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Reader Question: How are huissiers offices organised in France now?

The first thing to note is that a huissier de justice (bailiff) is now known as a commissaire de justice in France, with the new role combining several previous positions. 

Officials in this role provide a range of assistance, including getting involved in neighbour disputes, where it is often a good idea to call on one to take an official note of a situation (disturbing noise etc), which can be made use of if going to court. 

They also can help residents with understanding local rules, recovering debts, and valuing items for you.

These commissaires can work alone or together in an office, however where they can establish themselves is limited. 

The Ministry of Justice is in charge of allowing commissaires to set up their etude, or office, to ensure that equal access to the officials is available to people across all of France. 

The head of an office is often the associé gérant, or managing partner. 

Other partners (²¹²õ²õ´Ç³¦¾±Ã©²õ) in the firm may be present, as well as non-partner commissaires who have been hired (commissaires employés).

It is also possible for a commissaire to work within a wider law firm or group, allowing the business to broaden its services and the employee to obtain experience before potentially requesting to open their own service. 

You can find commissaires through the official , but you need to pay for their services.

To be hired as a commissaire, the candidate needs to have previous experience in the role, or of work as a clerk in a bailiff’s office, or have a degree in a relevant field, and must take an oath before they begin working.