Candidate notary

When a person has successfully completed the study of notarial law and works in a notary's office, this lawyer is called a "candidate notary".

A somewhat confusing term because people often think that the person in question has not yet finished their studies. This is therefore not the case. The studies have been completed; the word candidate means that this lawyer has not yet been appointed as a notary. Once a candidate civil-law notary has been working in notarial practice for three years, and meets a number of other requirements, and is sworn in, he or she can act as a substitute civil-law notary. That is, to replace the notary in case of illness and absence. The acting notary then carries out the notary's work.

After a period of six years and meeting a number of requirements, a candidate notary can be appointed notary.