Member Article

This is a briefing on Supreme Court Administrative Matter No. 20-07-04-SC (2020 Interim Rules on Remote Notarization of Paper Documents) dated July 14, 2020¹ (“RON Rules”), a COVID-19 related issuance. In general, signatories of documents to be notarized have to appear before the notary generally at the latter’s place of business. Quarantine rules, however, have made this difficult, and the contacts that take place in the notarization process can expose participants to added infection risk. The RON Rules seek to address these concerns. 

A. Scope and Application

B. Procedure for Notarization

C. Other Matters

A. Scope and Application

The RON Rules govern the notarization of paper documents and instruments with handwritten signatures or marks through the use of video conferencing facilities in cases where the notary public or at least one of the principals resides, holds office, or is otherwise situated in a locality that is under “community quarantine” ² due to COVID-19. Notarial wills are excluded from the application of the RON Rules.³ The RON Rules will take effect on August 16, 2020, 15 days after their publication in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star, two newspapers of national circulation, on August 1.⁴

B. Procedure for Notarization

The RON Rules sets out the procedure for the performance by notaries public of notarial acts by videoconferencing facilities.

Place of Remote Notarization – All notarial acts under the RON Rules shall be performed by the notary public within the territorial jurisdiction of the court which issued the notary public’s commission.⁵

Read complete Briefing here.