Article 1
Company & Purpose
Aalbersberg Notariaat B.V., has its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, its legal successor(s) and/or the (legal) persons designated by it, as well as the (group) companies belonging to this company within the meaning of Article 2:24b Dutch Civil Code, hereafter: "AN".
AN has the purpose of exercising the notarial legal practice as well as to provide (notarial) legal advice.
Article 2
Applicability
These general terms and conditions are applicable to all instructions accepted by AN as well as any subsequent instructions and all services. The applicability of other general terms and conditions, such as those of the client, is explicitly excluded.
Not only the office but also all (legal)persons who are involved in the performance of any instructions of AN can appeal to these general terms and conditions. The stipulations in these general terms and conditions have also been made for the benefit of:
- the notaries related to AN and their heirs;
- the employees, (legal)persons who are or have been working for AN or others who are or were in any matter related to AN including their heirs;
- all (indirect) shareholders, all former (indirect) shareholders, (former) directors or (former) legal representatives of AN including their heirs;
- all practices with corporate personality with which AN has or has had a management agreement, including their directors and (indirect) shareholders.
Article 3
Instructions
Upon acceptance of all instructions, the provisions of articles 7:404, 7:407 paragraph 2 and 7:409 of the Dutch Civil Code are excluded.
Article 4
Acknowledgement of Instructions
The undisputed receipt of a deed, including the draft of a deed, drawn up by AN implies an acknowledgement that an instruction is given.
Article 5
Fees & Payment
5.1 Unless agreed otherwise in writing, the fee will be calculated based on the number of hours worked, multiplied by the applicable rates as will be periodically determined by AN. AN is authorized to require that an advance account be paid before the work is commenced.
5.2 The costs paid by AN on behalf of the client (including but not limited to general office expenses such as postage, telephone, and photocopying costs etc.) can be charged separately.
5.3 Invoices must be paid within fourteen (14) days of the invoice date, unless agreed or stated otherwise. If the client fails to pay within this term it will be in default and statutory default interest in accordance with Section 119(a) of Book 6 of the Dutch Civil Code will be payable. If collection measures against the defaulting client are taken, the costs in connection with this collection will be charged to the client.
5.4 AN is also authorized to proceed to sending interim accounts. AN is also authorized to settle the amount owed to it or to withhold it from an amount that must be paid to the client, for example on account of a surrender proceeds, a deposit (whether or not pursuant to a bank guarantee) or a deposit amount.
5.5 The client is aware and agrees that AN will only submit its invoices by digital means. Upon request, invoices can be delivered in writing, for which additional invoicing will be made in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Article 6
Networks & Collaboration
AN can participate in national and/or international networks or other forms of collaboration with other attorneys, notaries and tax experts or comparable professionals. If a member of such a network or co-operation is engaged with the agreement of the client, a legal relationship arises between the client and the member in question, and not with AN. AN is not liable in any way for the members of said network or co-operation, nor can AN be bound in any way by the members of such network or co-operation, nor is it authorized in any way to bind such other attorneys, notaries and tax experts or comparable professionals nor to act for joint account and risk.
Article 7
Liability
7.1 Any liability is limited to the amount paid out in the relevant case by the professional liability insurance(s), plus the amount of the deductible that is not payable by the insurers under the conditions of the policy. Information concerning said professional indemnity insurance will be made available upon request.
7.2 If in the performance of the services rendered or otherwise damages are inflicted to persons or goods for which AN is liable, such liability shall be limited to the amount or amounts paid out in the particular case under the general liability insurance policy(ies) AN has entered into, plus the amount of the deductible that is payable by AN under the conditions of the policy. Information concerning said general liability insurance will be made available upon request.
7.3 If for whatever reason no amount is paid out under the abovementioned insurance policy, all liability is limited to an amount equal to three times the amount invoiced by AN in the relevant year, excluding sales tax, in the concerning matter with a maximum of ten thousand euros (€ 10,000.00).
7.4 Any claim for compensation against AN and/or against the parties mentioned in article 2 of the general conditions will become time-barred twelve (12) months and expires at the latest after three (3) years after the claimant-party becomes aware or should have become aware of the fact giving rise to the damage, from which the liability arises directly or indirectly; this does not exclude the provisions of article 6:89 of the Dutch Civil Code.
7.5 Any liability of AN for consequential damage is excluded.
7.6 The limitations of liability also apply if AN is held liable for damage that directly or indirectly results from the improper functioning of the equipment, software, data files, registers or other items used by AN.
Article 8
Third Parties
The choice of third parties to be engaged by AN will, wherever possible, be made in consultation with the client and exercising due care. AN is not liable for any failures of these third parties. The client authorizes AN to accept any limitations of liability stipulated by third parties on its behalf.
Article 9
Performance of Instructions
The performance of the instruction given will be solely on behalf of the client. Third parties may not derive any rights from the contents of the work carried out.
Article 10
Disclosure to Third Parties
If the client provides third parties with the contents of the work carried out for it by AN, the client will be obliged towards AN to make clear to that third party that such work was carried out under the terms of these general conditions. If a third party makes use of the contents of this work in any way, this third party will be bound by the contents of these general conditions.
Article 11
Work Without Notarial Deed
Also for the activities that are carried out without this ultimately leading to a notarial deed, AN is authorized to charge the work to the client. The fee is then determined as stipulated above.
Article 12
Anti-Money Laundering (Wwft)
The Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act applies to the services provided by AN. In that context, AN is obliged:
- to carry out a "customer due diligence" in connection with the services to the client, which includes, among other things, determining and verifying the identity;
- to assess whether unusual transactions have been carried out or are intended; and
- in such cases, to report to the Financial Intelligence Unit ("FIU") without the knowledge of the parties involved in the assignment if an unusual situation or transaction occurs.
The client hereby declares to be known and to agree and to provide all necessary information without reservation.
Article 13
Data Processing
AN may, whether or not in relation to the instructions in question, process and store the client's personal and other data and provide this information to anyone within the AN organization, so that the instructions can be processed and for the purpose of relationship management.
Article 14
Digital Communications
The client agrees that AN may use digital means of communication and data storage services, including personal data, whether or not offered by third parties, for the purpose of communication. AN cannot be held liable for damage or loss ensuing from the use of such services.
Article 15
Assignment & Pledge Restriction
A claim against AN due to the payment of money based on the legal act that is included in a deed cannot be assigned or pledged. AN pays only money to the person who acts as a party to the deed and/or can claim the payment based on the legal act included in the deed on the basis of the notarial professional and conduct rules, unless otherwise follows from these rules.
Article 16
Client Funds
In the context of executing instructions, AN may hold client funds or third-party funds for safekeeping and deposit them in a bank of their choice. AN cannot be held liable if this bank does not meet its obligations. The client indemnifies AN and the persons affiliated thereto against all claims arising from or related to the possible insolvency of the bank or financial institution at which these funds are deposited or their failure to meet their obligations.
Article 17
Complaints & Disputes
The "KNB Complaints and Dispute Settlement Regulations" of the KNB apply to the services provided by AN. See also www.knb.nl and www.degeschillencommissie.nl. The Disputes Committee for the Notarial Profession is only dealing with a complaint after the office complaints procedure has been completed.
Article 18
Language
These terms and conditions are drafted in the English language. In the event of any discrepancy between this text and the Dutch text, the latter will be binding.
Article 19
Archive & Destruction
AN is entitled, without notice, to remove from its archives and destroy files and the documents contained therein, or have them removed or destroyed, including documents which are owned by the client or third parties, in the event ten (10) years or more have passed after the relevant case, handled by AN, has been closed. AN reserves the right to use (specialized) services from third parties in this removal and destruction. The client hereby declares to be known and have approved and to indemnify AN from any liability for damage resulting from the aforementioned removal and destruction.
Article 20
Governing Law & Jurisdiction
The agreement between the client and AN will be governed by Dutch law. Any disputes will be exclusively resolved by the competent court in Amsterdam.
Article 21
Filing
These general conditions have been filed with the Registry of the District Court of Amsterdam and may be viewed on the website of AN.