Definition : Public officer

The notary is a jurist with the task of public officer, who ascertains the free and informed consent of the parties. The notary also has the role of legal adviser. It therefore protects consent. The intervention of the notary is very important when purchasing an apartment in a divided co-ownership. A professional, he is a member of the “Chambre des notaires du Québec” (Québec Chamber of Notaries). In this capacity, the notary's mission  is to receive, on behalf of his clients, the acts to which the parties must or want to have given the character of authenticity (such as  a declaration of co-ownership). Even though it is preferable that he should get involved at the outset of a transaction, this legal adviser usually gets involved  after the signing of the offer to purchase or of the preliminary contract.  

When the sale of immovable property goes through the notary, the latter must ensure, as a public officer, the proper execution of the contract, while giving him the necessary legal certainty. Because of its particular effects under the law, the notarial deed has much more stringent requirements and formalities than those applicable to an ordinary document. In this regard, section 43 of the Notaries Act prescribes that: " A notary shall, by all reasonable means, verify the identity, quality and capacity of each party to a notarial act to be signed before the notary." The meticulous attention to details, the verification of the identity of the parties and the numerous controls to which it is subjected will give you added security and peace of mind.