Yes, as long as it remains a support tool.
It can quickly read large numbers of documents, extract the key information and spot inconsistencies. But it never replaces the notary’s legal validation.
Notarial due diligence involves reviewing the documents in a file before a deed is drafted and signed: title deeds, earlier deeds, preliminary contracts, leases, annexes or land register entries.
The role of AI in notarial due diligence
AI can take on part of the preparatory and repetitive work.
In particular, it can:
- list the items in the file;
- sort the documents;
- extract the key information;
- compare several documents;
- flag discrepancies or missing items;
- prepare a summary for the notary.
The notary can thus devote more time to legal analysis and to preparing the deed.
For a broader view of how AI is used in the profession, read our article AI for notaries.
Indexing and sorting documents
The first step is to know exactly what the file contains.
The tool can draw up an index of the items received and flag those that are missing, illegible or incomplete.
The documents can then be sorted by category:
- title deeds;
- preliminary contracts;
- leases;
- annexes;
- land register documents.
This organisation makes the subsequent checks easier and reduces the time spent searching the file.
Extracting the key information
AI can then extract the useful data in a structured form.
Among other things, it can identify:
- the parties and their contact details;
- the key dates;
- the amounts;
- the property references;
- the easements;
- the conditions precedent;
- reservations or other sensitive clauses.
It can also reconstruct the chronology of the deeds and flag missing information.
The aim is not to produce a general summary, but a clear basis that the professional can verify.
Comparing documents to spot inconsistencies
Much of the work involves comparing documents drawn up at different dates.
AI can spot discrepancies concerning:
- the surface area of a property;
- a parcel or unit number;
- the identity of a party;
- an amount;
- a date;
- an easement;
- the permitted use or term of a lease.
These differences can be hard to spot when reading hundreds of pages manually.
So the tool can act as a first filter, but each anomaly must then be examined by a professional.
Checking each alert in the original document
An alert is only useful if it leads easily back to its source.
Each flagged item should accordingly refer to the exact page or passage of the document concerned.
The notary can then:
- open the original document;
- check the information;
- compare it with the official registers;
- confirm or dismiss the alert;
- keep a record of the verification.
The summary produced by AI remains a working basis. It does not have the legal value of the original document.
Why the notary keeps the final decision
AI can neither authenticate a deed nor assess the parties’ true intention on its own.
Nor does it replace official checks, notably those carried out with the land registry.
The notary remains responsible for the final document and must validate the key elements before signing.
The principle is therefore simple: AI spots and organises, the notary checks and decides.
Protecting the data in the file
Notarial files contain highly sensitive information: identity, assets, private finances, contracts or succession data.
Before using an AI tool, you therefore need to check:
- where the data is hosted;
- who can access it;
- whether it is used to train models;
- how the files are protected;
- whether the data of different notarial offices is properly separated.
A general-purpose tool is not necessarily suited to processing documents covered by professional secrecy.
These questions are covered in detail in our article AI and data protection.
Who can use this method?
This method can be used by several kinds of professional.
Notaries can use it to prepare and review a file before the deed is signed.
Notarial clerks can use it to carry out an initial sort, identify the points to verify and prepare a summary before the notary steps in.
Lawyers and in-house counsel can apply the same method to analyse contracts or complex property files.
Other uses are presented in our article AI in the notarial office.
How do you choose a suitable tool?
Speed is not enough. A tool suited to notarial due diligence must also offer guarantees of security and traceability.
In particular, it must be able to:
- analyse several documents at the same time;
- maintain context across the whole file;
- refer back to the original document;
- work with Swiss law sources;
- protect confidential data;
- exclude client files from model training;
- leave final validation to a human.
The Silex and MCR Solutions announcement presents an example of AI-assisted legal research being integrated into everyday tools.
What Silex brings to notarial due diligence
Silex makes it possible to analyse large files and bring out key information or inconsistencies.
With Silo, users can query the office’s documents, such as title deeds, leases or archived templates.
Documents can be linked to the legal sources used in the analysis, while keeping access to the original file.
According to Silex, the files stored in Silo are hosted in Switzerland with Infomaniak and are not used to train the models.
Details are available on the security and product pages.
The integration of Silex into WinLex and SkyLex also makes it possible to work without leaving the usual environment of the case file.
The solutions and pricing pages let you compare the plans according to the size of your organisation.
Checks to carry out before signing
Before finalising the due diligence, a few points must always be checked:
- each alert refers back to its source;
- differences in surface area, price or identity have been explained;
- easements and encumbrances have been compared with the land register;
- any conditions precedent still outstanding have been identified;
- the notary has reread and validated the final summary.
In short
AI can speed up notarial due diligence by organising the file, extracting key data and spotting inconsistencies.
However, it does not replace the official registers, the legal analysis or the notary’s validation.
To be useful, the tool must therefore combine three qualities: traceability of sources, data security and human validation.
To go further, you can also read the Silex and EXPERTsuisse announcement and our article on legal AI for individuals.
To test Silex on a real file from your office, you can book a demo.
FAQ
Can AI authenticate a deed?
No. Authentication remains the notary’s responsibility. AI can only help prepare and check the file.
Do you still need to read the documents after extraction?
Yes. Each important item of information must be checked in the original document and, where necessary, compared with the official registers.
