Ch. Trikoupi 22, PC 10679 Athens
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The notarial institution was created at the same time as the first social and economic relations of people were established. It dates thousands of years ago, having followed customary rules. The institution was recognized and established by rules of written law following a long historical journey, while it also served as a form of preventive justice.
The notarial institution has been a creation and direct consequence of people’s need for stability, certainty, and safety in every transaction.
The notary public is a public official, appointed by the Minister of Justice of the Hellenic Republic, whose duties are the protection of public interest and safety as well as the protection of the fiscal and social policies. Notaries are audited for the lawful and diligent performance of their duties, being subject to both announced and unannounced inspections by the district Attorney. As a public official, a notary public can enjoy a sense of professional independence while performing their work. They are independent to both the Government and their clients, whose personal statements they certify, unlike civil servants who must obey their superiors and their orders according to Civil Law.
The institution of notary public has a central role in the Greek-Roman Law, being adopted in 22 member states of the European Union ( Austria – Belgium – Bulgaria – France – Germany – Greece- Estonia – Italy – Spain – Croatia – Latvia – Lithuania- Luxembourg – Malta – Netherlands – Hungary – Poland – Portugal – Slovakia – Slovenia – the Czech Republic – and Romania)
It has already been adopted by the law system of the former Socialist Eastern European countries. In Greece, the seats of notaries are geographically distributed throughout the territory so that it is easy for anyone to have access to the notary of their trust.