法律文本

中華人民共和國公證法（2017修正）

Notarization Law of the People’s Republic of China (Revised in 2017)

（2005年8月28日第十屆全國人民代表大會常務委員會第十七次會議通過 根據2015年4月24日第十二屆全國人民代表大會常務委員會第十四次會議《關於修改〈中華人民共和國義務教育法〉等五部法律的決定》第一次修正 根據2017年9月1日第十二屆全國人民代表大會常務委員會第二十九次會議《關於修改〈中華人民共和國法官法〉等八部法律的決定》第二次修正）

(Adopted at the 17th Session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on August 28, 2005; amended for the first time according to the Decision on Revising Five Laws including the Compulsory Education Law of the People's Republic of China passed at the 14th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on April 24, 2015; and amended for the second time according to the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Amending Eight Laws Including the Judges Law of the People's Republic of China at the 29th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress on September 1, 2017)

第一章 總 則

Chapter 1 General Provisions

第一條   為規範公證活動，保障公證機構和公證員依法履行職責，預防糾紛，保障自然人、法人或者其他組織的合法權益，制定本法。

Article 1 This Law is formulated for the purposes of standardising notarisation activities, ensuring lawful performance of duties by notary organisations and notaries public, preventing disputes and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of natural persons, legal persons or any other organisations.

第二條   公證是公證機構根據自然人、法人或者其他組織的申請，依照法定程序對民事法律行為、有法律意義的事實和文書的真實性、合法性予以證明的活動。

Article 2 Notarization shall means an act performed by a notarial institution to certify the authenticity and legality of a civil juristic act, a fact or a document of legal significance in accordance with the statutory procedures upon the application of a natural person, legal person or other organization.

第三條   公證機構辦理公證，應當遵守法律，堅持客觀、公正的原則。

Article 3 Notary offices shall abide by the law and adhere to the principle of objectiveness and impartiality when performing notary acts.

第四條   全國設立中國公證協會，省、自治區、直轄市設立地方公證協會。中國公證協會和地方公證協會是社會團體法人。中國公證協會章程由會員代表大會制定，報國務院司法行政部門備案。

Article 4 China Notary Association shall be established as a national Notary Association and each province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government shall establish a local notary association. China Notary Association and local notary associations are social organizations with legal personality. The articles of association of the China Notary Association shall be formulated by the members' congress and filed with the judicial administration department of the State Council for record.

公證協會是公證業的自律性組織，依據章程開展活動，對公證機構、公證員的執業活動進行監督。

Notary associations are self-governing organisations in the notary industry and shall carry out activities pursuant to their articles of association and supervise the practice of notary organisations and notaries public.

第五條   司法行政部門依照本法規定對公證機構、公證員和公證協會進行監督、指導。

Article 5 The judicial administrative department shall supervise and guide notarial institutions, notaries and notary associations in accordance with the Law.

第二章 公證機構

Chapter 2 Notarial Institutions

第六條   公證機構是依法設立，不以營利為目的，依法獨立行使公證職能、承擔民事責任的證明機構。

Article 6 A notary office is a non-profit certifying institution that is lawfully established and independently exercises the notary functions and bear corresponding civil liabilities.

第七條   公證機構按照統籌規劃、合理布局的原則，可以在縣、不設區的市、設區的市、直轄市或者市轄區設立；在設區的市、直轄市可以設立一個或者若幹個公證機構。公證機構不按行政區劃層層設立。

Article 7 A notary office may, be established in a county, undistricted city, districted city, municipality directly under the Central Government or district directly under a city in accordance with the principle of overall planning and rational distribution. One or more notary office (s) may be established in a districted city or municipality directly under the Central Government. Notary organisations shall not be established at each level of administrative zoning.

第八條   設立公證機構，應當具備下列條件：

Article 8 A to-be-established notarial institution shall satisfy the following requirements:

（一）有自己的名稱；

1. Having its own name;

（二）有固定的場所；

2. Having a fixed place;

（三）有二名以上公證員；

3. Having 2 or more notaries staffs; and

（四）有開展公證業務所必需的資金。

(IV) Having the funds necessary to conduct notarization.

第九條   設立公證機構，由所在地的司法行政部門報省、自治區、直轄市人民政府司法行政部門按照規定程序批準後，頒發公證機構執業證書。

Article 9 Where a notary office is to be established, it shall be reported by the local judicial administrative department to the judicial administrative department of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. Upon the approval granted by the judicial administrative department of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, the local judicial administrative department shall issue a practicing certificate of notary office according to the prescribed procedures.) >

第十條   公證機構的負責人應當在有三年以上執業經曆的公證員中推選產生，由所在地的司法行政部門核準，報省、自治區、直轄市人民政府司法行政部門備案。

Article 10 The person-in-charge of a notary organisation shall be elected from notaries public with three or more years of practice experience, approved by the judicial administrative authorities at its location and filed with the judicial administrative authorities of the People's Government of the province, autonomous region or centrally-administered municipality.

第十一條   根據自然人、法人或者其他組織的申請，公證機構辦理下列公證事項：

Article 11 Upon request of a natural person, legal person or any other organization, a notarial institution shall perform notary acts for the following matters:

（一）合同；

1. contracts;

（二）繼承；

2. Inheritance;

（三）委托、聲明、贈與、遺囑；

(III) Authorization, declaration, bestowal, will;

（四）財產分割；

(IV) division of property;

（五）招標投標、拍賣；

(V) tendering, bidding and auction;

（六）婚姻狀況、親屬關系、收養關系；

(VI) Marriage status, kindred relationship, adoption relationship;

（七）出生、生存、死亡、身份、經曆、學曆、學位、職務、職稱、有無違法犯罪記錄；

(VII) Birth, existence, death, identity, experience, education background, academic degree, job title, professional technical title, criminal record check;

（八）公司章程；

(VIII) the company's articles of association;

（九）保全證據；

(IX) preservation of evidence;

（十）文書上的簽名、印鑒、日期，文書的副本、影印本與原本相符；

(X) Signature, seal and date as indicated in a document, duplicate or photocopy of a document conforming with the original document; and

（十一）自然人、法人或者其他組織自願申請辦理的其他公證事項。

(XI) Other matters that a natural person, a legal person or any other organization voluntarily requests for notarization.

法律、行政法規規定應當公證的事項，有關自然人、法人或者其他組織應當向公證機構申請辦理公證。

For matters which require notarisation pursuant to the provisions of laws and administrative regulations, the relevant natural person, legal person or any other organisation shall apply to a notary organisation for notarisation.

第十二條   根據自然人、法人或者其他組織的申請，公證機構可以辦理下列事務：

Article 12 Upon the request of a natural person, legal person or any other organization, the notary office may handle the following affairs:

（一）法律、行政法規規定由公證機構登記的事務；

1. The affairs that may be registered by a notary office under laws or administrative regulations;

（二）提存；

2. submission;

（三）保管遺囑、遺產或者其他與公證事項有關的財產、物品、文書；

(III) Preservation of will, heritage or other property, articles and documents relating to the notarization affair;

（四）代寫與公證事項有關的法律事務文書；

4. Making notarization-related legal documents for others;

（五）提供公證法律諮詢。

(V) Providing legal consultation services pertaining to notarization.

第十三條   公證機構不得有下列行為：

Article 13 No notary office is allowed to:

（一）為不真實、不合法的事項出具公證書；

1. Issue a notarial deed for any untrue or illegal matter;

（二）毀損、篡改公證文書或者公證檔案；

(II) Destroy or fraudulently alter any notary document or archives;

（三）以诋毀其他公證機構、公證員或者支付回扣、傭金等不正當手段爭攬公證業務；

(III) Canvass notary business by denigrating other notary offices or notaries, or by paying rebates or commissions, or by any other unfair competition methods;

（四）泄露在執業活動中知悉的國家秘密、商業秘密或者個人隱私；

(IV) Reveal any state secret, business secret or personal privacy it has access to in its practice; or

（五）違反規定的收費標準收取公證費；

(V) Charging notarization fees in violation of the prescribed standards; or

（六）法律、法規、國務院司法行政部門規定禁止的其他行為。

(VI) other behaviors forbidden by laws, regulations and provisions of the judicial administrative department of the State Council.

第十四條   公證機構應當建立業務、財務、資產等管理制度，對公證員的執業行為進行監督，建立執業過錯責任追究制度。

Article 14 A notarial institution shall establish management rules for its business, financial affairs and assets, shall supervise the practices of its notaries and shall set up a malpractice liability system.

第十五條   公證機構應當參加公證執業責任保險。

Article 15 A notary office shall buy notary liability insurance.

第三章 公證員

Chapter 3 Notaries

第十六條   公證員是符合本法規定的條件，在公證機構從事公證業務的執業人員。

Article 16 A notary is a practitioner who satisfy the requirements as prescribed by this Law and engage in notarization business in a notary office.

第十七條   公證員的數量根據公證業務需要確定。省、自治區、直轄市人民政府司法行政部門應當根據公證機構的設置情況和公證業務的需要核定公證員配備方案，報國務院司法行政部門備案。

Article 17 The number of notaries shall be determined in light of the needs of notary business. The judicial administrative department of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government shall determine the plan on the staffing of notaries in light of the establishment of notary offices and the needs of notary business and shall file it with the judicial administrative department of the State Council for record.

第十八條   擔任公證員，應當具備下列條件：

Article 18 A notary shall satisfy the following requirements:

（一）具有中華人民共和國國籍；

1. Having the nationality of the People's Republic of China;

（二）年齡二十五周歲以上六十五周歲以下；

2. Being more than 25 years old but less than 65 years old;

（三）公道正派，遵紀守法，品行良好；

(III) being impartial and upright, abiding by laws and disciplines and having good behaviors;

（四）通過國家統一法律職業資格考試取得法律職業資格；

(IV) Having passed the national unified legal professional qualification exam and obtained the legal professional qualification; and

（五）在公證機構實習二年以上或者具有三年以上其他法律職業經曆並在公證機構實習一年以上，經考核合格。

(V) Having acted as an intern in a notary office for 2 or more years, or having 3 or more years of experience of another legal profession and having acted as an intern in a notary office for 1 year or more, and having passed the evaluation.

第十九條   從事法學教學、研究工作，具有高級職稱的人員，或者具有本科以上學曆，從事審判、檢察、法制工作、法律服務滿十年的公務員、律師，已經離開原工作崗位，經考核合格的，可以擔任公證員。

Article 19 A person who was engaged in teaching and research of law and hold a professional senior title post, or a public servant or lawyer who hold a university diploma or above and has full 10 years of experience in judicial or procuratorial work, legal affairs or legal service, if he has left his post and has passed the evaluation, he may serve as a notary.

第二十條   有下列情形之一的，不得擔任公證員：

Article 20 A person under any of the following circumstances may not undertake the job of a notary:

（一）無民事行為能力或者限制民事行為能力的；

(I) person without capacity or with restricted capacity for civil acts;

（二）因故意犯罪或者職務過失犯罪受過刑事處罰的；

2. having been subject to any criminal penalty due to any intentional crime or duty-related crime;

（三）被開除公職的；

(III) having been discharged from public employment;

（四）被吊銷公證員、律師執業證書的。

(IV) Having their practicing certificates for notaries and lawyers revoked.

第二十一條   擔任公證員，應當由符合公證員條件的人員提出申請，經公證機構推薦，由所在地的司法行政部門報省、自治區、直轄市人民政府司法行政部門審核同意後，報請國務院司法行政部門任命，並由省、自治區、直轄市人民政府司法行政部門頒發公證員執業證書。

Article 21 Anyone who intends to serve as a notary shall satisfy the qualifications for a notary,, and shall file an application. The local judicial administrative department shall, report the application to judicial administrative department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government based on recommendation of the applicant by relevant notary office for examination and approval. If the judicial administrative department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government grants the approval, it shall request the judicial administrative department of the State Council for appointment and shall issue a practicing certificate of notary to the applicant.

第二十二條   公證員應當遵紀守法，恪守職業道德，依法履行公證職責，保守執業秘密。

Article 22 A notary shall observe the disciplines and the law, scrupulously abide by the professional ethics, lawfully perform his notary duties and keep confidential the secrets he has access to in his practice.

公證員有權獲得勞動報酬，享受保險和福利待遇；有權提出辭職、申訴或者控告；非因法定事由和非經法定程序，不被免職或者處罰。

A notary has the right to obtain labor remunerations, and to enjoy insurance and welfare treatments. He also has the right to tender resignation, lodge a complaint or file a complaint. He may not be dismissed from his post or be punished unless there is a statutory reason or unless the statutory procedures have been completed.

第二十三條   公證員不得有下列行為：

Article 23 No notary is allowed to:

（一）同時在二個以上公證機構執業；

1. Concurrently hold the post of notary in 2 or more notary offices;

（二）從事有報酬的其他職業；

(II) to undertake other paid work;

（三）為本人及近親屬辦理公證或者辦理與本人及近親屬有利害關系的公證；

(III) Perform any notary act for his near relative or himself or perform any notary act in which he or his near relative have an interest;

（四）私自出具公證書；

(IV) Illegally issue any notarial deed;

（五）為不真實、不合法的事項出具公證書；

(V) Issue a notarial deed for any untrue or illegal matter;

（六）侵占、挪用公證費或者侵占、盜竊公證專用物品；

(VI) Encroach upon or misappropriate the notarization fees or encroach upon or steal any articles exclusively used for notarization;

（七）毀損、篡改公證文書或者公證檔案；

(VII) Destroy or fraudulently alter any notary document or archives;

（八）泄露在執業活動中知悉的國家秘密、商業秘密或者個人隱私；

(VIII) Reveal any state secret, business secret or personal privacy it has access to in its practice; or

（九）法律、法規、國務院司法行政部門規定禁止的其他行為。

(IX) other behaviors forbidden by laws, regulations and provisions of the judicial administrative department of the State Council.

第二十四條   公證員有下列情形之一的，由所在地的司法行政部門報省、自治區、直轄市人民政府司法行政部門提請國務院司法行政部門予以免職：

Article 24 In case a notary is under any of the following circumstances, the local judicial administrative department shall report him to the judicial administrative department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government for dismissal from the notary post:

（一）喪失中華人民共和國國籍的；

1. having forfeited the nationality of the People's Republic of China;

（二）年滿六十五周歲或者因健康原因不能繼續履行職務的；

(II) He has attained the age of 65 or he is incapable of performing his duties continuously for health reasons;

（三）自願辭去公證員職務的；

3. He has resigned from the post of notary of his own accord; or

（四）被吊銷公證員執業證書的。

(IV) His practicing certificate of notary has been revoked.

第四章 公證程序

Chapter 4 Notarization Procedures

第二十五條   自然人、法人或者其他組織申請辦理公證，可以向住所地、經常居住地、行為地或者事實發生地的公證機構提出。

Article 25 Any natural person, legal person or any other organization in request for notarization may apply for notarization with the notarial institution of the place where his (its) domicile or habitual residence is located, or where the relevant act is committed, or where the relevant fact occurs.

申請辦理涉及不動產的公證，應當向不動產所在地的公證機構提出；申請辦理涉及不動產的委托、聲明、贈與、遺囑的公證，可以適用前款規定。

The applicant in request for the notarization of real property shall file an application with the notary office of the place where the real property is located. The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be applicable to the notarization of the power of attorney, statement, bestowal and will concerning the real property.) >

第二十六條   自然人、法人或者其他組織可以委托他人辦理公證，但遺囑、生存、收養關系等應當由本人辦理公證的除外。

Article 26 A natural person, legal person or any other organization may entrust others to handle notarial affairs on behalf of the former with the exception of the notarization of a will, survival, and adoption relationship, which shall be performed by the requestor himself.

第二十七條   申請辦理公證的當事人應當向公證機構如實說明申請公證的事項的有關情況，提供真實、合法、充分的證明材料；提供的證明材料不充分的，公證機構可以要求補充。

Article 27 A party requesting for notarisation shall explain the relevant information for the notarisation matter to the notary organisation truthfully and provide true, legitimate and adequate proof materials; where the proof materials provided are inadequate, the notary organisation may request for supplementation.

公證機構受理公證申請後，應當告知當事人申請公證事項的法律意義和可能產生的法律後果，並將告知內容記錄存檔。

The notary office shall, after its acceptance of a notarization request, inform the party concerned of the legal significance and the possible legal consequences of the matter it (he) requests for notarization, and shall put on file those things it has informed the party concerned.

第二十八條   公證機構辦理公證，應當根據不同公證事項的辦證規則，分別審查下列事項：

Article 28 When handling notary affairs, a notary office shall, examine the following items respectively according to the rules for handling different notary affairs:

（一）當事人的身份、申請辦理該項公證的資格以及相應的權利；

1. The identity of the party concerned, the qualifications for requesting for the notarization and the corresponding rights;

（二）提供的文書內容是否完備，含義是否清晰，簽名、印鑒是否齊全；

2. Whether or not the documents he (it) offers are complete, whether or not the meanings are clear and whether or not the signature and seal are complete;

（三）提供的證明材料是否真實、合法、充分；

3. Whether or not the certification documents are authentic, lawful and adequate; and

（四）申請公證的事項是否真實、合法。

(IV) Whether or not the matters under request for notarization are genuine and lawful.

第二十九條   公證機構對申請公證的事項以及當事人提供的證明材料，按照有關辦證規則需要核實或者對其有疑義的，應當進行核實，或者委托異地公證機構代為核實，有關單位或者個人應當依法予以協助。

Article 29 A notarial institution shall verify or authorize a public office located in another place to verify the matter under request for notarization and the certification documents provided by the party concerned, if it is necessary to do so according to the rules for conducting notarization or if it has any doubt about them. The relevant entity or individual shall offer assistance.

第三十條   公證機構經審查，認為申請提供的證明材料真實、合法、充分，申請公證的事項真實、合法的，應當自受理公證申請之日起十五個工作日內向當事人出具公證書。但是，因不可抗力、補充證明材料或者需要核實有關情況的，所需時間不計算在期限內。

Article 30 If a notarial institution, after examining, considers the certification documents provided by the party concerned to be authentic, lawful and adequate, and that the matter under request for notarization true and lawful, it shall issue a notary deed to the party concerned within 15 days after its acceptance of the notarization request. However, the time required for force majeure, supplementation of proof materials or verification of the relevant information shall be excluded from the period.

第三十一條   有下列情形之一的，公證機構不予辦理公證：

Article 31 A notarial institution shall refuse to perform a notary act under any of the following circumstances:

（一）無民事行為能力人或者限制民事行為能力人沒有監護人代理申請辦理公證的；

1. The person without or with limited capacity for civil conduct has no guardian to request for notarization on his behalf;

（二）當事人與申請公證的事項沒有利害關系的；

(II) The party concerned has nothing to do with the matter under request for notarization;

（三）申請公證的事項屬專業技術鑒定、評估事項的；

(III) The matter under request for notarization is a matter of professional technical authentication or appraisal;

（四）當事人之間對申請公證的事項有爭議的；

(IV) The parties concerned dispute over the matter under request for notarization;

（五）當事人虛構、隱瞞事實，或者提供虛假證明材料的；

(V) The party concerned makes up a story, disguise the fact or provides any false certification materials;

（六）當事人提供的證明材料不充分或者拒絕補充證明材料的；

(VI) The party concerned fails to provide adequate certification documents or refuses to supplement the certification documents as required;

（七）申請公證的事項不真實、不合法的；

(VII) The matter under request for notarization is untrue or unlawful;

（八）申請公證的事項違背社會公德的；

(VIII) The matter under request for notarization transgresses the social morality; and

（九）當事人拒絕按照規定支付公證費的。

(IX) The party concerned refuses to pay the notarization fees.

第三十二條   公證書應當按照國務院司法行政部門規定的格式制作，由公證員簽名或者加蓋簽名章並加蓋公證機構印章。公證書自出具之日起生效。

Article 32 A notary deed shall be made in the format as required by the judicial administrative department of the State Council and shall be affixed with the signature or seal of the notary as well as the seal of the notary office. The notarial certificate shall take effect from the date of issuance.

公證書應當使用全國通用的文字；在民族自治地方，根據當事人的要求，可以制作當地通用的民族文字文本。

A notary deed shall be made in the written language commonly used nationwide. In a national autonomous area, it may be made in the minority language commonly used in the area.

第三十三條   公證書需要在國外使用，使用國要求先認證的，應當經中華人民共和國外交部或者外交部授權的機構和有關國家駐中華人民共和國使（領）館認證。

Article 33 Where a notary deed needs to be used outside China, if the country where the notary deed is to utilized requires authentication in advance, it shall be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China or its authorized institution and the China-based embassy (consular office) of the relevant country.

第三十四條   當事人應當按照規定支付公證費。

Article 34 The party concerned shall pay notarization fees according to the relevant provisions.

對符合法律援助條件的當事人，公證機構應當按照規定減免公證費。

If the party concerned meets the conditions for obtaining a legal aid, the notary office shall reduce or remit the notary fees.

第三十五條   公證機構應當將公證文書分類立卷，歸檔保存。法律、行政法規規定應當公證的事項等重要的公證檔案在公證機構保存期滿，應當按照規定移交地方檔案館保管。

Article 35 A notary office shall classify the notary documents into different categories and keep them as archives. The notary office shall hand over the notary archives to the local archives for preservation at the expiration of the retention period of notary archives of the important matters, which shall be subject to notarization under the law or administrative regulation.

第五章 公證效力

Chapter 5 notarial effect

第三十六條   經公證的民事法律行為、有法律意義的事實和文書，應當作為認定事實的根據，但有相反證據足以推翻該項公證的除外。

Article 36 The notarized civil legal act, fact or document of legal significance shall be taken as the basis for ascertaining a fact except those that can be overturned by counter-evidence.

第三十七條   對經公證的以給付為內容並載明債務人願意接受強制執行承諾的債權文書，債務人不履行或者履行不適當的，債權人可以依法向有管轄權的人民法院申請執行。

Article 37 As for a notarized credit document that states the payment and the commitment of the debtor to accept the forcible execution, if the debtor fails to fulfill or to properly fulfill its (his) duties, the creditor may apply with the jurisdictional people's court for forcible execution.

前款規定的債權文書確有錯誤的，人民法院裁定不予執行，並將裁定書送達雙方當事人和公證機構。

In case a definite error is found in the credit document as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the people's court shall refuse to execute it, and shall serve the both parties concerned and the notary office with its ruling.

第三十八條   法律、行政法規規定未經公證的事項不具有法律效力的，依照其規定。

Article 38 Where laws or administrative regulations provide that a certain matter has no legal effect unless it is notarized, the law or administrative regulation shall be complied with.

第三十九條   當事人、公證事項的利害關系人認為公證書有錯誤的，可以向出具該公證書的公證機構提出複查。公證書的內容違法或者與事實不符的，公證機構應當撤銷該公證書並予以公告，該公證書自始無效；公證書有其他錯誤的，公證機構應當予以更正。

Article 39 Where an interested party of the party concerned or of a notarized matter considers that the notary certificate contains a definite error, it may propose to the notary office that issued the notary certificate to review it. If the contents of the notary deed are illegal or do not consist with the facts, the notary office shall revoke the notary deed and publish an announcement, and the notary deed shall be invalidated immediately. If any other error is found in the notary deed, the notary office shall make corrections.

第四十條   當事人、公證事項的利害關系人對公證書的內容有爭議的，可以就該爭議向人民法院提起民事訴訟。

Article 40 Where a party concerned or interested party of a notarized matter disputes over the contents of the notarial certificate, it may file a civil suit in the people's court.

第六章 法律責任

Chapter 6 Legal Liabilities

第四十一條   公證機構及其公證員有下列行為之一的，由省、自治區、直轄市或者設區的市人民政府司法行政部門給予警告；情節嚴重的，對公證機構處一萬元以上五萬元以下罰款，對公證員處一千元以上五千元以下罰款，並可以給予三個月以上六個月以下停止執業的處罰；有違法所得的，沒收違法所得：

Article 41 Where a notary office or any of its notaries commits any of the following acts, it/he shall be given a warning by the judicial administrative department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the Central Government or districted city. If the circumstance is serious, the notary office shall be imposed a fine of no less than 10, 000 Yuan but no more than 50, 000 Yuan, the notary shall be imposed a fine of no less than 1, 000 Yuan but no more than 5, 000 Yuan, and may be given a punishment of suspending his practice for 3 to 6 months. If there are any illegal gains, such illegal gains shall be confiscated:

（一）以诋毀其他公證機構、公證員或者支付回扣、傭金等不正當手段爭攬公證業務的；

1. Canvassing notary business by denigrating other notary offices or notaries, or by paying rebates or commissions, or by any other unfair competition methods;

（二）違反規定的收費標準收取公證費的；

(II) Charging notarization fees in violation of the prescribed standards;

（三）同時在二個以上公證機構執業的；

(III) Practicing as a notary in 2 or more notary offices concurrently;

（四）從事有報酬的其他職業的；

(IV) undertaking other paid job (s);

（五）為本人及近親屬辦理公證或者辦理與本人及近親屬有利害關系的公證的；

(V) Performing a notary act for himself or his near relative, or performing a notary act in which he or his near relative has interests; or

（六）依照法律、行政法規的規定，應當給予處罰的其他行為。

(VI) other acts punishable under the laws or administrative regulations.

第四十二條   公證機構及其公證員有下列行為之一的，由省、自治區、直轄市或者設區的市人民政府司法行政部門對公證機構給予警告，並處二萬元以上十萬元以下罰款，並可以給予一個月以上三個月以下停業整頓的處罰；對公證員給予警告，並處二千元以上一萬元以下罰款，並可以給予三個月以上十二個月以下停止執業的處罰；有違法所得的，沒收違法所得；情節嚴重的，由省、自治區、直轄市人民政府司法行政部門吊銷公證員執業證書；構成犯罪的，依法追究刑事責任：

Article 42 Where a notary organisation and its notary public has committed any of the following acts, the judicial administrative authorities of the People's Government of the province, autonomous region, centrally-administered municipality or a municipality divided into districts shall issue a warning to the notary organisation, a fine ranging from RMB20,000 to RMB100,000 shall be imposed and the notary organisation may be ordered to suspend practice for a period of more than one month but less than three months; the notary public shall be subject to a warning and a fine ranging from RMB2,000 to RMB10,000 and may be subject to suspension of practice for a period of more than three months but less than 12 months; illegal income shall be confiscated; where the case is serious, the judicial administrative authorities of the People's Government of the province, autonomous region or centrally-administered municipality shall revoke the notary public practice certificate; where the case constitutes a criminal offence, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law:

（一）私自出具公證書的；

1. Illegally issue any notary deed;

（二）為不真實、不合法的事項出具公證書的；

(II) issuing a notarial deed for any untrue or illegal matter;

（三）侵占、挪用公證費或者侵占、盜竊公證專用物品的；

(III) Encroaching upon or misappropriating the notarization fees or encroaching upon or steal any articles exclusively used for notarization;

（四）毀損、篡改公證文書或者公證檔案的；

(IV) Destroying or fraudulently altering the notary documents or notary archives;

（五）泄露在執業活動中知悉的國家秘密、商業秘密或者個人隱私的；

(V) Revealing any state secret, commercial secret or personal privacy it has access to in its practice;

（六）依照法律、行政法規的規定，應當給予處罰的其他行為。

(VI) other acts punishable under the laws or administrative regulations.

因故意犯罪或者職務過失犯罪受刑事處罰的，應當吊銷公證員執業證書。

Where a notary public is subject to criminal punishment for an intentional crime or gross negligence, his/her notary public practice certificate shall be revoked.

被吊銷公證員執業證書的，不得擔任辯護人、訴訟代理人，但系刑事訴訟、民事訴訟、行政訴訟當事人的監護人、近親屬的除外。

Whoever has his or her practicing certificate for notaries revoked shall not serve as a defender or agent ad litem unless he or she is the guardian or close relative of a litigant in criminal, civil or administrative litigation.

第四十三條   公證機構及其公證員因過錯給當事人、公證事項的利害關系人造成損失的，由公證機構承擔相應的賠償責任；公證機構賠償後，可以向有故意或者重大過失的公證員追償。

Article 43 Where a notarization office or any of its notary causes any losses to the party concerned or interested party to the notarization matter for the reasons of its (his) fault, the notarial institution shall assume the corresponding compensation liabilities for the loss. The notarial institution may, seek compensation from the notary who has committed intentional or gross mistakes after making the compensation.

當事人、公證事項的利害關系人與公證機構因賠償發生爭議的，可以向人民法院提起民事訴訟。

Where a party concerned or an interested party of a notarisation matter is in dispute with the notary organisation over compensation, it may file a civil lawsuit with a People's Court.

第四十四條   當事人以及其他個人或者組織有下列行為之一，給他人造成損失的，依法承擔民事責任；違反治安管理的，依法給予治安管理處罰；構成犯罪的，依法追究刑事責任：

Article 44 A party concerned or any other individual or organization shall bear the civil liabilities if it (he) commits any of the following acts and thus causes any losses to others. In the case of violation of the pubic security administration, it (he) shall be given a public security administrative punishment. In the case of constituting a crime, it (he) shall be investigated for criminal liabilities according to law:

（一）提供虛假證明材料，騙取公證書的；

1. obtaining any notarial deed by providing false certification documents;

（二）利用虛假公證書從事欺詐活動的；

2. Using any false notarial deed to commit fraudulent acts; or

（三）偽造、變造或者買賣偽造、變造的公證書、公證機構印章的。

(III) Counterfeiting, altering or buying or selling any counterfeited or altered notary deed or seal of notary office.

第七章 附 則

Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions

第四十五條   中華人民共和國駐外使（領）館可以依照本法的規定或者中華人民共和國締結或者參加的國際條約的規定，辦理公證。

Article 45 The embassies (consular offices) of the People's Republic of China stationed abroad may perform notary acts in accordance with this Law or the international treaties, which the People's Republic of China has concluded or has acceded to.

第四十六條   公證費的收費標準由省、自治區、直轄市人民政府價格主管部門會同同級司法行政部門制定。

Article 46 The fee rates of notary fees shall be formulated by the pricing control department of the People's Governments of provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-administered municipalities jointly with the judicial administration department of counterpart level.

第四十七條   本法自2006年3月1日起施行。

Article 47 This Law shall go into effect as of March 1, 2006.