The Office of the Notary to Government and the Notarial Archives make up a single department established by law in order to provide notarial services to Government Departments and Parastatal Corporations as regards the publication, preservation and custody of notarial acts.
Services
The Department offers a service to members of the public wishing to inspect any deed published by notaries practising in Gozo from the eighteenth century to date and to order a copy thereof. The Department is also a useful source of reference material to researchers and scholars.
If you wish to trace a deed or will, for purposes of inspection or ordering a copy thereof, we will require the following information, namely, the name of the Notary, the date of the deed or will, the nature of the deed (e.g. sale, emphyteusis, partition, exchange, etc.), the parties to the deed or will. In the case of a will, if one is already in possession of a death certificate, this can be presented when ordering a copy. The testator/testatrix or a person authorised by him/her may inspect his/her will or request a copy thereof provided that he/she shows his/her identity card when requested.
Services to persons who are doing research for a purely historical, literary or scientific purpose. Such persons are to submit an application to this end. Once ministerial approval is granted, and subject to other conditions, the said researchers are exempted from payment of any fees normally charged for inspecting notarial acts. They also benefit from reduced rates on copying services carried out by the Department.
Quality Service
We will provide you with volumes of notarial deeds for inspection within ten minutes. Payment of an ordered copy can be effected upon making the order and the copy shall be sent to you by post within three days. You may also collect your copies personally three working days after the date of order. In certain cases, you may be asked to collect copies of wills personally.
What we expect from you
You may help us provide a better service by:
- providing us with the necessary information as mentioned above when making use of the Archives’ services;
- making sure that you provide us with the information requested promptly and accurately;
- informing us immediately should you have any difficulties with our service to enable us to redress the situation as soon as possible;
- being courteous to members of our staff;
- complying with the rules set out in the Notarial Archives, such as not smoking within premises, refraining from scribbling on any volume and being careful not to damage any documents belonging to the Department.
Fees
The fees for services provided by the Notarial Archives section are as follows:
Legal photocopies: €1.20 per page
Informal photocopies: €0.70 per page
Inspections of a notarial act: €0.60 per act
Photocopies requested by researchers: €0.10 per page (on provision of the authorisation required by law)
To order a copy of contract please send order on email:
joanne.sultana@gov.mt and emanuel.mercieca@gov.mt
To order a copy of will please send order on email:
josepha-erica.farrugia@gov.mt and cc robert.micallef@gov.mt
Important Links:
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 1.30pm
Please Note: If you wish to trace a deed or will, for purposes of inspection or ordering a copy thereof, we will require the following information, namely, the name of the Notary, the date of the deed or will, the nature of the deed (e.g. sale, emphyteusis, partition, exchange, etc.), the parties to the deed or will. In the case of a will, if one is already in possession of a death certificate, this can be presented when ordering a copy. The testator/testatrix or a person authorised by him/her may inspect his/her will or request a copy thereof provided that he/she shows his/her identity card when requested.