Become a millionaire by visiting the notary?

Become a millionaire

A visit to MAES notaries can save you and your loved ones a great deal of money. For example, through the notary's intervention, you can adequately protect your assets and prevent others—such as the tax authorities, creditors, exes, business partners, or renegades—from stealing your money.

The cost comes before the benefit

Of course, you also incur notary fees, as the assignment must be carried out, but in most cases, you will actually benefit from it.

Notary fees and notary compensation are not the same

Fee

Incidentally, the lion's share of your notary fees goes to the Dutch government and third parties. The notary's fee—the compensation for the services they provide and the risk they assume—is often only a relatively small part of this.

VAT | Sales Tax

About 20% of what you (as a consumer) pay goes to our Minister of Finance. This disappears into the treasury as sales tax (VAT), in the hope and expectation that it will be spent wisely by our ministers for all of us. On education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social security, to name just a few.

Transfer tax

In real estate transactions, as the acquirer, you are generally also liable for transfer tax, often 2% and sometimes as much as 8% (expecting to exceed 10% in 2023) on the purchase price or value of the property. This tax also goes to the State. Incidentally, the notary, not the acquirer, is legally responsible for the correct and timely payment of this transfer tax. If the notary fails to pay on time, or incorrectly applies an exemption, or collects too little—for example, because the appraised value exceeds the purchase price—the tax authorities will file a claim with the notary, who will then have to foot the bill.

Advances

Third parties charge costs that the notary has advanced on your behalf. These are costs the notary must incur to carry out the client's instructions. These include costs charged by and for: the Land Registry, the Trade Register and the UBO Register of the Chamber of Commerce, the Central Register of (Living) Wills, the court, the Insolvency Register, the Guardianship and Trust Register, the Marital Property Register, the Personal Records Database (BRP), verification and identification, an interpreter, and more.

Settlement between seller and buyer of business expenses

In addition, in real estate transactions, the notary will settle the business expenses to be settled as a free service for the parties, so that the parties do not have to arrange this themselves (afterwards).

Payment office

And the notary often acts as a payment agent. They collect what's owed on behalf of third parties, such as the bank, real estate agent, mortgage advisor, appraiser, creditors, and attachments, and then transfer it to the rightful claimant(s).

Cheap is expensive

We sometimes hear from clients who are surprised by the notary's low fees, for example, compared to what the real estate agent and/or mortgage advisor charges. We believe it's wise not to compare apples and oranges and not to underestimate the added value of an excellent real estate agent or sound mortgage advice, while poor advice or inadequate guidance can be very costly. And not just a matter of peace of mind. There are many advisors in our region with whom we have had excellent experiences and whom we can wholeheartedly recommend.

On to the next 500th act!

When you execute a deed at our office, you'll see a large champagne cooler on a sideboard in the notary's signing room, containing a few very nice bottles of champagne. Perhaps they're waiting there for you. Those bottles will go on ice as soon as we approach the execution of the next 500th deed. Because with every 500th deed executed at our office (signed by the parties and the notary), we express our gratitude and reflect extensively on the trust our clients have placed in our office. Then we have a small, spontaneous celebration together. This happens several times a year, although we never know exactly when that will be. The chilled champagne is then popped. We drink to life with that client and to everyone we hold dear. But we also remember those who have passed away (too soon). And we look ahead. To what is yet to come. To the happiness that awaits us somewhere.

Take a chance and you might become a millionaire

And to help them along, the customer whose 500th deed is being issued will also receive a free ticket. We'll then happily enter the next Care-a-lot lottery draw for them with that ticket. They'll then have a chance to win fantastic prizes, with a grand prize of €1,000,000. But that's not all. By participating, we're also doing a little good for the world. We've chosen Support Casper as our charity, to which 40% of our stake will be donated. A true win-win situation.

You could become a millionaire in one go with just a visit to the notary.