About us

Judicial officers are ministerial officers in the same way as notaries. They are an independent liberal profession whose members are not registered in the commercial register. Their status is governed by the Act on the Judicial Officers' Profession which came into force on 1 January 2011.

Judicial officers are responsible for carrying out, throughout the Canton of Geneva, all acts entrusted to them by law, in particular voluntary or court-ordered sales of movable property by auction, and for providing service to the courts.

In addition, they draw up statements of facts and inventories on behalf of third parties, carry out provisional seizures, serve notices and intervene at the stage of the enforcement of judgments, in particular within the framework of procedures for the forced eviction of tenants. Judicial officers are required to carry out the various acts of their ministry personally. However, they may be replaced at court hearings by an adult clerk approved by the president of the court. They are authorised to draw up protests concurrently with notaries. The functions of judicial officers are incompatible with those of lawyers and notaries.

Before taking up their duties, judicial officers make the following promise or oath before the Council of State: "I solemnly swear or promise to be faithful to the Republic and Canton of Geneva; to obey the courts and to carry out scrupulously, promptly, without using surprise or vexation, the orders that will be given to me; to observe strict impartiality in the execution of the mandates that will be entrusted to me; and to comply exactly with the laws and regulations in the exercise of my duties.

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