Cross out the bill to remove notary fees in the case of General Community of Property

The bill to eliminate notary fees in the case of general community of property has been withdrawn. This is evident from a letter from the Minister for Legal Protection, Franc Weerwind, to the House of Representatives. The proposal drew criticism four years ago, including from the Royal Dutch Association of Civil-Law Notaries (KNB). Alternative options explored did not result in a revised bill.

Under the bill, couples could indicate to the registrar that they wished to marry in community of property. This could be done after reading a brochure explaining the various forms of marriage. Then-Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker proposed this because the governing parties VVD, D66, CDA, and ChristenUnie had agreed in the coalition agreement to investigate whether the need for notary fees could be eliminated for couples who wished to marry in community of property.

Essential information
The proposal drew widespread criticism. It failed to provide the necessary information for couples who wished to marry in community of property. The proposal effectively eliminated the need for a notary. The Royal Netherlands Association of Dutch Married Couples (KNB) issued a sharp response to the bill. Due to the criticism, several alternatives were explored, but none were able to address the criticism. The proposal has therefore been withdrawn from the legislative program, Weerwind announced (pdf) .