Yes.

If so, what are they? Are these only notarial acts or also acts of other authorities?

According to the provisions of § 205 Civil Code for contentious procedures (160/2015), documents issued by public authorities within their powers and documents declared by special regulations as being public (for example notarial act, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) shall confirm, unless the contrary is proven, that testimonials and confirmations included in such documents are accurate.

Therefore, besides the acts of Slovak notaries, the acts of the courts (except court decisions falling under the EU definition of “decision”), bailiffs, administrative bodies (e.g. municipalities), etc. are also considered as authentic instruments.

Yes : Slovak legal system use a term “public documents” as a common term for court decisions and authentic instruments. According to the provision of § 205 Civil Code for contentious procedures, documents issued by courts of the Slovak Republic or other public authorities (e.g. notaries) within their powers and documents declared by special regulations as being public (e.g. § 3(4) Notaries regulation) shall confirm, unless the contrary is proven, that testimonials and confirmations included in such documents are accurate.

Yes. Elevated evidential value is based on the rule, that unless the contrary is proven testimonials and confirmations included in an authentic instrument are accurate.

• The date on which the authentic instrument was drawn up
• The place where the authentic instrument was drawn up
• The signature by the parties of the authentic instrument
• The parties’ declarations
• Any observation made by the authority within the limits of its competence
• The measures the authority declares to have taken
• Appearance, identification and consent of the parties

Enhanced probative value concerns all facts mentioned in authentic instrument.

Before which authority: The court of the first instance

According to which procedure (state the applicable rules): An ordinary judicial procedure

In the course of contentious proceedings it is possible to introduce evidence that proves the contrary of the authentic instrument. Proof to the contrary requires sufficient evidence to discharge the full burden of proof. It is not enough just to put the evidentiary value of the authentic instrument in doubt.

Within what timeframe: Authenticity may be challenged at any time, at least until the authenticity of the document is established by an irrevocable decision.