The development of the internal sections within the (Malta) Public Registry since 1863

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to elaborate upon and analyze the pros and cons of the various functions and workings of the Public Registry Office (Malta) in relation to the internal sections within it, keeping in mind that its functions are all well embedded in the law, mainly : (i) the Civil Code (Cap 16 – Laws of Malta); (ii) the Notarial Profession and Notarial Archives Act (Cap 55 – Laws of Malta) (iii) the Public Registry Act (Cap 56 – Laws of Malta); and (iv) the Marriage Act (Cap 255 – Laws of Malta). This aspect of the Public Registry has never been examined so far. Chapter 1 : deals with the Public Registry’s Office (Malta) background history to date. Chapter 2 : focuses on the internal functions of the various sections within the Public Registry keeping in mind that the effectiveness of the Public Registry emerges from its public dimension. Chapter 3 : deals with the methodology and preservation of the registered Acts of Civil Status and registrations of notes of enrolment, and so on and on how digitization influenced this process. Chapter 4 : is a critical analysis of the past and present Public Registry Offices pinpointing the flaws in the system and the way forward focusing particularly on the improvements or otherwise that have been implemented in recent years.