Notaries in Greece

In Greece, notaries public (συμβολαιογράφους) are lawyers who receive an additional license in order to be permitted to establish a notarial practice. Once licensed as notaries, they no longer practice law or plead in court.

According to the greek law, the notary public is an unpaid public servant and his institutional role is similar to that of a judicial officer. His duties are to protect the public interest, public safety and fiscal and social policy.

Notary offices are distributed geographically throughout the Greek territory, so that it is easy for everyone to access them. There are about 1200 notaries in Greece, which are spread geographically throughout 260 cities on the greek territory.

The Greek notary prepares with legal certainty contracts relating to immovable property ( as per article 369 of the Greek Civil Code, contracts relating to real property - such as a purchase document - must be drafted and executed by and before a notary public), inheritance and family law and company law. These documents constitute public documents and are, therefore, conclusive evidence against all, for everything verified in them. 

Under the system of "preventive justice", the notary acts as an independent, impartial and objective advisor to all parties to a transaction (never for a "customer") while ensuring the legality of the contract and the public interest. 

Exercising in this way the office is a key element in avoiding lengthy and costly litigation, disputes and controversies concerning the validity and importance of the contractual terms of trade.

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