Under the Maltese legal system an authentic act has an enhanced probative value in comparison with other documents in the sense that it is proof of its own contents. A notary public, upon signing and finalising an authentic act attributes public faith to that authentic act. This results from Article 2 paragraph (1) of the Notarial Profession and Notarial Archives Act Chapter 55 of the Law of Malta which states:
Notaries are public officers. They are charged to receive acts inter vivos and wills, and to attribute public faith thereto; they shall be responsible for their custody and shall give out copies and extracts of or from such acts or wills.
