Michiel van Nispen (SP) presents an initiative note for social notary services

People sometimes want to go to a notary, but don't have the money. That's why, according to Member of Parliament Michiel van Nispen (SP), it makes sense to establish a social notary service alongside the social bar. He submitted a motion to that effect on Monday.

According to Van Nispen, notaries are inaccessible to a large portion of the Dutch population for various reasons. For example, some people don't know what a notary can do for them. Or they may have a language barrier, an intellectual disability, or a lack of financial resources. Yet, for these people, just like for everyone else, it's important to have proper documentation or legal advice.

Social notary
That's why Van Nispen is launching the initiative document " Towards a Social Notary . " He envisions a notary service accessible to everyone. According to Van Nispen's plan, the social notary should ideally be located in a neighborhood with many people who wouldn't normally visit a notary's office. There, the notary can draft deeds and provide accessible advice for those with limited financial means.

Pressure on the judiciary

Because legal disputes can be prevented by properly documenting matters in advance, the pressure on the judiciary will decrease, according to Van Nispen. The Royal Dutch Notary Association (KNB) shares this view and welcomes this initiative. The professional organization believes that notarial services should be accessible to everyone, is working on this itself, and believes that (some) notarial services should fall under legal aid. Exactly how this should be structured is still under discussion.