SC to allow electronic notarization

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) will soon allow electronic notarization for documents.

Aiming to make notarial services more accessible and efficient, the High Court approved the e-notarization accreditation guidelines during its en banc session.

The implementation will take effect on March 24.

"These rules introduce Electronic Notaries Public (ENPs), who are authorized to perform notarial acts for individuals located anywhere in the Philippines and, in certain cases, even abroad," the SC said in a statement on March 9.

The following are the forms of e-notarization:

- In-Person Electronic Notarization - principals and witnesses must be physically present with the ENP using the Electronic Notarization Facilities;

- Remote Electronic Notarization - principals and witnesses connect virtually to the ENP via videoconferencing;

- A mix of both

The SC stressed that e-notarization is only applicable for electronic documents in PDF or PDF/A format.

“Paper documents with handwritten signatures, notarial wills, and depositions will continue to follow the 2004 Notarial Rules,” it said.

Prior to the development, notaries public only notarized within their territorial jurisdiction.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.