Title XX: National automated genetic fingerprint database and central biological sample preservation service

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Article R53-18

French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force

Updated 6 Nov 2023

Personnel of the national forensic police service of the national police and those of the national gendarmerie, specially assigned to the service implementing the processing, and duly authorised, may alone, at the request of the judicial authority or judicial police officers, ensure that the file is fed, have access to the information recorded and carry out reconciliation operations.

Officers and agents of the judicial police and specialised agents, technicians or engineers of the technical and forensic police acting in application of the provisions of I of article 706-56 may only access the file directly to check whether it contains the civil status of a person likely to be the subject of a biological sample in application of these provisions. They may not access any other data.

Duly authorised staff assigned to the central department for the preservation of biological samples may directly access data recorded in the file, with the exception of data relating to analysis results. They may record information relating to seals.

Public prosecutors and investigating magistrates, judicial police officers, natural or legal persons approved in accordance with the aforementioned Decree No. 97-109 of 6 February 1997 who have carried out the analyses, and staff acting under their responsibility may carry out, by any secure means, including telematic, the operations of transmitting the information that must be recorded in the file to the service managing the file.

With a view to sending the genetic profiles, the natural or legal persons approved in accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned Decree no. 97-109 of 6 February 1997 who have carried out the analyses, and the staff acting under their responsibility, may access the related data recorded in the file and mentioned in I and 1° of II of Article R. 53-11, as well as, where applicable, the surname, first names, date and place of birth and parentage of the persons whose genetic fingerprints are supposed to have been collected. They may not access any other data.

Mariela Petrova

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Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

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Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

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