The evolution of notarial firms and their legal implications

Abstract

The profession of the Notary Public has greatly developed over the years whilst providing the best possible service to the public. The previously established practice of the village notary has slowly been supplemented by several notaries working out of the same village or town, and in turn notaries working in the same office. This has even led to notaries branding themselves as partnerships or firms within a system which recognises the independence and impartiality of the notary but which does not recognise the said partnerships or firms. This professional report analyses the principles which are essential for the running of the Notary’s office whilst contemplating the applicability of the same principles to a notarial firm or partnership, namely the Notarial Deposit Account and Professional Indemnity Insurance. A comparative analysis of notarial firms or partnerships in civil law systems was conducted with the intention of] establishing primarily whether Maltese law could draw anything of note from the said comparative laws.