Sri Lanka Notary's Preliminary Exam study materials
Sri Lanka Notary's Preliminary Exam study resources

Sri Lanka Notary's Preliminary Exam study plan

Sri Lanka Notary's Preliminary Exam · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Law of Notaries and Notarial Practice and Procedure & Law of Property, Land Registration and Title

  • Summarise the statutory framework governing notaries in Sri Lanka, including appointment, licensing, and disciplinary provisions, in a one-page outline.

  • Explain the core duties and liabilities of a notary under the Notaries Ordinance and related regulations.

  • Identify the main statutes and principles of land registration and title in Sri Lanka, distinguishing between the Registration of Title system and the older deed registration system.

  • Compare the functions of the Land Registry and the notary's role in perfecting land transactions.

  • Draft a checklist of procedural steps for a typical land transfer, from search to attestation.

Your checkpoint

A 500-word comparative summary of notarial duties and land registration principles, with a citation table of at least 10 key statutory provisions.

Week 2

Law of Notaries and Notarial Practice and Procedure & Law of Property, Land Registration and Title

  • Analyse the notarial procedure for attestation of deeds, including identification, execution, and registration formalities.

  • Explain the rules on notarial fees, records, and the notary's register, and prepare a model fee note.

  • Describe the process for obtaining a certificate of title and the notary's role in resolving title defects.

  • Outline the law on co-ownership, partition, and condominium titles.

  • Apply the principles to a hypothetical land sale, identifying potential pitfalls and required documents.

Your checkpoint

A step-by-step procedural guide (600 words) for attesting and registering a deed of transfer, with a list of common errors and how to avoid them.

Week 3

Law of Contracts and Commercial Transactions & Law of Property, Land Registration and Title

  • Explain the essential elements of a valid contract under Sri Lankan law, including offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention.

  • Distinguish between contracts of sale of goods and contracts for services, and outline the remedies for breach.

  • Describe the legal framework for commercial transactions, including negotiable instruments and securities.

  • Apply contract principles to a notarised agreement, identifying clauses that require notarial certification.

  • Draft a simple sale agreement incorporating standard notarial clauses.

Your checkpoint

A 700-word case note analysing a hypothetical contract dispute, with reference to at least five statutory provisions and two case law principles.

Week 4

Law of Persons, Marriage, Divorce and Succession & Law of Trusts, Wills and Administration of Estates

  • Outline the law of marriage and divorce in Sri Lanka, including the different marriage regimes (general, Kandyan, Muslim) and grounds for divorce.

  • Explain the legal status of persons, including minors, and the notary's role in matters of guardianship and adoption.

  • Describe the rules of intestate and testamentary succession, including the shares of heirs and the formalities of a will.

  • Explain the notary's role in the administration of estates, including the grant of probate and letters of administration.

  • Draft a simple will and a codicil, ensuring compliance with statutory formalities.

Your checkpoint

A comparative table (500 words) of marriage and succession rules across the main personal law regimes, with a checklist for will attestation.

Week 5

Law of Trusts, Wills and Administration of Estates & Law of Obligations and Civil Procedure

  • Explain the creation and administration of trusts under Sri Lankan law, including the Trustee Ordinance.

  • Describe the notary's role in trust deeds and the administration of estates, including inventory and accounting.

  • Outline the law of obligations, including delictual liability and unjust enrichment.

  • Explain the basic structure of civil procedure, including jurisdiction, pleadings, and service of process.

  • Apply the rules to a hypothetical estate administration scenario, identifying the notary's duties.

Your checkpoint

A 600-word advisory memo on the notary's obligations when preparing a trust deed and administering an estate, with a procedural timeline.

Week 6

Criminal Law and Procedure Relating to Notarial Acts & Company Law and Securities

  • Identify the criminal offences relating to notarial acts, including forgery, fraud, and uttering false documents.

  • Explain the notary's duty to report suspicious transactions and the anti-money laundering framework.

  • Outline the key provisions of the Companies Act relating to share transfers, charges, and notarised documents.

  • Describe the notary's role in company secretarial work, including attestation of share transfers and debentures.

  • Apply the law to a hypothetical case involving a forged deed, identifying criminal and civil consequences.

Your checkpoint

A 500-word case analysis of a notarial fraud scenario, with reference to relevant penal provisions and AML reporting obligations.

Week 7

Drafting and Attestation of Notarial Instruments & Professional Ethics and Anti-Money Laundering Obligations

  • Draft and attest a deed of gift, a power of attorney, and a mortgage bond, ensuring compliance with statutory forms.

  • Explain the ethical duties of a notary, including conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and integrity.

  • Describe the anti-money laundering obligations of notaries under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act and related regulations.

  • Apply ethical principles to a scenario involving a client with suspicious funds.

  • Review and critique a sample notarial instrument for compliance and clarity.

Your checkpoint

A portfolio of three drafted notarial instruments (gift deed, power of attorney, mortgage bond) with a 300-word self-assessment against ethical and AML standards.

Week 8

Law of Notaries and Notarial Practice and Procedure & Law of Contracts and Commercial Transactions & Law of Property, Land Registration and Title & Law of Persons, Marriage, Divorce and Succession & Law of Trusts, Wills and Administration of Estates & Law of Obligations and Civil Procedure & Criminal Law and Procedure Relating to Notarial Acts & Company Law and Securities & Drafting and Attestation of Notarial Instruments & Professional Ethics and Anti-Money Laundering Obligations

  • Revise all domains using a condensed outline and flashcards.

  • Complete a full-length mock examination under timed conditions.

  • Review incorrect answers and reinforce weak areas with targeted reading.

  • Practise drafting a complex notarial instrument under time pressure.

  • Finalise a personal exam-day strategy, including time allocation and question selection.

Your checkpoint

Mock exam score of at least 70% and a one-page personal revision sheet highlighting key statutes and procedural steps.

Milestones

Week 2: Score at least 70% on a self-made quiz covering notarial duties and land registration fundamentals, and complete the procedural guide.

Week 4: Successfully draft a will and a sale agreement without reference to templates, and explain the differences between marriage regimes in a timed essay.

Week 6: Identify all criminal and AML issues in a given scenario within 30 minutes, and outline the notary's reporting obligations accurately.

Week 8: Achieve a mock exam score of 70% or higher and submit a complete portfolio of notarial instruments for self-review.