Notarial Work

Documents That Carry Legal Weight 

The Legal Role of a Notary Public in Zimbabwe

A Notary Public is a specialized legal practitioner who has been specifically admitted by the High Court of Zimbabwe to perform vital legal functions: the formal authentication and certification of legal documents, the drafting and execution of notarial deeds, and the official attestation of instruments intended for use within Zimbabwe or internationally.

Not every attorney is a Notary Public, and ordinary legal documents cannot replace the legal weight and formal presumption of truth that a registered Notarial Seal carries.

At Mataba Attorneys At Law, our principal attorney is an admitted Notary Public with decades of experience in high-level notarial practice. We provide a comprehensive suite of notarial services to individuals, corporate entities, and diaspora clients with the absolute professionalism, discretion, and meticulous attention to detail that notarial law demands.

Key Distinctions of Notarial Acts

  • High Court Admission: Executed exclusively by legal practitioners who hold specific notarial qualification and High Court admission.

  • Public Faith & Veracity: Notarial deeds carry a public presumption of legal correctness in both local and foreign courts.

  • Permanent Protocol Archives: Original notarial deeds are permanently preserved in the Notary's official register (protocol) for future verification.

Our Core Notarial Services

Marital & Personal Deeds

  • Antenuptial Contracts (ANC): Drafting and notarizing marriage contracts to protect individual property rights, business assets, and financial independence prior to marriage.
  • Notarial Deeds of Change of Name: Drafting formal deeds poll for official change of personal name for registration with the Registrar-General.
  • Powers of Attorney: Preparing general and special notarial powers of attorney enabling trusted representatives to act on your behalf.

Commercial Bonds & Servitudes

  • Notarial Bonds (General & Special): Drafting and registering notarial bonds over movable assets (equipment, machinery, vehicles) at the Deeds Registry to secure commercial loans.
  • Notarial Deeds of Lease: Executing long-term lease agreements (exceeding 10 years) for formal registration against title deeds.
  • Notarial Deeds of Servitude: Drafting and registering personal or praedial servitudes (e.g., rights of way, water access, building restrictions).

Authentication & Apostille Services

  • Certification of Documents: Official notarization of certified true copies of academic degrees, birth certificates, corporate registers, and passports.
  • Authentication & Apostille Certification: Authenticating documents for official recognition in foreign jurisdictions and foreign embassies.
  • Diaspora Verification Services: Streamlined verification process for Zimbabwean citizens living abroad who require local document execution and attestation.

When Should You Engage a Notary Public?

  • When entering into a marriage out of community of property, requiring an Antenuptial Contract signed before a Notary before solemnization

  • When executing General or Special Notarial Bonds over movable property to secure debt for lenders or borrowers.

  • When submitting educational certificates, corporate records, or legal powers of attorney to foreign governments, embassies, or international bodies.

  • When registering long-term property leases, rights of way, water servitudes, or usufructs at the Deeds Registry.