A happy and rare case in my notary practice
Over the years of working as a notary in various jurisdictions — from Europe to Japan — I have repeatedly been convinced that law is based primarily on accuracy, procedure and strict adherence to the law. However, even in such a formal sphere, sometimes there are cases that can be called truly rare and, in a certain sense, happy. One of them became a particularly significant stage of my professional career for me.
It was a complicated case involving the certification of property rights with an international element. The documents were formed over the years in different countries, some of them were considered lost, and the legal status of the property was in serious doubt. The situation was complicated by the fact that deadlines were tight, and a mistake could lead to a lengthy legal dispute and significant financial losses for all parties.
In the process of legal analysis and verification of archival materials, a document was discovered, the existence of which had not previously been taken into account by either party. It was drawn up in strict accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the jurisdiction where the right originally arose, and contained formulations that made it possible to unambiguously establish the will of the parties. This document proved to be crucial and allowed to restore the legal chain without going to court.
From a professional point of view, this case has become a rare example of how careful notarization, work experience in different legal systems and, to a certain extent, a successful combination of circumstances led to a fair and timely resolution of a difficult situation. For clients, this meant the preservation of property and legal certainty, and for me, it was a confirmation of the importance of the notary’s preventive role.
This episode was a reminder that justice is not only about norms and procedures, but also responsibility for every decision made. Even in the most difficult cases, the law, if applied correctly and in good faith, can lead to a fair result without conflicts and litigation.
It is precisely such cases that form the professional reputation of a notary and strengthen trust in the notary institution as a guarantor of legal stability and protection of the interests of the parties.