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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.