The notar public is a licensed public official in Romania who authenticates legal documents and supervises formal transactions. Romanian law makes notarial participation mandatory for all real estate transfers, company incorporations, wills, marriage agreements, and many other legal acts. Notaries in Romania are licensed by the Uniunea Națională a Notarilor Publici din România (UNNPR).
At a Romanian property transaction, the notar public verifies both parties' identities, confirms the legal capacity of the parties to contract, reads the entire deed aloud, and ensures both parties understand the terms. The notary is legally responsible for the formal validity of the deed and maintains the original in their archive. A copy (duplicat) is given to each party.
Romanian notarial fees are regulated by the Ministry of Justice and are calculated as a percentage of the transaction value on a sliding scale. For a €150,000 property, expect notarial fees of approximately €700–1,200 including VAT. These fees cover the deed, authentication, and registration request but not legal advice or translation costs.
In succession (inheritance) proceedings, the notary acts as the primary officer for notarial succession (dezbaterea succesorală notarială), an out-of-court process for uncomplicated estates. Heirs must present to the notary within 12 months of the decedent's death to claim the estate through the notarial route. After this period, court proceedings are required.
Foreign nationals signing Romanian property deeds must have a certified interpreter (traducător autorizat) present if they do not speak Romanian. The notary must certify that the deed was explained to the buyer in their language. The interpreter's credentials are recorded in the notarial file. Some Romanian notaries speak English and can supervise the interpretation themselves, but the deed is always executed in Romanian.
Key Facts
| Regulator | Uniunea Națională a Notarilor Publici din România (UNNPR) |
|---|---|
| Fee basis | Ministry of Justice regulated sliding scale — based on transaction value |
| Succession | Handles uncomplicated inheritances as notarial succession proceedings |
| Registration | Submits land book registration request to ANCPI after deed signing |
| Language | Deed always in Romanian — certified interpreter mandatory for non-speakers |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Romanian notary refuse to authenticate a deed?
Yes. Notaries must refuse to authenticate any transaction that is contrary to law, involves fraud, lacks the requisite capacity, or where one party's consent is clearly not free. A refusal is made by written notification with reasons, and the parties have the right to challenge it.
What is a legalisare de semnătură?
A legalisare de semnătură is the notarial certification of a signature — the notary confirms the identity of the signer and that they signed in the notary's presence. It does not authenticate the content of the document, only the signature. This is different from a full notarial deed (act autentic) which authenticates the entire transaction.
Do I need a power of attorney to sign remotely?
Yes. If you cannot attend the signing in person, a Romanian notarially authenticated power of attorney (procură) authorising a representative to sign on your behalf is required. Powers of attorney executed outside Romania must be apostilled and notarised in your home country. Allow two to four weeks for apostille processing.