Competition for admission to the profession of notary

At the end of their practice period, aspiring notaries may sit for the competitive admission examination.

On average only one candidate in 20 succeeds in this competition, which requires an extremely high level of preparation in legal and fiscal matters.

The competition takes place in Rome. The IT preselection test was abolished by art. 66, Law 18 June 2009, n.69 (Official Gazette no. 140 of 19 June 2009, Ordinary Supplement n.95).

 

The written examination is now made up of three separate theoretical-practical tests, one dealing with testamentary dispositions and two with contracts between living persons, one of which is based on commercial law.

 

Candidates who have passed the written examination are admitted to the oral examination made up of three separate tests on the following groups of subjects: 

a) civil and commercial law and voluntary jurisdiction, with particular emphasis on the judicial institutions with which a notary's practice is involved;
b) legal provisions governing the profession of notary and the notarial archives;
c) provisions concerning business taxes.
 

The age limit for candidates is 50 years.

 

The board of examiners is made up of:
a) a judge of the Court of Cassation (Supreme Court), as President, with an overall supervisory role;
b) a judge eligible for appointment to the Court of Cassation who acts as Vice-President;
c) four Appeals Court judges;
d) three university professors or lecturers who teach legal subjects;
e) six notaries, who may also be retired, who have exercised the profession for at least 10 years.

The system for correcting the written exams has also changed: the answers will be assessed as a whole and no longer individually.
 

 

Winning candidates will be assigned to a locality where they are expected to set up a practice within three months.