Sharp decline in the number of mortgage deeds

The number of mortgage deeds executed by notaries in August decreased by more than 11 percent compared to the same month last year. Compared to July of this year, this number decreased by more than 12 percent. In total, notaries executed nearly 140,000 deeds in August, 2 percent fewer than in the same month last year.

The number of transfers of residential properties also decreased sharply compared to the same month last year: by over 7 percent. Compared to July, the decrease was over 7 percent. The notarial corporate law practice also showed lower deeds than last year. The number of deeds of incorporation for a private limited company (BV) decreased by over 7 percent. Overall, the number of deeds in the corporate law practice decreased by 3 percent. In the family law practice, the number of living wills, in particular, continues to rise sharply (over 17 percent). The number of wills also increased by over 7 percent compared to the same month last year.

Family practice continues to do well
Civil-law notaries' expectations for the near future are positive for family law practice, but negative for real estate and corporate law practice. In the Royal Dutch Bar Association's monthly survey of firm caseloads, over a quarter report an increase in the number of new cases in family law practice. For 60 percent of respondents, this number remains the same, and over 12 percent report a decrease. For real estate practice, over half report a decrease in the number of new cases. Over 5 percent report an increase, and for just over a third, the number of cases remains the same. A third of respondents see a decrease in the number of new cases in corporate law practice. For over 50 percent, this number remains the same, and for almost 14 percent, the number of new cases increases.