Features of the portal of the Latvian Sworn Notaries

During the last few years, Latvian notariate has introduced several IT solutions that make it stand out among other European notariates. The portal of the Latvian Sworn Notaries www.latvijasnotars.lv have become a platform of services for people to have a modern experience in cooperation with notaries – as digital as interactive one.

Since July 2018, notarial acts can be performed remotely, and the Latvian notariate is the first to offer such services not only in the Baltic region, but also in entire Europe. Thus it is possible to receive on-line services in granting a Power of Attorney or a consent, opening an inheritance case, receiving legal advice, formalizing a divorce, preparations for the sale of a property and completion of the respective transaction, and making a will. It is of great use to approximately 200,000 Latvians, who live and work abroad. However, even those who reside in Latvia and have never had time or will to set up an appointment with a notary, as well as businesses will benefit, as they will be able to quickly settle matters requiring a notary remotely. And speed is of utmost importance if you want to succeed. Remote notarial services are a must in the world driven by current trends, and this approach is unavoidable in the legal profession and the judicial system.

Since July 2018, important on-line service has been implemented in the portal of the Latvian Sworn Notaries as well – “Verify power of attorney”. It gives an additional safety to everyone who have to be involved in any business with a person who acts on behalf of somebody else on the power of attorney. Now it is possible to check if the power of attorney exists, if it still valid and – what’s more important – is a content of one presented by a partner coincide with the original.

Another helpful service is now available in the portal www.latvijasnotars.lv called “My activities”. This on-line tool helps to see all the archive of persons actions done with the sworn notaries ever since 2006. If a person have forgot for example where did he authenticated his will he/she can find it out using “” in the portal of the Latvian Sworn Notaries.

But Latvian notariat is still moving forward. Since 1 July 2019, legalization of public documents with an apostille is a function of sworn notaries. Thus, anyone who needs to submit a document (applies to documents that should be submitted in any signatory state of the Hague Convention on “Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents”) issued in Latvia to a foreign body, does not need to go to Riga to have this document legalized with an apostille. As of now, this service is available at any office of a sworn notary in 30 towns in Latvia. Furthermore, sworn notaries also legalize electronic documents remotely and what’s more important to note – since notaries are performing this function in the Republic of Latvia, the legalization of documents with an apostille is carried out only in electronic form. Apostille and the text of a legalised document is available in the portal of the Latvian Sworn Notaries by apostille number or uploading *.asice file.