Nobility is a very messy situation in France. There is no clear law on it nor an official body. Nobility isn't recognized in France, but it can be defended in court. It is quite complex. Most noble families don't even get it added to their birth certificates (has to be added for every newborn which as you can see is quite a hassle). The majority of legitimate nobles are not registered with any private body such as the French Nobility Association Danielane mentions. Probably the only way you would see French nobility today on a large scale is coat of arms registered with the different heraldic authorities in France.
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Originally Posted by Toledo
Thanks Magnik! That is one of the most organized name list to the noble families of France. I remember reading in one other thread (the one I posted about noble titles in Poland, I think) that France's nobility really got complicated because so many records were destroyed during the revolution. Some families claimed titles they never had. I'm not sure if there is any organization that keeps the record keeping 100% accurate. In Spain the law is very strict about the use of titles to prevent fraud.
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True there is no 100% accurate record in France. It basically works in legal purposes that if there is an issue with more than one person claiming the same title, the French courts will look at the evidence and determine who is the rightful heir. Many families when it comes to legal documents, the only thing registered is a coat of arms.