Court Commissioner

A major part of notarial work is done on behalf of the courts (notaries acting as "court commissioners"). As court commissioners, notaries engage in judicial activities and exercise sovereign powers. Conducting probate is the most frequent and most important activity of civil law notaries in their capacity as "court commissioners".

Probate proceedings

Probate is just one example of how civil law notaries contribute to the administration of law in Austria. Only few people know that notaries conduct some 20% of all probate proceedings free of charge. Even in the absence of an estate, the law requires that probate proceedings be conducted.

Land Register and Register of Companies enquiries

The Land Register and the Register of Companies are maintained as electronic data bases. As court commissioners, civil law notaries retrieve official extracts from the Land Register or the Register of Companies and confirm the authenticity of the extract and its contents.