notariellen

Notariellen is the adjective form in German that denotes relation to a Notar (notary) or to notarial acts, documents, or procedures. The term appears in phrases such as notarielle Beurkundung, notariell beglaubigte Unterschriften, and notariell ausgestellte Urkunden, and it is used to describe the form and authentication that a notary provides.

In German-speaking civil-law countries, notaries are publicly appointed legal professionals who operate with a high degree of neutrality. Their core functions include drafting and certifying notarial deeds, such as contracts for real estate transfers, wills and inheritance contracts, and marriage contracts. They also certify signatures, authenticate copies of documents, and provide guidance on legal form requirements. Notarial acts are intended to ensure the authenticity and enforceability of important legal transactions.

Notarized documents carry special evidentiary weight; in many cases, a notarial act or notarially certified document is legally required for validity. For example, real estate transactions typically necessitate a notarial deed, and certain testamentary or inheritance arrangements may require notarial involvement to be legally binding. Without notarization, the contract or disposition may be invalid or unenforceable under the applicable law.

Notaries operate independently and are subject to professional rules and fee structures set by law. They must remain neutral and avoid conflicts of interest while providing professional advice limited to the formal and legal aspects of the matter at hand. The notion of notarial acts exists beyond Germany as well, in similar form in other civil-law jurisdictions such as Austria and Switzerland, where notarial procedures serve to promote legal certainty in critical civil transactions.