Rural residents won’t have to make trips to a notary public for a power of attorney needed in matters related to social benefits, after secretaries of local councils have been enabled to notarize such documents instead. Parliament on Thursday adopted an amendment to this effect.

The sponsors of the amendment, a group of PAS lawmakers, say that it aims to facilitate the access of the elderly and those with special needs to the services offered by social insurance system through representatives empowered by power of attorneys, given that notaries are a rarity in rural areas, and citizens encounter difficulties and incur additional expenses because of this.

The amendment to the Local Public Administration Law was adopted by 53 votes.