Key reasons why impostors calling themselves notarial mediators should not be trusted
The Lithuanian Chamber of Notaries encourages people not to trust legal counseling companies, which by sheltering themselves under the name of “notarial mediators” or “notarial consultations” illegally provide consultations and other remunerated services to citizens. “We were in shock after we had known that a legal adviser in Vilnius introducing herself as a “notarial mediator” under the guise of “Notarial consultations” had been illegally providing consultations to citizens, driving them to a notary office and taking a fee for that. In connection with illegal actions of this person we have applied to police and the Ministry of Justice,” said President of the Lithuanian Chamber of Notaries Marius Stračkaitis. The Lithuanian Chamber of Notaries has assumed legal measures after receipt of complaints from people that a window of CJSC “Legis Servus”, conducting its activities in a complex at Seskines street in Vilnius, contained information on provision of “notarial consultations” by the company, and J. B., working at the company, introduced herself as “a notarial mediator”, prepared documents for notarial acts for a fee and also drove clients to a notary office.
The Law of Notariat of the Republic of Lithuania and other legislative acts do not stipulate a profession of “a notarial mediator”, but they contain strict requirements to persons, who would like to become notaries. The Law requests notarial acts, including consultations, to be performed only by notaries. This Law regulates how and where notarial acts may be performed.
The Lithuanian Chamber of Notaries reminds people to apply directly to one of 228 notary offices, carrying out their activities in Lithuania, with any notarial matters, where notaries and assistant notaries with appropriate qualification will prepare and perform a notarial act. Notary services are charges a fee established by the state. “To visit a desired notary office a person doesn’t need any mediators or additional expenses. He just has to contact an office either by phone or e-mail or to com directly to such office during working hours,” emphasized M. Stračkaitis.
The Lithuanian Chamber of Notaries warns people not to trust alleged notarial mediators due to following reasons: An impostor mediator will never come near a notary in knowledge of civil law as to become a notary a person must have at least five years of experience in the field of law, to pass a notary exam, and to win a competition advertised by the Ministry of Justice to fill a vacancy of a notary. Furthermore, notary’s work and his qualification are being constantly examined during official evaluations and checks. An impostor mediator declines all responsibility for his actions and mistakes. Meanwhile, legality of actions of a notary and his employees may be challenged in court. And if the court acknowledges that the client has suffered loss, it will be reimbursed. For that purpose notaries are insured by compulsory and voluntary civil liability insurance. An objective of an impostor mediator is to earn money. Meanwhile, a notary primarily takes care of satisfaction of legal expectations of his client in the best possible way and to behave in a fair, objective and right way with transaction parties. A notary is a guarantor of preventive justice in civil law.
For the last ten years opinion polls confirm that notaries are trusted mostly among representatives of all legal professions, and nine of ten clients remain satisfied with their visits to notary offices. Meanwhile, only complaints of citizens against impostor mediators are received mostly.