* Wouter Verhelst: > Well, in Belgium it's not /that/ bad (a notary is required by law to > give you free advice), but the moment he uses his stamp, it indeed is a > three digit bill (around ¤900 last time I required the use of a notary's > services)
The fee depends in part on the value of the transaction that is being certified. Notaries and their lobbyists fight very hard to stop the proliferation of state-approved digital signatures. After all, you wouldn't consult them anymore if you could get the same level of service using two $30 smartcards.