Definition

Notary/Notary public (Ro.: notar/ notar public, De.: ~r Notar/~e Notarin, Fr.: notaire, n.m. ou f./ notaire public, n.m./ notaire publique, n.f., Gr.: συμβολαιογράφος, Cz.: notář, Cr.: javni bilježnik/Notar, Alb.: Noteria/ Noter Publik) (See also: affidavit, authentication, legalisation, notarisation, oath, power of attorney) = (in common-law systems - 'notary public') a public official appointed by state authority, who is handling non-contentious matters and performing legal tasks such as: notarising documents, administering oaths, taking affidavits, acknowledging deeds and conveyances, etc. In order to become a notary public, the applicant must have undergone both an academic and a professional training, and must have passed an admission procedure.  

(in civil law systems- 'notary') a holder of a public office with jurisdiction on non-contentious private law matters (family law, wills, inheritance, property law, commercial law, company incorporation, etc.). A notary must have certain qualifications: to hold a law degree, to undergo several years of practice at an established notary’s office, to pass a national examination in order to be admitted to practice.

 

Useful links

Legislation

http://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/lawbooks/notary.pdf - Notary Public License Law January 2013, United States [English]

http://www.just.ro/Sectiuni/SistemulJudiciar%C3%AEnRom%C3%A2nia/Legeanotarilorpublici_actualizata/tabid/775/Default.aspx - Romanian Law 36/1995 [Romanian]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/6-7/90 - Public Notaries Act 1843, UK [English]

Organisations and associations

http://www.nationalnotary.org/ - National Notary Association (USA)

http://www.thenotariessociety.org.uk/ - The Notaries Society (UK)

http://www.asnnotary.org/ - American Society of Notaries (USA)

http://www.notarypublic.ie/ - The Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland (Ireland)

http://www.uniuneanotarilor.ro/ - The National Union of Notaries Public from Romania (Romania)

http://www.notaires.fr/fr - Notaires de France (France)

http://www.scrivener-notaries.org.uk/docs/Organisation_and_Function.pdf - The Organisation and Function of the Notarial Professions in the United Kingdom and Ireland (UK)

https://www.notar.at/notar/de/home/ - The Austrian Chamber of Civil Law Notaries (Austria)

Online Publications

http://www.henricapitantlawreview.fr/article.php?lg=en&id=354 – Sagaut, Jean-François, 2012, The extra-judicial professions: The Notary, Henri Capitant Law Review

http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/notary/files/notary_law_monograph.pdf - Shea, Michael L., Notary Law

http://www.step.org/notaries-public - Northey, Anthony, 2010, Notaries public, STEP

http://lib.law.washington.edu/collect/Notaires.pdf - Azyndar, Susan, French Notaries: History, Function, and Resources

http://www.eui.eu/Documents/DepartmentsCentres/Law/ResearchTeaching/ResearchThemes/EuropeanPrivateLaw/RealPropertyProject/France.PDF - Glock, Stéphane, Real Property Law

Publications

Withers, Jerry L., 2006, The Notable Notary: The Complete Guide on how to Establish, Market, and Achieve Success with a Notary Public Business, 1st edition, USA, Lulu.com

Jennings, C. Alan, Johnson, Susan L., Bullock, Richard P., 2013, Fundamentals of Louisiana Notarial Law and Practice: Louisiana Notary Public Examination Official Study Guide 2013 Edition, USA, Louisiana Department of State

Ready, Nigel P., Brooke, Richard, 2009, Brooke’s Notary, Sweet & Maxwell/Thomson Reuters

Nahuis, Richard, Noailly, Joëlle, 2005, Competition and quality in the notary profession, the Netherlands, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis

 

By Oana Gligan