SC rolls out e-notarization Oct. 19
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court will begin rolling out digital notarization on Oct. 19, allowing accredited notaries to provide services regardless of their physical location and easing public access to legal services.
The launch of electronic notarization, or e-notarization, marks a shift from traditional notarial services, which are restricted to a notary public’s territorial jurisdiction.
The first batch of accredited electronic notary public facility providers includes NotarizeIT by Unawa, Twala by Ohelio and QLegal by Quanby Solutions.
The rollout follows the high court’s approval in February 2025 of the rules governing e-notarization and the guidelines for accrediting electronic notary public facility providers.
READ: BIR, SC in talks to align electronic notarization efforts
Supreme Court Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa said the judiciary’s push to digitalize notarization was partly prompted by the difficulties people encountered in accessing government services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The adoption of e-notarization is intended to make notarial services more accessible by allowing authorized notaries to perform the service remotely, removing the need for clients to be physically present within the notary’s traditional area of jurisdiction.
The initiative forms part of the judiciary’s broader efforts to use technology to improve access to legal services and make transactions more convenient.
Caguioa also said the Supreme Court had begun discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs to extend e-notarization services to overseas Filipino workers.
The proposed arrangement could help Filipinos working abroad access notarial services without having to return to the Philippines, although details of the planned implementation have yet to be announced.
The rollout begins as the judiciary continues to explore digital solutions to address barriers to legal services, particularly those arising from geographical distance and the need for in-person transactions. /cb
