Notariat is the protection of public expectations in the sphere of civil law, the survey shows
Vilnius, the 2nd of December. Two thirds of Lithuanian citizens trust notaries and would support the idea that additional functions should be confided to notaries.
This was shown by a survey conducted by public opinion and market study center 'Vilmorus'. According to the results of the survey, evaluating representatives of legal professions Lithuanian citizens for seven years in a row have expressed the greatest confidence in notaries (66%). Only 9 per cent do not trust them. Since 2010 confidence in notaries have risen by 8 per cent points (in 2010 – 58 %, in 2009 – 53%).
The second line in the confidence table is occupied by police officers (47%, in 2010 - 40%, in 2009 – 36%). Confidence in representatives of other legal professions has also grown: 41% trust attorneys (in 2010 - 31%, in 2009 - 31%), 26% - Special Investigation Service workers (in 2010 - 20%, in 2009 - 22%), 22% - prosecutors (in 2010 - 12% , in 2009 - 13%), 22 % - State Security Service officers (in 2010 - 18%, in 2009 - 18%), 20% - judges (in 2010 - 14%, in 2009 - 15%), 19% - bailiffs (in 2010 - 14%, in 2009 - 12%).
'The opinion poll was conducted in October, before the publication of controversial facts connected with criminal police activity, therefore today the figures showing confidence in police may be different. And I would connect the annual increase of confidence in notaries with notariat’s effort, despite the difficult economical situation, to keep the quality of legal services on the proper level ', - says the 'Vilmorus' director Dr. Vladas Gaidys.
'Lithuanian citizens’ trust in notaries is a good news, first of all, for the people themselves. Clients of notary bureaus may hope for high quality and unbiased legal services and keeping the client’s secret. Notaries present protection of public interests in the sphere of civil law', - says the president of Lithuanian Notary Chamber, Klaipeda notary Marius Strackaitis.
According to the president of the Notary Chamber, results of the poll for the second year in a row prove that there are favourable conditions for possible expansion of the range of notary services in the future.
According to 'Vilmorus', 74% of the respondents are positive about the suggestions that a notary could dissolve a marriage if there is no disagreement between the divorcing spouses and they have no minor children. 60% or respondents also support the provisions of hypothec reform currently discussed in the Seimas suggesting to execute mortgage deals only through a notary, so that there would be no need to additionally turn to a mortgage judge. Almost half of the respondents (49%) are positive about the suggestions to make it possible to incorporate a company or an enterprise, with participation of a notary, on internet. Incorporation of a company in internet without participation of a notary is supported only by 26% of respondents.
For the last two years 41% of respondents solved issues at notary bureaus: 26% once, 16% – 2 or more times. Two thirds (67%) of respondents who solved issues at notary bureaus evaluate quality of notaries’ services as good, 27% – as satisfactory. These figures have not changed within the last two years.
'Vilmorus' against an order of Lithuanian Notary Chamber on October 7-17 of this year polled 1002 respondents aged 18 and more in 17 cities and 52 villages using the representative survey method.
Lithuanian Notary Chamber is an autonomous professional association uniting all the notaries of the country which coordinates their activities, is responsible for notaries’ qualification improvement and quality rendering of notary services and represents interests of notaries in the state authorities and administrative institutions. At present there are 265 notaries, 226 notary bureaus in Lithuania.