Save time!

What notaries already do online

Around a third of domestic notaries already offer legal services via the Internet.

(Bild: P. Huber)

Notarization of signatures, donations, property sales, company formations - notaries are needed for many legally delicate matters. But instead of making a pilgrimage to the notary's office, with very few exceptions you can do all of this online and save time.

Services that are usually performed in analog form, such as consultation appointments and manual signatures, can now be done digitally. "Overall, this applies to a good 90 percent of our services. The only exceptions are wills and testamentary dispositions, which still have to be done in person," explains notary Ulrich Voit. In the future, even amicable divorces could be handled in this way in order to relieve the burden on the courts. Discussions on this are underway.

The advantage of online services, which are already offered by around a third of the 528 notaries in Germany, is that it saves trips to law firms and therefore time. This can be a great relief, especially for older people who are less mobile.

Power of attorney, purchase, company formation
The most common applications are currently notarizations of signatures, health care proxies for elderly relatives, a power of attorney for children of separated parents and real estate transactions. Buying or selling a home can already be handled fully digitally.

This is particularly practical if one of the contracting parties or a relative is abroad and does not have to come to Austria. For companies, for example, the formation of a company can be legally completed via video conference. Voit: "However, consultations are also common, for example on succession arrangements for the company, possible capital measures, transfer of company shares and even entire shareholder meetings, for which you no longer have to meet physically."

Security through "ID Austria"
Of course, this must be done securely. This requires compliance with certain legal requirements, proof of identity and a good internet connection. In practice, a laptop or smartphone, an official photo ID and a valid cell phone signature via the "ID Austria" app are sufficient.

The notary establishes identity via video conference, and after the consultation and conclusion, all parties "sign" with their electronic signature. The notary then affixes his notarization signature and saves the document.