The costs of notarial services in Poland are about to increase significantly. The maximum fee for drawing up a will is set to rise from the current 50 PLN to 200 PLN, a 300 percent jump. Planned changes also cover the rules for setting notary remuneration in transactions where fees depend on the value of the contract.
The Ministry of Justice has published a draft amendment to the regulation on maximum notarial fee rates in the Government Legislation Centre. Aleksander Szymański, president of the National Chamber of Notaries, commented on the proposal. – These changes primarily aim to adjust the flat-rate fees for activities where the amount does not depend on value – he said.
Changes in maximum notarial fees
The regulation sets only maximum rates, meaning the actual fee is always negotiated with the client and can be lower. According to the draft, the upper limit for transactions with the highest value will also be corrected, while maintaining the preferential limits for activities carried out among the closest family members.
For example, when the value of a transaction exceeds 2 million PLN, the current notarial fee is 6770 PLN plus 0.25 percent of the surplus over 2 million PLN, but not more than 10 000 PLN. Under the new proposal, the maximum for general transactions would increase, though the exact new ceiling for this bracket was not specified in the original report. However, the preferential cap for people in tax group I (closest relatives) will rise from 7500 PLN to 15 000 PLN.
Preferential rates for close family remain
The draft keeps the mechanism of maximum fees and preferential limits for family transactions. – The regulation still sets only maximum rates – Szymański added. – Everything depends on the type of activity, its complexity, and the amount of work needed.
Notarial fees for other fixed-rate services are also being updated. The increase for drawing up a will – from 50 to 200 PLN – is one of the most visible examples. The Ministry of Justice argues that the current maximum rates have not been adjusted for many years and no longer reflect market realities.
The new regulation is expected to come into force later this year, subject to the legislative process. Poles planning to inherit property or make a will should be prepared for higher potential costs, though they can still negotiate lower fees with individual notaries.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. Shutterstock/New Africa
