> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Barcelona Notary Refunds Fees for Double-Charged Catalan Deed - URL: https://barna.news/barcelona-notary-refunds-fees-for-double-charged-catalan-deed/ - Published: 2026-09-17T13:41:42.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-17T13:41:42.000Z - Author: Laia Serra - Tags: culture ## Notarial College Orders Refund The Notarial College of Catalonia has ordered a Barcelona notary to refund fees charged for issuing a second copy of a purchase and sale deed in Catalan, after confirming the office failed to ask clients about their language preference during the transaction. The original deed, drafted in December 2025, was prepared in Spanish without consultation, and the clients were later charged again to obtain a Catalan version. According to a resolution issued by the Notarial College, the notary must return the money paid for the Catalan copy, a refund that took effect on 25 August 2026\. In return, the affected clients had to hand back the original Spanish-language document. ## Language Rights Violation Confirmed The case was brought forward with legal support from Plataforma per la Llengua, a language rights organisation, after clients discovered the deed contained a standard clause falsely stating they had been informed of their right to choose the language and had opted for Spanish. At no point during the process were they asked to make that choice. While the Notarial College acknowledged the notary’s failure to offer a language option, a requirement under Catalan legal norms, it decided not to pursue disciplinary action. It did, however, formally require the notary’s office to proactively ask clients about their language preference in future cases. > The two disciplinary complaints were shelved and no sanction has been imposed. ## No Sanctions Despite Breach Plataforma per la Llengua expressed regret that no sanctions were applied, noting that both disciplinary complaints were closed without penalty. The organisation also criticised the General Directorate of Legal Security and Public Faith of the Generalitat for not responding to an appeal against the shelving of the first complaint, which was ultimately dismissed by administrative silence. The entity cited its latest sectoral study, which found that 68% of Catalan notaries do not actively offer clients a choice of language, resulting in only 24.6% of legal documents being drafted in Catalan. Plataforma per la Llengua reiterated that the right to use Catalan in legal procedures is a mandatory legal guarantee and called on public authorities to ensure compliance and enforce accountability when rights are violated. --- For more information on linguistic rights in the legal and judicial sphere, visit the [Generalitat’s official guidance page](https://llengua.gencat.cat/en/serveis/legislacio%5Fi%5Fdrets%5Flinguistics/Preguntes-mes-frequeents/ambit-juridic-i-judicial/index.html?ref=barna.news). --- *Primary sources:* [*llengua.gencat.cat*](https://llengua.gencat.cat/en/serveis/legislacio%5Fi%5Fdrets%5Flinguistics/Preguntes-mes-frequeents/ambit-juridic-i-judicial/index.html?ref=barna.news)*. Reported by totbarcelona.cat, Tot Barcelona.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Sarrià Diada backs Catalan culture against hate speech](https://barna.news/sarria-diada-backs-catalan-culture/) - [Catalan Courses Can Expand with Hiring](https://barna.news/catalan-courses-can-expand-with-hiring/) - [Barceloneta Unveils First Romani Giantess for 2026 Festa Major](https://barna.news/barceloneta-unveils-first-romani/) - [Helicopter Filming Over Barcelona Centre](https://barna.news/helicopter-filming-over-barcelona-centre/)