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Deed of Notoriety
A notarial deed in which a notary establishes certain facts on the basis of witness statements that do not appear from official registers.
A deed of notoriety is a notarial instrument by which a notary, after hearing witnesses, records facts or circumstances relevant to legal proceedings. This instrument is used in particular in the law of succession to confirm family relationships or other personal statuses where official documents are unavailable.
The deed of notoriety is significant because it enables the notary to complete the administration of an estate or perform other legal acts without all facts being ascertainable from the registers. It provides a practical solution in situations where supporting evidence is lacking.
In practice, such an instrument is frequently executed in cases of death abroad or unclear family relationships, so that heirs may be identified and the estate distributed.
“The notary drew up an act of notoriety to establish the family relationship between the deceased and the heirs.”
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