P.R. Laws tit. 4A, § 7
(a) Purpose. — The purpose of this examination shall be to test the examinee’s ability to analyze juridical problems by applying rules and principles essential to Notarial Law. The examination may include any of the subjects mentioned in the preceding Rule 4(c) that may be necessary to determine the examinee’s ability to practice the notarial profession.
(b) Requisites. — Any person seeking admission to the notarial profession in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico must meet the following requirements:
(1) Those provided for in Rule 2(a) of these regulations,
(2) take and receive passing grades in a Notarial Law course at any law school in Puerto Rico accredited by the Council on Higher Education or approved by the Supreme Court, and
(3) pass an examination on Notarial Law to be prepared and administered by the Board. This rule shall not apply to any person who has been admitted to the bar on or before the date when this Rule 7 becomes effective or on the date the court provides by resolution.
(c) Application. — Any person seeking admission to the notarial practice shall file by certified mail, return receipt requested, an application to take the examination on notarial law that complies with the requirements, terms, and conditions set forth in Rule 2(b) of this appendix, except that the fee to be paid in this case shall be $25.00 in internal revenue stamps. The Board may excuse any applicant who is taking or has taken both examinations (notarial and general) from any requirement which may be cumulative (except the filing fee requirement).
(d) Preparation, format, and technique of the examination. — The preparation, format, and technique of the examination on notarial law shall be governed by the provisions of Rule 4 of this appendix in all areas not incompatible with this rule and with the nature of the examination itself.
(e) Administering and grading the examination. — The examination shall be prepared by the Board and may be administered together with the bar examination. It shall be offered in a three-hour period and shall be administered and corrected pursuant to the applicable provisions of Rules 5, 6, 6.1 and 6.2 of this appendix.
(f) Value. — The examination on notarial law shall have a value of 1,000 points. The passing grade for the notarial examination of September 1989 is under review and a notice will be published announcing the passing grade for that examination during the month of August 1989.
(g) Passing the examination. — In the event someone passes the bar examination but not the notarial law examination, the court may admit the applicant to the practice of law only. In this case, the person may later on apply for and take the test on notarial law.
In the event someone admitted to take both the general bar examination and the test on notarial law fails to pass the bar examination and passes the notarial law examination, the court shall postpone the validation of said examination until the applicant has passed the bar examination.
If an applicant takes and fails the notarial law examination on four (4) different occasions, the court may require him to take and pass a notarial law course which is part of a regular curriculum or especially designed for this purpose, in a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or by the court. After the applicant has taken and passed the required course he may take the notarial law examination on two (2) additional occasions.
(h) Application of other rules. — Any provisions of this appendix relative to the general bar examination which are not incompatible with provisions of these rules relative to the notarial law examination shall apply in a supplementary manner and the Board shall be obligated to comply with them. In all areas not addressed by this appendix the Board shall act in accordance with the directives of its Chairperson, the court, or the Executive Director if so designated, acting within their judgment and discretion.
History —Mar. 17, 1983, Jan. 16, 1987.