Government Plans Notary Fee Hikes for Wills, Power of Attorney, and Inheritance

The Ministry of Justice has drafted a proposal to significantly increase maximum notary fees, impacting costs for wills, inheritance proceedings, property transactions, and various official document certifications across Poland.

Proposed Adjustments to Maximum Notary Fees

The Ministry of Justice has prepared a project to raise the maximum rates for notary fees, which have remained unchanged for many years. These adjustments cover a wide range of services, including wills, powers of attorney, inheritance certifications, and various real estate-related actions.

Increased Costs for Wills and Powers of Attorney

One of the primary changes is the increase in maximum rates for common services. The fee for drafting a will is set to rise from 50 PLN to 200 PLN. Similar increases are planned for powers of attorney and documents containing additional asset management provisions.

Higher Fees for Inheritance and Property Transactions

Inheritance proceedings will become more expensive under the new maximum caps. For high-value property transactions exceeding 5 million PLN, a new rate of 14,270 PLN plus 0.15 percent of the excess will be introduced, with the total notary fee cap rising to 25,000 PLN.

New Charges for Land Registry Entries

The proposal introduces a specific maximum fee for preparing and electronically submitting applications for land registry entries, capped at 300 PLN. Additionally, rates for every page of certified transcripts and copies of notarial deeds will increase from the current 6 PLN.

Updates to Certification and Off-Site Services

Notary certification of signatures will see a three-fold increase, rising to 60 PLN. For documents involving a specific monetary sum, the rate is capped at one-tenth of the standard deed fee, not exceeding 500 PLN. Supplements for services performed outside the notary office are also set to increase.

General Fee Standardization

The government intends to implement a uniform maximum rate of 400 PLN for notarial acts not specifically listed in the regulation to improve system transparency. Importantly, the proposal sets only the maximum limits; final fees remain negotiable between the notary and the client, provided they do not exceed these caps.

Legislative Status and Implementation

The regulation is scheduled to take effect 14 days after its official publication. The proposal is currently undergoing the standard legislative process and has yet to be finalized.