Regulations Regarding the Performance of Notarial Functions in Diplomatic and Consular Representations of the Republic of Latvia

Issued pursuant to
Section 14, Paragraph two
of the Consular Rules of Procedure

1. This Regulation prescribes the procedures by which a consular officer shall perform notarial functions in diplomatic and consular representations of the Republic of Latvia in foreign states (hereinafter - representations) and the extent of such functions.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall submit a list of such consular officers to the Ministry of Justice and the Council of Sworn Notaries of Latvia, who have the right to perform notarial functions, as well as inform the referred-to institutions regarding changes in the list.

3. Prior to commencing notarial functions, the consular officer shall submit to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs samples of his or her signature and seal imprint of the representation in three copies. The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall hand over one copy of the sample to the Ministry of Justice and the other - to the Council of Sworn Notaries of Latvia.

4. The consular officer shall perform notarial functions during the working hours of the relevant representation in premises of the representation or determine individual days or hours when he or she will perform notarial functions only.

5. In performing notarial functions, the consular officer shall collect a State fee in accordance with Cabinet regulations laying down the State fee rates for the carrying out of notarial actions performed by consular officers in foreign states.

6. For persons who are not able to come to the consular officer he or she may draw up deeds and certifications at the location of such persons and also outside working hours, collecting an additional payment for it in accordance with the price list of paid consular services provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

7. The consular officer shall perform notarial functions for citizens and non-citizens of Latvia, for persons who have been granted the status of a refugee in Latvia and for persons who have been recognised as stateless persons in Latvia. Notarial functions shall be performed for a foreigner in an exceptional case, if such form of notarial deed is necessary in accordance with laws and regulations of Latvia, which is not provided for in laws and regulations of the relevant foreign state, or if the notarial deed is intended to be used in the Republic of Latvia.

8. The consular officer shall perform notarial functions only in his or her consular district. Notarial functions performed by the consular officer in another consular district do not have the effect of notarial action.

9. The consular officer shall perform the following functions:

9.1. draw up powers of attorney in the form of notarial deeds;

9.2. draw up certifications;

9.3. issue extracts from the notarial deed book, the register of deeds and certifications.

10. The consular officer shall certify:

10.1. the authenticity of a signature;

10.2. the fact that a person is alive;

10.3. true copies and translations;

10.4. the date of presenting documents;

10.5. revocation of authorisations;

10.6. handing over of notifications.

11. The consular officer shall keep:

11.1. registers for entering deeds and certifications;

11.2. notarial deed books.

12. Registers and deed books of the consular officer shall be stored in the archives of the representation.

13. The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall issue an instruction regarding keeping and archiving of registers.

14. If the consular officer is transferred, revoked, released or removed from the office or has died, the seals, books, cases and deeds of the representation shall be taken over by his or her successor in the office by drawing up a deed.

Prime Minister I. Godmanis

Minister for Foreign Affairs M. Riekstiņš

Translation © 2014 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)