Governing Principles
Civil law notaries, while holding a public office, are independent of the state and exercise their profession in their own name and for their own account. They are not bound to any instructions by the state.
Impartiality
Like judges, civil law notaries are committed to objectivity. They do not unilaterally represent the interests of one principal. Civil law notaries are called upon to ensure equitable legal and contractual relations so as to avoid conflicts before litigation and create legal certainty.
Public trust
Civil law notaries are entrusted with special tasks in the administration of the law. Whatever a civil law notary certifies in notarial public deeds carries special probative force. This is why he enjoys special trust.
Confidentiality
Civil law notaries and their staff are bound to secrecy vis-à-vis all sides. This duty of secrecy applies to all matters learned during the exercise of office. Information may be passed on to third parties only with the explicit consent of all parties involved. Security civil law notaries who hold money, deeds or documents in escrow are subject to stringent rules. In doing so, they offer comprehensive insurance cover. The notarial chambers regularly monitor notaries in the exercise of their profession.
Availability
Currently, there are 476 notarial offices Austria. The law regulates the geographical distribution of these notarial offices. This guarantees a full-cover and balanced provision of notarial services all over Austria and prevents that large conurbations are given preference over rural areas. Civil law notaries exist wherever there is a need for administering the law and providing advice, not only where good business can be expected.
