Large sums of money are entrusted to notaries and pass through their trust accounts. Despite the very strict control measures imposed by the Chambre des notaires, it may happen that one of its members makes improper use of funds or property received.
The fund is used to compensate a claimant following a notary’s use of funds or property for purposes other than those for which the claimant had entrusted them to the notary, in the practice of the profession under a services contract. Only funds and property remitted to the notary are eligible in this regard.
The Compensation Fund does not cover cases of professional error committed by notaries. Refer to the Professional Misconduct or Error section for more information on this topic.
The claimant has one year from the time they learned about the impropriety to file a claim.
The maximum compensation per claim is $200,000.
Damages are not covered by the Compensation Fund.
To make a claim to the Chambre des notaires Compensation Fund, you must:
- Present your claim in the form of a written, sworn declaration, within one year of learning of the inappropriate use of the funds, using the appropriate form:
- Claim on behalf of an individual (available in French only)
- Claim on behalf of an organization (business, association, corporation, syndicate of co-owners or other organization) (available in French only)
- Claim on behalf of a deceased person (succession) (available in French only)
- Report the facts and the amount claimed
- Include the relevant documents with the form
- Send it to the following address:
Chambre des notaires du Québec
Secretary of the Compensation Fund Committee
101-2045 Stanley St.
Montréal, QC H3A 2V4
For more information:
514-879-1793 / 1-800-263-1793, ext. *5444
indemnisation@cnq.org
