Jonathan Fitchen is Senior Lecturer in Law at The University of Aberdeen.

Overall, the study makes for a stunning and comprehensive panorama. With this book Fitchen has become the undisputed No 1 expert amongst academic writers in all Member States as regards authentic instruments.

• Introduction I. Matters Included II. Matters Excluded III. Consequences of a Lack of an EU Competence to Harmonise the Authentic Instrument or Notarial Practice at the Domestic Level IV. The European Rather than Global Focus of this Book V. The French and German Legal Systems as Representative Exemplars of the Domestic Functions and Possibilities of Notarial Authentic Instruments VI. Brexit VII. Order of Treatment PART IDOMESTIC LAWS1. The Authentic Instrument as a Legal Institution of the Civil Law I. The Authentic Instrument in Abstract II. Notaries of the Civil Law and their Notarial Authentic Instruments Considered in Abstract III. An Outline of the Steps Usually Taken by a Notary to Draw-Up an Authentic Instrument IV. An Evidentiary Point: What is and is not Proven by the Authentic Instrument? V. Notarial Evidential Determinations in an Authentic Instrument May Allow Immediate Enforcement2. The Authentic Instrument in the Domestic Laws of France and Germany I. Early Origins of Notaries and their Notarial Instruments II. The Development of Domestic Notarial Authentic Instruments 3. The Cross-Border Legal Effect of Authentic Instruments I. Introduction II. An Authentic Instrument Employed Outwith the State of its Creation III. Distinguishing between Contentious Judgments and Non-Contentious Notarial Authentic Instruments IV. A Preliminary Aside Concerning Judgments: Can the Contents of the Authentic Instrument be Converted to a Judgment in the Place of Drawing-Up and then be Exported as a Judgment? V. Producing Private International Law Effects via Foreign Notarial Authentic Instruments: Legalisation VI. Regulation 2016/1191 Promoting the Free Movement of Citizens by Simplifying the Requirements for Presenting Certain Public Documents in the European Union and Amending Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 VII. Producing Private International Law Effects via Foreign Notarial Authentic Instruments: Legalisation VIII. The Circulation of the Legal Effects of Notarial Authentic Instruments via Domestic Civil Procedure Law IX. The ‘Reception’ of Foreign Authentic Instruments ‘As Such’ by the French and German Legal Systems X. Allowing Domestic Effect Concerning the Probative Force of a Foreign Authentic Instrument XI. Allowing Domestic Effect Concerning the Executory Force of a Foreign Authentic Instrument XII. The Circulation of the Legal Effects of Notarial Authentic Instruments via Bilateral Conventions between Founding Member States of the EEC XIII. Conclusion PART IIEUROPEAN PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW REGULATIONS4. Authentic Instruments in the Brussels I Family I. Introduction II. The Legal Requirements for a Cross-Border Notarial Authentic Instrument that is to Circulate via a Member of the Brussels I Family of Conventions and Regulations III. Brussels I Family Eligibility Criteria Required for an Authentic Instrument to be Capable of Cross-Border Circulation in the EU or EFTA States 5. European Enforcement Order Regulation I. Introduction II. The Legal Requirements for the Circulation of an Authentic Instrument via the EEO RegulationIII. What Role for the Enforcement Authorities and Courts in the Enforcement Venue? IV. Procedural Disadvantage of the Debtor and Issues Related to the Regulation’s Lack of Public Policy Control V. Conclusion 6. The Maintenance Regulation I. Introduction II. Differences in National Perspectives on What is Meant by ‘Maintenance’ III. Drafting the EC’s Maintenance Regulation IV. The Maintenance Regulation and Authentic Instruments V. The Maintenance Regulation and Notarial Authentic Instruments, Similarities and Differences with the Regulations Considered so Far VI. Authentic Instruments in the Drafting of the EC Maintenance Regulation VII. Reaching the Final Text of the Regulation Concerning Authentic Instruments VIII. Article 48 Court Settlements and Authentic Instruments IX. What does Article 48(1) and the Maintenance Regulation Mean by the ‘Recognition’ of Authentic Instruments? X. Article 48(2), What is Meant by ‘As Necessary’? XI. Operation of the Regulation: General Requirements XII. Application of the Maintenance Regulation in the Context of Authentic Instruments XIII. Conclusion 7. The Brussels IIa Regulation I. Introduction II. The Limited but Developing Role of Authentic Instruments and Approved Settlements in the Brussels II Convention and Subsequent Brussels II Regulations III. The Brussels IIa Regulation IV. Proceeding to Cross-Border Recognition and/or Enforcement in the Context of Authentic Instruments via the Recast Regulation V. Conclusion 8. Succession Regulation, Matrimonial Property Regulation, and Registered Partnership Property Regulation I. Introduction II. Authentic Instruments in the Succession Regulation III. Matrimonial Property and Registered Property Regulations