Introduction
This document catalogues the licensing and governing bodies for
notarial professionals across jurisdictions worldwide, for the
purpose of establishing the Tier 1 registry of authorised licensing
bodies under the Notachain Protocol.
Two primary legal traditions govern notarial practice globally:
-
Civil Law Notaries (Latin Notariat): highly
credentialed, government-appointed legal officers with
quasi-judicial status. Their authenticated instruments carry
prima facie evidentiary weight in court. Coordinated
internationally by the International Union of Notaries (UINL),
comprising 92 member notariats representing approximately 70% of
the global population.
-
Common Law Notaries: more limited
administrative role, primarily identity verification and
signature witnessing. Found in Australia, the UK, Canada
(outside Quebec), and most US states. An important exception:
England & Wales notaries are senior legal practitioners with
significant authority for international documents.
Part 1: Civil Law Jurisdictions (UINL Members)
The UINL serves as the international umbrella body for civil law
notariats. Member notariats are recognised as Tier 1 licensing
bodies by virtue of UINL membership. The UINL itself is designated
as a Meta-Tier 1 body.
Europe
| Jurisdiction |
Licensing / Governing Body |
Notes |
| Austria |
Österreichische Notariatskammer |
Government-appointed lawyers |
| Belgium |
Fédération Royale du Notariat Belge
|
UINL founding member (1948) |
| Bulgaria |
Notary Chamber of Bulgaria |
Post-Soviet transition to Latin model |
| Croatia |
Hrvatska javnobilježnička komora |
|
| Czech Republic |
Notárská komora České
republiky
|
|
| Estonia |
Notarite Koda |
|
| France |
Conseil Supérieur du Notariat |
UINL founding member. Quasi-judicial status. Acts
enforceable without court.
|
| Germany |
Bundesnotarkammer |
Among the most credentialed globally |
| Greece |
Central Union of Greek Notaries |
|
| Hungary |
Magyar Országos Közjegyzői Kamara
|
|
| Italy |
Consiglio Nazionale del Notariato |
UINL founding member. One of the oldest notariats.
|
| Latvia |
Latvian Council of Sworn Notaries |
|
| Lithuania |
Lietuvos notarų rūmai |
|
| Luxembourg |
Notariat du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg |
|
| Netherlands |
Koninklijke Notariële Beroepsorganisatie |
|
| Poland |
Krajowa Rada Notarialna |
|
| Portugal |
Ordem dos Notários |
|
| Romania |
Union of Romanian Notaries Public |
|
| Slovakia |
Notárska komora Slovenskej republiky |
|
| Slovenia |
Notarska zbornica Slovenije |
|
| Spain |
Consejo General del Notariado |
UINL founding member |
| Switzerland |
Various cantonal chambers |
UINL founding member. Cantonal regulation. |
| Belarus |
Republican Notary Chamber |
Joined UINL 2019 |
| Russia |
Federal Notary Chamber |
|
| Ukraine |
Ukrainian Notary Chamber |
|
| City of London |
Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
Common law variant with UINL membership. Scrivener
notaries.
|
| Quebec (Canada) |
Chambre des notaires du Québec |
Civil law. Notaires are full lawyers. |
| Puerto Rico (USA) |
Puerto Rico Notarial Association |
Only US jurisdiction in UINL. |
Latin America
| Jurisdiction |
Licensing / Governing Body |
Notes |
| Argentina |
Consejo Federal del Notariado Argentino |
UINL founding member |
| Bolivia |
Colegio de Notarios de Bolivia |
UINL founding member |
| Brazil |
Colégio Notarial do Brasil |
UINL founding member |
| Chile |
Colegio de Notarios de Chile |
UINL founding member |
| Colombia |
Unión Colegiada del Notariado Colombiano |
UINL founding member |
| Costa Rica |
Colegio de Notarios de Costa Rica |
UINL founding member |
| Cuba |
Unión Nacional de Juristas de Cuba |
UINL founding member |
| Dominican Republic |
Colegio Dominicano de Notarios |
|
| Ecuador |
Asociación de Notarios del Ecuador |
UINL founding member |
| El Salvador |
Corte Suprema de Justicia (Notariado) |
|
| Guatemala |
Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala |
|
| Honduras |
Colegio de Abogados de Honduras |
|
| Mexico |
Asociación Nacional del Notariado Mexicano
|
UINL founding member. Government-appointed lawyers.
|
| Nicaragua |
Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Nicaragua |
|
| Panama |
Dirección Nacional de Notariado |
|
| Paraguay |
Unión de Notarios del Paraguay |
UINL founding member |
| Peru |
Junta de Decanos de los Colegios de Notarios |
UINL founding member |
| Uruguay |
Asociación de Escribanos del Uruguay |
UINL founding member |
| Venezuela |
Colegio de Notarios Públicos de Venezuela
|
|
Asia
| Jurisdiction |
Licensing / Governing Body |
Notes |
| China |
China Notary Association |
State employees or state-appointed |
| Japan |
Japan Notaries Association |
Former judges/prosecutors appointed for life |
| South Korea |
Korean Notaries Association |
|
| Indonesia |
Ikatan Notaris Indonesia |
Dutch-influenced civil law. UINL member. |
| Vietnam |
Vietnam Notary Association |
|
| Mongolia |
Mongolian Notary Association |
|
| Cambodia |
Ministry of Justice (Notariat Dept) |
French-influenced |
| Lebanon |
Ordre des Notaires du Liban |
Joined UINL 2018 |
| Morocco |
Conseil National du Notariat du Maroc |
UINL member |
| Tunisia |
Chambre Nationale des Notaires de Tunisie |
UINL member |
| Algeria |
Chambre Nationale des Notaires |
UINL member |
Africa
| Jurisdiction |
Licensing / Governing Body |
Notes |
| DR Congo |
Chambre des Notaires du Congo |
Belgian-influenced |
| Cameroon |
Chambre des Notaires du Cameroun |
French-influenced |
| Senegal |
Chambre des Notaires du Sénégal |
French-influenced |
| Ivory Coast |
Chambre des Notaires de Côte d'Ivoire |
French-influenced |
| Madagascar |
Chambre des Notaires de Madagascar |
French-influenced |
| Gabon |
Chambre des Notaires du Gabon |
French-influenced |
| Mali |
Chambre des Notaires du Mali |
French-influenced |
| Burkina Faso |
Chambre des Notaires du Burkina Faso |
French-influenced |
| Benin |
Chambre des Notaires du Bénin |
French-influenced |
| Togo |
Chambre des Notaires du Togo |
French-influenced |
| Guinea |
Chambre des Notaires de Guinée |
French-influenced |
| Chad |
Chambre des Notaires du Tchad |
French-influenced |
Part 2: Common Law Jurisdictions
Australia & New Zealand
| Jurisdiction |
Licensing / Governing Body |
Notes |
| New South Wales |
Society of Notaries of NSW |
Commissioned by NSW Supreme Court. Senior
solicitors.
|
| Victoria |
Society of Notaries of Victoria |
Supreme Court of Victoria |
| Queensland |
Society of Notaries Queensland |
Supreme Court of Queensland |
| Western Australia |
Society of Notaries of WA |
Supreme Court of WA |
| South Australia |
Society of Notaries of SA |
Supreme Court of SA |
| Tasmania |
Society of Notaries of Tasmania |
Supreme Court of Tasmania |
| ACT |
ACT Law Society (notarial section) |
ACT Supreme Court |
| Northern Territory |
Law Society NT (notarial section) |
NT Supreme Court |
| New Zealand |
NZ Society of Notaries |
Appointed by Governor-General |
United Kingdom
| Jurisdiction |
Licensing / Governing Body |
Notes |
| England & Wales |
Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
Significant international document authority. Almost
all also solicitors.
|
| Scotland |
Faculty of Notaries Public in Scotland |
Solicitors with additional notarial commission |
| Northern Ireland |
Incorporated Society of Notaries of NI |
Regulated by Faculty Office |
Canada (Common Law Provinces)
| Jurisdiction |
Licensing / Governing Body |
Notes |
| British Columbia |
Society of Notaries Public of BC |
Distinct profession from lawyers. Real estate and
wills.
|
| Alberta |
Law Society of Alberta |
Lawyers commissioned as commissioners for oaths |
| Ontario |
Law Society of Ontario |
Notarial acts by lawyers |
| Other provinces |
Respective provincial law societies |
Provincial authorities |
United States
Approximately 4.5 million commissioned notaries — the largest
number in any country — but administrative officials with
limited authority compared to civil law notaries. Not lawyers and
cannot provide legal advice. Notable exceptions: Louisiana
(Napoleonic Code, expanded powers), Florida (civil law notary
statute), Puerto Rico (UINL member, highest US notarial credential).
India, Singapore & Hong Kong
| Jurisdiction |
Licensing / Governing Body |
Notes |
| India |
Ministry of Law and Justice |
Notaries Act 1952. Central and state notaries.
Expansive role.
|
| Singapore |
Singapore Academy of Law |
Advocates and solicitors appointed by President on
Chief Justice recommendation
|
| Hong Kong |
Hong Kong Society of Notaries |
Appointed by Faculty Office. Strong international
authority.
|
Part 3: Protocol Implementation Notes
Proposed Trust Tiers
| Tier |
Category |
Trust Weight |
| Tier A |
UINL civil law notaries |
Highest. Quasi-judicial. Prima facie evidence.
High-value underwriting.
|
| Tier B |
Common law lawyer-notaries (AU, UK, NZ, SG, HK,
Quebec)
|
High. Senior practitioners with professional
liability.
|
| Tier C |
Common law non-lawyer notaries (most US, general
commissioners)
|
Moderate. May require multiple attestations above
threshold values.
|
Key Rotation Authority
Key rotation requires a countersigned request from the Tier 1
licensing body via in-person statutory declaration. The on-chain
record stores: old key (revoked), new key, licensing body
countersigning address, rotation timestamp, and hash of the
statutory declaration reference.
Ongoing Maintenance
The Notachain Protocol company is responsible for monitoring UINL
membership changes, updating the Tier 1 registry on-chain,
publishing changelogs, and processing community proposals for new
Tier 1 body additions.
This document is a working draft for discussion purposes.
Licensing body details require independent legal verification in
each jurisdiction before production use. Nothing herein
constitutes legal advice.