Legal Responsibilities of Notaries in Maintaining the Validity of Documents and Their Consequences in Criminal Law

Abstract

This article examines the legal responsibility of notaries in maintaining the validity of documents and the consequences that arise in the realm of criminal law. Notaries as public officials have the authority to make authentic deeds that have perfect evidentiary power. However, in practice, there is a potential for deviations either due to negligence or intentionality that can result in legal defects in the documents made. This study aims to analyze the limits of notary responsibility, forms of violations with criminal implications, and legal consequences that can be imposed. The method used is a normative juridical approach by examining laws and regulations, legal doctrines, and related court decisions. The results of the study show that notaries can be held criminally liable if proven to be intentional or negligent in fulfilling the applicable legal provisions, especially related to the authenticity of data, the identity of the parties, and the procedures for making deeds. Therefore, prudence and compliance with professional standards are needed to minimize the legal risks faced by notaries.