This is general information to point you in the right direction, not legal advice or an assessment of any notary. Competence, papers and costs depend on the deed and the facts, so talk to a professional before you sign.
In short
Buying or selling property, taking out a mortgage or setting up a company? A notary drafts the deeds the law requires to be authentic, or that you want made official. They check identity and papers, explain what the deed means for you, keep the original and handle the registration steps the law requires.
Before your notary appointment
Step by step
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See them before you sign
Before a sale, a purchase or any commitment
Buying or selling property, taking out a mortgage, drafting an authentic deed or any deal that needs a notarial deed: see the notary from the start. Not every file follows the same route, so let them confirm that yours is one for them.
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Gather the file and have it checked
At the first appointment
Bring your national ID card and the papers you have on the property, company, power of attorney or family situation, depending on the case. The notary checks identity, legal capacity and the papers for the deed. The list varies from file to file, so ask for it in writing before going further.
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Have the deed explained to you
Before signing
The notary must explain to the parties what the deed contains and what it leads to (articles 35 to 37 of Law 32.09). Read the clauses, ask about any word you don't understand, and don't sign anything that isn't clear to you.
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Ask who handles registration
After signing
Where the law requires it, the notary sends copies for registration and completes the necessary land-register or publication steps (article 47). Ask what the office handles, what's left for you to do and when you'll get your copies.
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Check the notary and agree on the service
Before handing over your papers
Look the notary up by name or city in the Ministry of Justice's national directory of legal and judicial professions. Then agree clearly on the deed, papers, fees, costs and registration. We found no single fee that fits every file, so ask for a breakdown from the start.
The official route
National directory of legal and judicial professions
Check the notary in the official directory, then call the office to find out whether your file is one for them and what to gather.
The people who can help
See them all on Hdaya
Do you work in this field? People in your city read this guide.
Add your profileNotary, adoul or lawyer?
- Notary: for authentic deeds, such as buying or selling property, a mortgage or company papers.
- Adoul: for adoulaire deeds, such as marriage or inheritance. Some property deeds can also go through an adoul, so if you're unsure, ask both.
- Lawyer: if there's a dispute, or you want an opinion on the deed before signing.
If you're starting a business, see setting up a SARL in Morocco.
References
Sources: Law 32.09 organising the notarial profession and the Ministry of Justice's national directory of legal and judicial professions. The law sets out general powers and duties; it gives no single document list and no general tariff.
Notaries in your city
On Hdaya you can find notaries near you, look at their profiles and ask about your file before the first appointment.
Questions people ask
What's the difference between a notary and an adoul?
A notary drafts the authentic deeds the law requires or the parties want, keeps the original and handles some registration steps. An adoul (notary-witness for family and civil deeds) takes adoulaire testimony under the rules of that profession. Each file has its own route, so ask before you sign.
Does a notary replace a lawyer?
No. A notary focuses on the authentic deed; a lawyer advises you, represents you and defends you in the areas the law allows. One doesn't replace the other in every case.
What should I bring to the notary?
There's no single list for every service. Start with your national ID card and the papers about the matter, then ask the notary for the exact list before the appointment.
Are notary fees the same everywhere?
We found no recent official source publishing a standard fee. Ask for a breakdown of fees, costs and registration before you commit.
Official sources
- Law 32.09 organising the notarial profession — Ministry of Justice
- National electronic directory of legal and judicial professions — Ministry of Justice
Procedures change. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will check it again.