Supervision to prevent abuse of power in notary practice

National Assembly delegates said that it is necessary to clearly regulate the supervision of notary offices' activities from state agencies to prevent abuse of power or violations during the practice of the profession.

Two organizational model options for notary offices

On the afternoon of October 25, the National Assembly listened to the report explaining, accepting and revising the draft Law on Notarization (amended).

Reporting on the explanation, acceptance and revision of the draft Law, Chairman of the National Assembly's Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung said that regarding the organizational model of notary offices, some opinions agreed with the provisions of the draft Law on the organizational model and operation according to the type of partnership company.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Law Hoang Thanh Tung.

Some opinions proposed that the notary office should be organized and operate in the form of a partnership or private enterprise nationwide or applied to notary offices established in remote areas or areas with particularly difficult socio -economic conditions. In other areas, only the form of a partnership should be applied.

There is a proposal to add regulations that notary offices be organized in the form of limited liability companies.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly found that the current Law on Notarization and the draft Law do not stipulate the organizational model of a notary office as a limited liability company or with members contributing capital in a partnership company.

Because notarization is a basic public service, the judicial support profession should have its own characteristics, not encouraging the business goal of making profit only but focusing on the practice of notarization by the partners and the unlimited liability regime of these members for the notarization activities they perform.

Due to different opinions, the National Assembly Standing Committee proposed two options.

Option 1, in addition to notary offices organized under the partnership model as per the current Law, in district-level areas with low population density, underdeveloped infrastructure and services, and difficulties in establishing notary offices under the partnership model as prescribed by the Government , notary offices are organized and operated under the private enterprise model.

Option 2, some opinions suggest, inheriting the current Notary Law, stipulates that notary offices are organized and operate under the partnership model because it has the advantage of ensuring stability in the organization and operation of notary offices, consistent with the nature of notary services as basic public services, so it is necessary to ensure continuity of service provision.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly requests that National Assembly deputies consider and allow the acceptance and revision of this content according to option 1.

Delegate Nguyen Huu Thong (Binh Thuan delegation).

Discussing the draft law, delegate Nguyen Huu Thong (Binh Thuan delegation) requested clarification of some contents such as "what is low population density", "underdeveloped infrastructure", "difficulties in establishing notary offices in the form of joint venture companies according to Government regulations;

At the same time, it is proposed to assign the Government or the Provincial People's Committee to specify this content to avoid the case where notary offices currently operating under the joint venture model apply to convert to private enterprises after the Law comes into effect, leading to difficulties in management.

Delegate Nguyen Tam Hung (Ba Ria - Vung Tau delegation) also agreed with option 1 and said that this option is more flexible, allowing for the establishment of models suitable to the conditions of each locality.

Especially in areas with underdeveloped infrastructure, the private enterprise model will help create more favorable conditions for the establishment and operation of notary offices.

Delegates proposed to consider adding requirements on minimum charter capital when establishing a notary office to ensure financial capacity and quality of notary services;

At the same time, it is necessary to specify the annual financial reporting obligations of notary offices to increase transparency, and clearly stipulate the supervision of notary offices' operations by competent state agencies to prevent cases of abuse of power or violations during the practice.

Stability must be ensured.

Meanwhile, delegate Duong Van Phuoc (Quang Nam delegation) chose option 2 to ensure the stability of the notary practice organization, better meet the notary needs of individuals and organizations, consistent with the nature of notary services as a judicial support activity.

Delegate Duong Van Phuoc (Quang Nam delegation).

Delegate Duong Van Phuoc said that the private enterprise model owned by only one notary would be difficult to meet, especially in the case where the only notary dies or for health or personal reasons, cannot practice notary work, and cannot ensure continuous and stable notary activities.

In addition, resolving the consequences of notarized documents organized under the private enterprise model, when they cease operations, will cause difficulties for state management.

Therefore, delegate Duong Van Phuoc proposed to choose option 2 and adjust the provisions in some articles of the draft Law accordingly.

Mr. Phuoc proposed to regulate that notary offices can only be organized and operate as partnerships, not allowing them to be organized and operate as private enterprises, even in areas with low population density and underdeveloped infrastructure and services.

According to delegate Phuoc, economic transactions are rare in this area. If there are any, the People's Committee at the commune level has the authority and responsibility to authenticate contracts, transactions, and documents for the people according to current law.

Sharing the same view, delegate Thai Thi An Chung (Nghe An delegation) said that choosing option 2 is to inherit the provisions of the Notary Law, which is promoting effectiveness, ensuring stability, and better meeting the notarization needs of individuals and organizations.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/giam-sat-de-ngan-ngua-lam-quyen-trong-hanh-nghe-cong-chung-192241025181754595.htm