Notarization is finally available online. Here’s how it works.

eNotarization makes the service more accessible to the public because under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, traditional notary publics can only perform notarizations within their respective territorial jurisdictions

After years of preparation, the Supreme Court (SC) finally launched the country’s eNotarization system on Monday, October 19.

Notarization, according to Cambridge, is the process of having a public official (in the Philippines, a public notary lawyer) sign a letter, affidavit, or any legal document. Apart from converting a private document into public, this is done to verify a document’s legitimacy and authenticity, among others.

By launching eNotarization, the SC made the service more accessible to the public. This is because under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, notaries public can only perform notarizations within their respective territorial jurisdictions.

The SC initially introduced remote notarization in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Subsequently, the SC formed a technical working group (TWG) led by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa as chairperson and Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando as vice chairperson.

The TWG studied practices from other jurisdictions and consulted with several experts before finalizing the rules on electronic notarization. SC’s eNotarization microsite may be accessed through this link.

Terms, rules you should know

In February 2025, the SC approved AM No. 24-10-14-SC or the Rules on Electronic Notarization to make notarization more accessible and efficient. It formed part of the SC’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations launched by outgoing Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

As clarified by the High Court, eNotarization supplements and does not replace the traditional mode of notarial practice under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice.

The program introduced Electronic Notaries Public (ENPs), or lawyers authorized by the judiciary to perform notary services anywhere in the Philippines. This service may also be availed of by Filipinos overseas, subject to certain grounds.

“The ENP shall be allowed to perform any of the electronic notarial acts in the preceding Rule for a principal located outside the Philippines, provided that at the time of the performance of the electronic notarial act, the principal is within the premises of any of the embassies of the Philippines, Philippine consular offices, or offices of Philippine Honorary Consuls abroad,” said the rule’s Rule IV, Section 5.

“The eNotarization Rules applies (sic) exclusively to electronic documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) or Portable Document Format Archival (PDF/A). Paper documents with handwritten signatures, notarial wills, and depositions will continue to follow the 2004 Notarial Rules,” the SC clarified.

Meanwhile, to ensure digital safety, the eNotarization system uses multi-factor authentication like facial recognition, biometrics, and one-time passwords. All data stored under ENF are also protected by the Data Privacy Act, said the SC.

The SC also recently signed joint memorandum circulars (JMC) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Land Registration Authority (LRA) to establish the rules on processing eNotarized documents with these agencies.

SEC is the government agency mandated to oversee the “corporate sector, the capital market participants, and the securities and investment instruments market, and the protection of the investing public.” Meanwhile, LRA is the government body in-charge of handling land titling and registration affairs.

“On paper, we have signed two Joint Memorandum Circulars that categorically clarify the acceptability of eNotarized documents. In reality, we have done so much more. In the larger context of this partnership and development, our JMCs are a significant step towards innovation and access to justice,” said Caguioa.

How does it work?

A person who wishes to avail him/herself of eNotarization service must register through SC-accredited ENFs. There are three so far: Twala, QLegal, and NotarizeIT.

Registration portals of these ENFs may be accessed here. Instructional videos on how to use ENFs are also available here.

After registering, the user may choose an ENP from the list of commissioned ENPs. There are 100 accredited lawyers or ENPs so far in the SC list.

There are three forms of eNotarization under the new rules:

• InPerson Electronic Notarization (IEN) – principals and witnesses must be present with the ENP. These parties must use the Electronic Notarization Facility (ENF) – or the eNotarization system and tools – within the same location.
• Remote Electronic Notarization (REN) – clients may virtually connect to ENPs through videoconferencing.
• Mixed

“Notarial act performed in accordance with the Rules shall have the same validity, force, and effect and may be relied upon to the same extent as any other notarial act performed under the 2004 Notarial Rules, provided, however, that the Rules shall not apply to the execution of notarial wills, deposition taking, and paper documents and instruments with wet signatures or marks,” said the rule’s Rule I, Section 5.

Like in traditional notarization, one who avails of eNotarization will get an electronic notarial certificate that contain the ENP’s electronic signature and electronic notarial seal. – Rappler.com

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