Notary Public in Nepal

If you need to certify, attest, or translate any document or paper for legal purposes or use in foreign countries, you may need the service of a notary public. A notary public is a person who is authorized to perform these tasks and verify the identity and signature of the person who made the document or paper. But what is the history and regulation of the notary public in Nepal? How can you find and contact a notary public near you? And what are the benefits of using a notary public service? In this article, we will answer these questions and provide you with everything you need to know about the notary public in Nepal.

What is a notary public?

A notary public is a person who is authorized to certify, attest, and translate documents or papers that are required for legal purposes or for use in foreign countries. A notary public can also verify the identity and signature of the person who made the document or paper. Some examples of documents or papers that may need the service of a notary public are:

• Affidavits, declarations, consents, agreements, contracts, deeds, wills, power of attorney, etc.
• Certificates, permits, licenses, diplomas, transcripts, degrees, etc.
• Birth, marriage, divorce, death, citizenship, immigration, etc. records.
• Passport, visa, travel, bank, tax, etc. documents.

History of Notary public in Nepal

Before the Notary Public Act, 2063 B.S. (2006 A.D.) came into force, there was no clear legal provision about paper or deed certification, attestation, and translation in Nepal. The work of paper certification or attestation was done by government officer-level staff, and the work of paper translation was done by the Law Book Management Committee.

To make the work of paper certification or attestation accessible to the ordinary people and to make provision for the work of paper certification, attestation and translation to be done all over the country, the Notary Public Act, 2063 B.S.was enacted by the House of Representatives of Nepal on Ashoj 28, 2063 B.S. (2006/10/11 A.D.) and came into force from Falgun 1, 2063 B.S. (2007/02/03 A.D.).

The Notary Public Act, 2063 B.S. established the Nepal Notary Public Council as an autonomous and corporate body under the chairpersonship of the Attorney General to make policy-level provisions about the notary public, to distribute certificates of notary public, and to monitor the work of the notary public.

The Notary Public Rules, 2063 B.S. were issued on Chaitra 14, 2063 B.S. (2007/03/28 A.D.) to regulate the functions and actions of the notary public and the council. The rules have been amended three times so far.

Rules of notary public in Nepal

The Notary Public Rules, 2063 B.S. provide the following rules for the notary public and their work:

• To become a notary public, a person must have a bachelor's degree in law or equivalent qualification from a recognized university or institution, must have at least five years of experience as an advocate or a legal practitioner, must be a citizen of Nepal, must not have been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude, and must pass a written examination and an interview conducted by the council.
• The council issues a certificate of a notary public to the qualified person for five years, which can be renewed upon application and payment of fees.
• The council also issues a seal and a register to each notary public for their official use.
• The notary public must follow the code of conduct prescribed by the council and must maintain confidentiality and impartiality in their work.
• The notary public can certify, attest, or translate any document or paper that is required by law or by any foreign country for any legal purpose, except for those documents or papers that are prohibited by law or by the council.
• The notary public can charge fees for their services as fixed by the council.
• The notary public must keep a record of their work in their register and must submit a copy of their register to the council every six months.
• The notary public must display their name, address, and certificate number at their office or place of work.
• The notary public must inform the council about any change in their address or status within 15 days.
• The council can suspend or revoke the certificate of notary public if they find that they have violated any provision of the act, rules or code of conduct, or if they have committed any misconduct or negligence in their work.

Benefits of the notary public in Nepal

The establishment of a notary public in Nepal has brought many benefits to the people who need to certify, attest or translate documents or papers for legal purposes or for use in foreign countries. Some of the benefits are:

• The work of paper certification or attestation is made easier and faster as people do not have to go to government offices or wait for long hours.
• The work of paper translation is made more accurate and reliable as notaries are qualified and experienced legal professionals who can translate documents or papers from Nepali to English or vice versa.
• The work of paper certification, attestation, or translation is made more secure and trustworthy as notaries have to verify the identity and signature of the person who made the document or paper and have to use their official seal and register.
• The work of paper certification, attestation, or translation is made more affordable as notaries charge reasonable fees as fixed by the council.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the concept and role of the notary public in Nepal. We have traced the history and evolution of the notary public in Nepal from the enactment of the Notary Public Act, 2063 B.S. to the present day. We have also explained the rules and regulations that govern the notary public and their work in Nepal. Finally, we have highlighted the benefits of using a notary public service for certifying, attesting, or translating documents or papers for legal purposes or use in foreign countries.

If you are looking for an online reliable and professional notary public in Nepal, you can contact Notary Nepal, a legal service provider that offers notarization, certification, attestation, and translation of documents in Nepal.