The Evolution of the Georgian Notariat: From the State-Controlled Soviet System to Professional Independence and Digital Modernisation
Abstract
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of Georgia’s state independence, the Georgian legal system underwent substantial institutional transformation aimed at modernising Soviet legal structures and aligning them with European legal standards. Within this process, the notariat evolved from a state-controlled institution into an independent legal profession based on the principles of the Latin-type notarial system. During the Soviet period, notaries operated as public officials under strict administrative control, a model incompatible with the requirements of a market economy and private-law relations (Smits, 2020). Subsequent reforms introduced a Latin-type (“independent”) notariat founded on professional independence and the safeguarding of private-law security (Sukhitashvili, 2012, p. 25; Zoidze, 2005). This article analyses the institutional transformation of the Georgian notariat and evaluates the impact of legislative reforms on the development of the notarial profession. The study employs doctrinal and comparative legal methods and examines Georgian legislation in comparison with selected European notarial systems. Particular attention is devoted to professional independence, preventive legal protection, and the integration of digital technologies into notarial activities. The study demonstrates that legislative and institutional reforms in Georgia have strengthened the professional status of notaries, enhanced the reliability of legal acts, and contributed to greater legal certainty in civil transactions. At the same time, the development of digital services and remote notarial mechanisms has significantly transformed the practical operation of the notarial system. The article argues that the Georgian notariat represents a distinctive model of post-Soviet legal modernisation, combining the core principles of the Latin notarial tradition with contemporary forms of digital governance.
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