In France (civil law, different from US common law) a notary is a qualified lawyer whose role when selling the house is to ensure that all the legal aspects are handled correctly (including things as making sure that the technical reviews of the house have been done, that there are specific documents from the city etc.), and to make sure that the people who sign the documents are the ones that are allowed to do so.
This means that when you are done with the signature, all legal aspects of the transactions are covered.
Since what needs to be checked is completely standardized and what is in the contract is standardized as well, you are not expected to negotiate anything (except for the price). There are no surprises in the contract either - it is all standard (and boring).
When you are at the notary the contract is read out loud but for one you do not understand everything, and for two you do not worry either as this is the same thing everytime and cannot be neither less nor more than what is required by law.
BTW, each party can have their own notary (what each of them do is legally defined as well and they share the fee (also according to the law :)) or you can have the same for both.
It is very comforting for a stressful act like this.
This is very similar with labour contracts (no notary involved, but a fixed set of points in the contract, no more an no less)
This means that when you are done with the signature, all legal aspects of the transactions are covered.
Since what needs to be checked is completely standardized and what is in the contract is standardized as well, you are not expected to negotiate anything (except for the price). There are no surprises in the contract either - it is all standard (and boring).
When you are at the notary the contract is read out loud but for one you do not understand everything, and for two you do not worry either as this is the same thing everytime and cannot be neither less nor more than what is required by law.
BTW, each party can have their own notary (what each of them do is legally defined as well and they share the fee (also according to the law :)) or you can have the same for both.
It is very comforting for a stressful act like this.
This is very similar with labour contracts (no notary involved, but a fixed set of points in the contract, no more an no less)