Yes.

If so, what are they? Are these only notarial acts or also acts of other authorities?

According to Article 1367 of the Civil Code, when the signature is affixed by a public office-holder, it confers authenticity to the act.
Article 1369 of the Civil Code defines an authentic instrument as an instrument which has been received, with the required formalities, by a public office-holder having competence and capacity to act. Finally, Article 1371 of the Civil Code provides that the authentic instrument is proof of what the public office holder claims to have personally accomplished or established, until it is recorded as a forgery.
These are therefore documents issued by notaries or judicial officers, but also by courts, mayors, civil registrars, etc.

Under French law, the authentic instrument has enhanced probative value. In accordance with article 1371 of the Civil Code, in its wording as set out in the Ordinance of 10 February 2016, the authentic instrument is proof of what the public office holder claims to have personally done or established, until it is recorded as a forgery.

In other words, the authentic instrument proves the existence and content of the agreement on which it is based.

• The date on which the authentic instrument was drawn up
• The place where the authentic instrument was drawn up
• The signature by the parties of the authentic instrument
• The parties’ declarations
• Any observation made by the authority within the limits of its competence
• The measures the authority declares to have taken
• Appearance, identification and consent of the parties

Enhanced probative value is granted to all references to the document which have been recorded by the public office holder and which have been personally completed or recorded by him/her, for example the date of the document, the place, the identity of the parties, etc.

On the other hand, references to the document which merely relate elements that have been exposed to the notary, without the notary having verified them him/herself, have no enhanced probative value.

The enhanced probative value therefore concerns all the abovementioned elements. With regard to “The content of the parties’ declarations”, the enhanced probative value relates only to the fact that the parties actually made the registered declarations in the presence of the notary who drafted the document.

Before which authority: The Court of First Instance
According to which procedure (state the applicable rules): Procedure for registering an authentic instrument as being forged (“inscription de faux”) according to Articles 303 to 316 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Within what timeframe: Authenticity may be challenged at any time, at least until the authenticity of the document is established by an irrevocable decision.