Chamber of Notaries – tasks and role in society
Association of Estonian notaries
The Chamber of Notaries unites all Estonian notaries and works to ensure that the notary’s profession is trustworthy and modern, and that notarial services meet expectations and are accessible to both notaries and their clients.
Management and structure of the Chamber of Notaries
The Chamber of Notaries is a legal entity governed by public law, whose supreme body is the general meeting and whose executive and administrative body is a seven-member council. The activities of the Chamber of Notaries are regulated by the Notaries Act and the Statutes of the Chamber of Notaries. All appointed notaries are members of the Chamber of Notaries. There are 84 practising notaries in 2026.
The Chamber of Notaries began operating on 1 November 1993, when the Notaries Act entered into force.
Since 1995, the Estonian Chamber of Notaries has been a member of the International Union of Notaries (UINL), and since 2004, a member of the Council of the Notariats of the European Union (CNUE).
The activities of the Chamber of Notaries are not funded from the state budget, but primarily from membership fees paid by notaries.
General meeting
The highest body of the Chamber of Notaries in which all notaries participate. The general meeting is authorised to:
- approve of the budget and the annual report of the Chamber of Notaries;
- elect the members of the council and the court of honour;
- approve the Statutes and other instruments of the Chamber of Notaries.
Council
The council is the executive and administrative body of the Chamber of Notaries and is authorised to:
- approve the priorities of the activities and the action plan of the Chamber of Notaries;
- implement the decisions of the general meeting;
- support the development of the notary’s profession;
- coordinate the administrative supervision of notaries.
The council is elected by the general meeting of the Chamber of Notaries for a term of three years and it consists of seven members.
Team of the Chamber
The team of the Chamber of Notaries has 10 members.
The managing director of the Chamber of Notaries manages the day-to-day operations of the Chamber’s team, is responsible for the implementation of the budget, and initiates and implements the Chamber’s development projects.
The Chamber supports the smooth running and development of the notary’s profession, helping notaries to focus on their core work. The team’s day-to-day work involves cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, other public authorities and international partners, as well as providing comprehensive support for the professional activities of notaries. In addition, the Chamber assists clients by providing information on notarial acts and the work of notaries.
Tasks and objectives
The Chamber of Notaries is the professional organisation for notaries in Estonia, bringing together all practising notaries. The Chamber’s main tasks are to ensure that notaries adhere to professional ethics, to provide professional support to its members, and to represent the interests of notaries both nationally and internationally.
The Chamber participates in the legislative process, cooperates with state authorities and organises training courses to ensure that the work of notaries is of a high standard and up to date.
Main areas of activity of the Chamber of Notaries
In addition to representing notaries and upholding ethical standards, the Chamber carries out a number of practical tasks. The Chamber’s day-to-day work involves compiling guidance materials, organising training courses, engaging in international cooperation and supporting the legislative drafting process. These measures ensure that the work of notaries is of a high standard and meets the needs of modern society.