What Is A Civil Law Notary?A Civil Law Notary is a term that varies in definition based on the country. In America, a Civil law notary is an agent that can act on behalf of the legal system to do a variety of tasks for private parties. These acts include certification of documents, third party witness to certain acts and statements, and officiating marriages. Notaries may not act on behalf of the state, or the government in general, but instead are meant to officiate in the interest of private parties. The National Association of Civil Law Notaries or NACLN is the governing board that deals with this. Other countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany have different rules and status altogether for their notaries. In the Netherlands for example, a Civil Law Notary is appointed by the Crown for life. They also are able to work in certain areas of tax code, and are required to keep educated in this part of the law. This has not influenced the American position for a Civil Law Notary, however. The NACLN, or National Association of Civil Law Notaries has a very specific guideline system for notaries. it spells out precisely what duties notaries are to fulfill. Each state that employs notaries has it's own specific guide for their services, so the practice varies slightly by state. You should be able to find a manual or book on your relevant state. Although it may seem like a Civil Law Notary is a junior member of the legal society, this is not entirely accurate. They are more powerful than attorney, but they are not able to perform all the duties that attorney's perform. All notaries must be in good standing with the State Bar Association, and have been practicing law for at least the last five years. They are appointed by the Secretary of State, although they act in service to private parties. It is the perfect blend between state accountability and private party practice. Using the services of a Civil Law Notary require the payment of a fee to the Secretary of State. Notaries are top legal counsel, and thus need to be compensated as such. They are compensated in part by this fee, and also with tax dollars where applicable. It is important to retain the role of the Civil Law Notary. Their services are vital to the legal community in certain areas of the country. Notaries help speed up the process of authenticating documents, such as wills, so that they can be recognized as legal documents. They also can assist in a variety of other legal paperwork, such as vehicle title transfer or marriage certificates. The legal system greatly benefits from their services, and the system moves smoothly with their help. |