There is much to be positive about in the notarial profession

The FD published an article today about demographic trends in the notarial profession. It focuses on the declining number of notaries and the problems with business succession, while there are also many bright spots. For example, more notaries were appointed this year than last, and the Royal Dutch Notary Association (KNB) is working hard to improve access to notarial law.

More inflow
The number of notarial law students has been increasing again in recent years, and the influx into the notarial profession is also showing an upward trend. This year, 110 new civil-law notaries and associate civil-law notaries were added, 26 more than last year. This is necessary, because due to the aging population, many will leave the notarial profession in the coming years. This makes it all the more important for the notarial profession to focus on recruiting and retaining new people. The Royal Dutch Notary Association (KNB) is actively working on this within its "futurepro(o)f" program . This program focuses specifically on the changing demands that social developments and the new generation of civil-law notaries place on the profession.

Attractive alternatives
Attractive alternatives to the succession problems outlined above are now also available. New office models and partnerships are enriching the notarial profession and demonstrating their attractiveness to young people. Digital developments, such as the digital establishment of a private limited company (BV), can lead to higher labor productivity and reduce workload.

Access to justice
Furthermore, ensuring an accessible and socially responsible notary service requires additional support from the notary profession and the Royal Dutch Notary Association (KNB). No matter which notary you ask, they've likely established a foundation for those in need free of charge or helped those who can't afford it settle their estate at a reduced rate. With our "Access to Justice" program, the KNB aims to make this more visible and provide more structure.

Read the article in the FD here