesn't do. The best criterion is simple. It tells you which actions fall under the notary's jurisdiction, which accounts are handled by the accountant, what it expects from the lawyer, and what it handles itself. It provides this information in writing and agrees to work with the professionals you already have. Give us this test, just like the others.
Frequently asked questions
Can a wealth management firm replace my notary?
No. Service-Public lists the acts for which it is mandatory to use a notary: real estate sales, marriage contracts, inheritance agreements, and certain donations. The advisor prepares the decision; the notary authenticates the document.
How much does it cost to have a notary's services?
The notary's services are not free. For services with fixed fees, they receive emoluments set by decree; for other services, you freely agree on a fee with them. Ask for the amount before signing.
How to verify a tax lawyer's specialization?
Look for the specialization designation "tax law and customs law," one of the 28 recognized designations. A lawyer can use a maximum of two designations on their marketing materials. Also, ask them for an example of a case similar to yours.
Are you preparing for a sale, a holding company, or a transfer of ownership?
Write to us specifying your current advice: the first exchange is used to establish who does what in your case, and what is missing.
Book an appointment
The initial consultation is to establish your exact situation and determine if there is anything that can be done—sometimes there is nothing, and we will say so as well. Thirty minutes, with no obligation.
Book an exchange with Balmont Conseil
Alexis Sagnier, financial and real estate investment advisor, insurance broker, AMF certified. ORIAS 13003497. Updated on 24/10/2026.
Official sources consulted
- Public Service — Notary (record F2164, verified on September 14, 2026)
- Public Service for Entrepreneurship — Transfer of shares in SARL or EURL (sheet F36015, verified on July 22, 2026)
- Public Service for Entrepreneurship — Donation of shares in SARL or EURL (sheet F36019, verified on September 9, 2026)
- Public Service — Gift tax: allowances (fact sheet F14203, verified on May 13, 2026)
- BOFiP — IS, participation products, parent-subsidiary regime (BOI-IS-BASE-10-10-20)
- impots.gouv.fr — I am leaving France, am I subject to the exit tax?
- Order of Chartered Accountants — Seeking advice from a chartered accountant: businesses
- National Bar Council — Specialization designations
- ORIAS — Register of intermediaries in insurance, banking and finance
