Disclaimer: general information only
Courrier clair is not a legal service. We explain, in plain language, what the most common types of official letters are for, which deadlines to check and where to find the official information. We do not read your letter, we do not give an opinion on your personal situation and we do not write replies or appeals for you.
Why this limit
In France, giving personalised legal advice is reserved for certain professions (lawyers in particular), under article 54 of
law no. 71-1130 of 31 December 1971. Answering a member of parliament, the Ministry of Justice stated on 8 April 2025 that
les plateformes en ligne ne sont donc pas autorisées à délivrer des consultations juridiques
(online platforms
are therefore not allowed to give legal consultations) —
written question no. 3177, Assemblée nationale.
Our guides are therefore general information sheets, valid for everyone.
What you should always do
- Read the deadlines written on your letter: they take priority over our guides. The deadline often starts on the date of receipt or notification, not the day you read the letter.
- Check the official website of the body concerned (links in each guide). Rules change; each guide shows the date it was last checked.
- Beware of fake letters, texts and emails: a public body never asks for your full bank details by text message. If in doubt, log in to your personal account by typing the official address yourself.
Where to get free personal help
- France services: staff help you for free with procedures (CAF, taxes, health insurance, residence permits…), near where you live.
- Point-justice: free legal information and consultations with legal professionals (phone 3039).
- Défenseur des droits: if you think a public service is not respecting your rights (09 69 39 00 00).
- For a residence permit refusal or an order to leave France: contact a lawyer or an association that helps foreign nationals immediately, as appeal deadlines can be just a few days.
Found a mistake in a guide? Report it on our GitHub issues (without any personal data).