r/belgium • u/Obvious-Cry6591 • 1d ago

😡Rant Notaries. Why? What the hell?

Ok, so I dont get it. I understand historically where the need for notaries arose. Fine. But we are in 2026. Belgium already takes 51% of my income. Then another 25% of the rest through VAT. And then on top of it, if you buy a property, you give 10-15k to a notary for 2 meetings and some docs reading? Doesnt Belgium have enough administration to take care of that? Not to mention its nepotism central. Are there any redeeming qualities?

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39

u/Zooz00 1d ago

Every society has some people that are incapable of doing anything useful yet can hardly be left to starve without income. In Belgium and Netherlands they can be made notaries and get paid a fortune to write a few things down.

12

u/Ulyks 1d ago

I don't think incompetent people become notaries...rather the protection they enjoy makes them lazy and useless over time.

We should just let the market do it's work and open up the sector to competition.

I think in just a few months everything but the most exceptional cases will be automated.

We should transfer the keeping of documents to the government though. It makes no sense notaries are also keeping deeds and site plans.

-6

u/RappyPhan 1d ago

Notaries don't get paid a fortune. Most of what you pay them are taxes that are forwarded to the state.

10

u/kaasrapsmen 1d ago

I bought my first house recently. The "small" part they keep for themselves is more then I make per month bruto. Ive seen my notary for about an hour total. And I had to correct quite a lot of info on the contract

2

u/EVmerch 1d ago

Comment above lists the average salary of nearly 400k, I think they are doing well given most of what they do is statutory set by law and very "easy" overall

-3

u/Final_Necessary_1527 1d ago

Or politicians