Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CVL4007

 
TITLE Introduction to Notarial Law

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Civil Law

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit considers the notary’s twofold capacity of public officer and liberal professional. Since his public office is intimately linked to the publication of the notarial act, the requisites of the latter will be studied in detail in view of his civil liability should he fail to abide by these formalities. This applies especially to cases that give rise to the nullity of a notarial act. The various disciplinary controls over the notary are discussed so that students appreciate the implications of the public nature of this office. Besides, the legal basis of the notary’s role as a liberal professional is examined within the framework of the opinion of text writers and various local judgements. The study-unit will attempt to help students form their own considered opinion as to whether the interaction between the notary’s public office and his membership of a liberal profession has changed his status in recent years.

Learning Outcomes:

Good knowledge of Chapter 55 of the Laws of Malta (The Notarial Profession and Notarial Archives Act of 1927) and relative legislation.

A better understanding of the background of this legislation.

An understanding the functions and office of the Notary, both as a Public Officer, as well as a liberal Professional.

An appreciation of the principal issues regarding the public interest in the regulation of notarial acts, as well as the private interests of the parties to a particular deed.

Understanding of the principal issues regarding the formalities of Notarial Acts.

An understanding of how Chapter 55 and relative legislation works also at the practical level.

A discussion regarding the current developments for the Profession of the Notary Public in Malta.

Reading Lists:

Legal texts

The Notarial Profession and Notarial Archives Act (Chapter 55)
The Public Registry Act (Chapter 56)

Suggested reading

Historical

Fiorini S: Notaries and Notarial Practice to 1500, pp xi – l, in Documentary Sources of Maltese History, Part I, Notarial Documents, No 3, Univ of Malta, 2005.

The Notarial Law

Boero P: La legge notarile commentata, UTET
Consiglio nazionale del notariato: Deontologia Notarile, 1994
Di Fabio M: Manuale di notariato, Giuffrè
Irti N: Studi sul formalismo negoziale, CEDAM
Pacifico E: Le Invalidità degli atti notarili, Giuffrè
Petrelli G: Visure ipotecarie: responsabilità civile del notariato; limiti del danno risarcibile, Giuffrè
Prottettì E e Di Zenzo C: La legge notarile, Giuffrè
Zanelli P: Il notariato in italia, Giuffrè

Dissertations

Agius A M: Trusts: an Emerging Aspect in Notarial Law, unpublished dissertation, 2008
Borg F: The Extent of Notarial Responsibility, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2008
Callus P: Function and Regulation of the Notarial Profession: a Comparative Study, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 1995
Debrincat C: Inexistence, Nullity and Annulability in the Context of Article 40 of the Notarial Profession and Notarial Archives Act, unpublished dissertation, 2008
Ebejer A: Notarial Profession in Recent Legislative Changes, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 1983
Farrugia A: The Office of the Notary Public in an Ever-Evolving Electronic World, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2003
Farrugia E: The Notarial Deed of Sale: A Case for Imporved Drafting in order to Avoid Dispute, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2002
Fiorentino A: The Impartiality and Independence of the Notary, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2004
Gerada D: Requisites of the Notarial Act and its Registration, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 1997
Magri D: Acts which a Notary may Not Receive, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2003
Sammut R: Aspects of the Liability of Notaries Public in Malta, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 1995
Scerri M: Computerization of the Notarial Profession, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 1999
Spiteri J: The Appointment to the Office of Notary Public and the Organization of the Profession, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2000
Spiteri T: The Functions and Responsibilities of Notaries Public, unpublished dissertation, RUM, 1973
Vella C: The Notary Public in Malta from the Vilhena Code of 1723 to Ordinance V of 1855, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2006
Vella P: The Relationship between Negotia in Civil Law and the Documents expressing them, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2001
Vassallo R: The Private Writing from a Civil Law Perspective, unpublished dissertation, Univ of Malta, 2003.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Students taking this study-unit need to have a background in law.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
True/False Questions Examination (1 Hour) Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Roland Wadge

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit