Supreme Court Rules on Electronic Notarization

The Supreme Court of the Philippines approved the Rules on Electronic Notarization under A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC, together with guidelines for accreditation of Electronic Notarization Facility providers. The framework supplements — and does not replace — the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice. For clients who need reliable notarial and legal guidance in Davao, understanding this reform helps you choose the correct process for affidavits, contracts, deeds, authorizations, and related instruments.

Why e-notarization matters for clients in Davao and nationwide

Traditional notarization is still the everyday process many clients use: appear before a notary public, present valid ID, and execute a paper instrument. Electronic notarization expands options for electronic documents (PDF or PDF/A), using an Electronic Notary Public (ENP) and an accredited Electronic Notarization Facility (ENF).

According to the Supreme Court, the E-Notarization Rules enable:

• In-Person Electronic Notarization (IEN) — principals and witnesses are physically present with the ENP, using the accredited facility in the same location.
• Remote Electronic Notarization (REN) — appearance through videoconferencing, subject to identity verification and the facility’s rules.
• Hybrid arrangements — a combination of in-person and remote participation where allowed.

ENPs commissioned under these rules may serve principals located anywhere in the Philippines and, in certain cases, abroad — a major difference from territorial limits that typically apply under traditional notarial commissions.

What the Rules cover — and what they do not

Covered

• Electronic documents in PDF or PDF/A (including scanned paper converted to those formats, where appropriate under the Rules).
• Electronic notarial acts such as acknowledgment, affirmation or oath, jurat, and signature witnessing by electronic means (as provided in the Rules).

Still under the 2004 Notarial Rules (in general)

• Paper documents with handwritten (“wet”) signatures
• Notarial wills
• Depositions

This distinction is critical. Many walk-in notarial needs in Davao — deeds on paper, SPAs, affidavits signed in person — continue under the familiar 2004 framework. Clients should not assume every document can be “done online” without checking the Rules and the commissioning status of the notary or ENP.

How electronic notarization generally works

Based on Supreme Court guidance and public FAQs on eNotarization:

• Prepare the electronic document in PDF or PDF/A.
• Use an accredited Electronic Notarization Facility (only Supreme Court–accredited ENFs may be used).
• The Electronic Notary Public and the principal(s)/witness(es) join the session — in person, remotely, or hybrid — and identity must be properly ascertained.
• After notarization, the electronically notarized document is transmitted to the Supreme Court Central Notarial Database under the Rules’ framework.

A transitional period accompanies implementation, including commissioning and supervision of ENPs and accreditation of facilities through the Office of the Electronic Notary Administrator (ENA), as described by the Court.

Practical tips before you notarize

• Confirm the document type. Is it a paper wet-ink instrument or a true electronic PDF/PDF/A document?
• Confirm the notary’s authority. Traditional notary public commissions differ from Electronic Notarial Commissions under A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC.
• Bring complete IDs and signatories. Incomplete identity or missing parties still delay both traditional and electronic notarization.
• Ask counsel when the stakes are high. Family settlements, property deeds, corporate authority documents, and litigation affidavits often need legal review — not just a stamp.

How Gutierrez & Lumanag Law and Notary can help

Clients searching for the best law firm in Davao often need more than a notarial seal. They need counsel who understands how documents fit into family court, criminal procedure, corporate compliance, and property transactions.

At Gutierrez & Lumanag Law and Notary:

• Atty. Janine Rose G. Lumanag assists with family and private-client matters — including concerns that intersect with annulment, declaration of nullity, custody, support, and related documents — for clients seeking a trusted annulment lawyer in Davao and family lawyer in Davao.
• Atty. Nikki Manuel T. Gutierrez assists with criminal defense and related affidavits, including matters where clients look for a strong criminal lawyer in Davao and defense lawyer in Davao.
• The office provides notary public services in Davao City at F. Torres Street for affidavits, contracts, deeds, authorizations, and corporate instruments, subject to legal requirements.

Whether your concern is traditional notarization, document strategy for court or agency filing, or questions about how Supreme Court e-notarization reforms may affect your paperwork, a consultation helps you avoid costly errors.