A notary (notar) in Israel is a licensed attorney who has been granted special authority to authenticate documents and perform certain legal acts. Understanding when a notary is needed and what they do is important for many legal transactions.
The Notary’s Special Authority
A notary in Israel is an attorney who has passed additional examinations and received a license from the Ministry of Justice to perform notarial acts. This authority includes authenticating signatures, certifying copies of documents, administering oaths, and certifying facts they have personally verified.
When is Notarization Required?
Certain legal documents must be notarized to be valid or to be accepted by authorities. Common examples include: documents for use abroad that require authentication, powers of attorney for significant transactions, Continuing Powers of Attorney, certain types of wills, and affidavits and declarations for legal proceedings.
Notarization vs. Attorney Drafting
Notarization and legal drafting are different functions. An attorney drafts and advises on documents; a notary authenticates and certifies them. The same person can be both your drafting attorney and the notary, or you may use different professionals for each function.
The Notary’s Role in Real Estate
In real estate transactions, notarization is sometimes required for specific documents. Powers of attorney that authorize someone to sell or mortgage property, documents originating from foreign countries, and certain corporate authorizations may need notarization.
Apostille and International Document Authentication
For documents used in other countries, additional authentication steps beyond local notarization may be needed. The apostille is an international certification that many countries require. A notary can guide clients through the correct authentication process for their specific requirements.
