Republic of the Philippines singular include the plural, and words in the

Supreme Court plural include the singular.

Manila
RULE II
EN BANC DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1. Acknowledgment. -
A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC “Acknowledgment” refers to an act in which an
2004 Rules on Notarial Practice individual on a single
occasion:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

RESOLUTION (a) appears in person before the notary public

and presents an integrally complete instrument or
Acting on the compliance dated 05 July 2004 document;
and on the proposed Rules on Notarial chan robles virtual law library
Practice of 2004 submitted by the Sub- (b) is attested to be personally known to the
Committee for the Study, Drafting and notary public or identified by the notary public
Formulation of the Rules Governing the through competent evidence of identity as
Appointment of Notaries Public and the defined by these Rules; and -
Performance and Exercise of Their Official chan robles virtual law library
Functions, of the Committees on Revision of (c) represents to the notary public that the
the Rules of Court and on Legal Education signature on the instrument or document was
and Bar Matters, the Court Resolved to voluntarily affixed by him for the purposes stated
APPROVE the proposed Rules on Notarial in the instrument or document, declares that he
Practice of 2004, with modifications, has executed the instrument or document as his
thus:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary free and voluntary act and deed, and, if he acts in
a particular representative capacity, that he has
2004 RULES ON NOTARIAL PRACTICE the authority to sign in that capacity.

RULE I SEC. 2. Affirmation or Oath. - The term

IMPLEMENTATION “Affirmation” or “Oath” refers to an act in which
an individual on a single occasion: chan robles
SECTION 1. Title. - These Rules shall be known virtual law library
as the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice.
(a) appears in person before the notary public;
SEC. 2. Purposes. - These Rules shall be applied chan robles virtual law library
and construed to advance the following (b) is personally known to the notary public or
purposes:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary identified by the notary public through
competent evidence of identity as defined by
(a) to promote, serve, and protect public interest; these Rules; and chan robles virtual law library
chan robles virtual law library (c) avows under penalty of law to the whole
(b) to simplify, clarify, and modernize the rules truth of the contents of the instrument or
governing notaries public; and document.
(c) to foster ethical conduct among notaries
public. chan robles virtual law library SEC. 3. Commission. - “Commission” refers to
the grant of authority to perform notarial acts and
SEC. 3. Interpretation. - Unless the context of to the written evidence of the authority.
these Rules otherwise indicates, words in the
SEC. 4. Copy Certification. - “Copy SEC. 9. Notary Public and Notary. - “Notary
Certification” refers to a notarial act in which a Public” and “Notary” refer to any person
notary public:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary commissioned to perform official acts under
these Rules.cralaw
(a) is presented with an instrument or document
that is neither a vital record, a public record, nor SEC. 10. Principal. - “Principal” refers to a
publicly recordable; person appearing before the notary public whose
(b) copies or supervises the copying of the act is the subject of notarization. chan robles
instrument or document; virtual law library
(c) compares the instrument or document with
the copy; and SEC. 11. Regular Place of Work or Business. -
(d) determines that the copy is accurate and The term “regular place of work or business”
complete. refers to a stationary office in the city or
province wherein the notary public renders legal
SEC. 5. Notarial Register. - “Notarial Register” and notarial services. chan robles virtual law
refers to a permanently bound book with library
numbered pages containing a chronological
record of notarial acts performed by a notary SEC. 12. Competent Evidence of Identity. - The
public. chan robles virtual law library phrase “competent evidence of identity” refers to
the identification of an individual based
SEC. 6. Jurat. - “Jurat” refers to an act in which on:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
an individual on a single
occasion:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary (a) at least one current identification document
issued by an official agency bearing the
(a) appears in person before the notary public photograph and signature of the individual; or
and presents an instrument or document; chan robles virtual law library
(b) is personally known to the notary public or (b) the oath or affirmation of one credible
identified by the notary public through witness not privy to the instrument, document or
competent evidence of identity as defined by transaction who is personally known to the
these Rules; chan robles virtual law library notary public and who personally knows the
(c) signs the instrument or document in the individual, or of two credible witnesses neither
presence of the notary; and of whom is privy to the instrument, document or
(d) takes an oath or affirmation before the notary transaction who each personally knows the
public as to such instrument or document. individual and shows to the notary public
documentary identification.
SEC. 7. Notarial Act and Notarization. -
“Notarial Act” and “Notarization” refer to any SEC. 13. Official Seal or Seal. - “Official seal”
act that a notary public is empowered to perform or “Seal” refers to a device for affixing a mark,
under these Rules. image or impression on all papers officially
signed by the notary public conforming the
SEC. 8. Notarial Certificate. - “Notarial requisites prescribed by these Rules.
Certificate” refers to the part of, or attachment to,
a notarized instrument or document that is SEC. 14. Signature Witnessing. - The term
completed by the notary public, bears the “signature witnessing” refers to a notarial act in
notary's signature and seal, and states the facts which an individual on a single occasion: chan
attested to by the notary public in a particular robles virtual law library
notarization as provided for by these Rules. chan
robles virtual law library
(a) appears in person before the notary public (1) must be a citizen of the Philippines; chan
and presents an instrument or document; robles virtual law library
(b) is personally known to the notary public or (2) must be over twenty-one (21) years of age;
identified by the notary public through chan robles virtual law library
competent evidence of identity as defined by (3) must be a resident in the Philippines for at
these Rules; and chan robles virtual law library least one (1) year and maintains a regular place
(c) signs the instrument or document in the of work or business in the city or province where
presence of the notary public. the commission is to be issued; chan robles
virtual law library
SEC. 15. Court. - “Court” refers to the Supreme (4) must be a member of the Philippine Bar in
Court of the Philippines. good standing with clearances from the Office of
the Bar Confidant of the Supreme Court and the
SEC. 16. Petitioner. - “Petitioner” refers to a Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and
person who applies for a notarial (5) must not have been convicted in the first
commission.cralaw instance of any crime involving moral turpitude.

SEC. 17. Office of the Court Administrator. - SEC. 2. Form of the Petition and Supporting
“Office of the Court Administrator” refers to the Documents. - Every petition for a notarial
Office of the Court Administrator of the Supreme commission shall be in writing, verified, and
Court.cralaw shall include the
following:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
SEC. 18. Executive Judge. - “Executive Judge”
refers to the Executive Judge of the Regional (a) a statement containing the petitioner's
Trial Court of a city or province who issues a personal qualifications, including the petitioner's
notarial commission.cralaw date of birth, residence, telephone number,
professional tax receipt, roll of attorney's number
SEC. 19. Vendor. - “Vendor” under these Rules and IBP membership number;
refers to a seller of a notarial seal and shall
include a wholesaler or retailer. chan robles (b) certification of good moral character of the
virtual law library petitioner by at least two (2) executive officers of
the local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the
SEC. 20. Manufacturer. - “Manufacturer” under Philippines where he is applying for
these Rules refers to one who produces a notarial commission;
seal and shall include an engraver and seal
maker. chan robles virtual law library (c) proof of payment for the filing of the petition
as required by these Rules; and
RULE III
COMMISSIONING OF NOTARY PUBLIC (d) three (3) passport-size color photographs
with light background taken within thirty (30)
SECTION 1. Qualifications. - A notarial days of the application. The photograph should
commission may be issued by an Executive not be retouched. The petitioner shall sign his
Judge to any qualified person who submits a name at the bottom part of the photographs.
petition in accordance with these Rules. chan
robles virtual law library SEC. 3. Application Fee. - Every petitioner for a
notarial commission shall pay the application fee
To be eligible for commissioning as notary as prescribed in the Rules of Court. chan robles
public, the petitioner:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary virtual law library
SEC. 4. Summary Hearing on the Petition. - The SEC. 6. Opposition to Petition. - Any person
Executive Judge shall conduct a summary who has any cause or reason to object to the
hearing on the petition and shall grant the same grant of the petition may file a verified written
if:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary opposition thereto. The opposition must be
received by the Executive Judge before the date
(a) the petition is sufficient in form and of the summary hearing. chan robles virtual law
substance; library
(b) the petitioner proves the allegations
contained in the petition; and SEC. 7. Form of Notarial Commission. - The
(c) the petitioner establishes to the satisfaction commissioning of a notary public shall be in a
of the Executive Judge that he has read and fully formal order signed by the Executive Judge
understood these Rules. substantially in the following
form:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
The Executive Judge shall forthwith issue a
commission and a Certificate of Authorization to REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Purchase a Notarial Seal in favor of the REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF
petitioner. chan robles virtual law library ______________

SEC. 5. Notice of Summary Hearing. - This is to certify that (name of notary public)
of (regular place of work or business) in (city
(a) The notice of summary hearing shall be or province) was on this (date) day of (month)
published in a newspaper of general circulation two thousand and (year) commissioned by the
in the city or province where the hearing shall be undersigned as a notary public, within and for
conducted and posted in a conspicuous place in the said jurisdiction, for a term ending the
the offices of the Executive Judge and of the thirty-first day of December (year) chan robles
Clerk of Court. The cost of the publication shall virtual law library
be borne by the petitioner. The notice may
include more than one petitioner. ________________________
Executive Judge
(b) The notice shall be substantially in the
following form:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary SEC. 8. Period Of Validity of Certificate of
Authorization to Purchase a Notarial Seal. - The
NOTICE OF HEARING Certificate of Authorization to Purchase a
Notarial Seal shall be valid for a period of three
Notice is hereby given that a summary (3) months from date of issue, unless extended
hearing on the petition for notarial by the Executive Judge.
commission of (name of petitioner) shall be
held on (date) at (place) at (time). Any person A mark, image or impression of the seal that may
who has any cause or reason to object to the be purchased by the notary public pursuant to the
grant of the petition may file a verified Certificate shall be presented to the Executive
written opposition thereto, received by the Judge for approval prior to use.cralaw
undersigned before the date of the summary
hearing.chanrobles virtual law library chan SEC. 9. Form of Certificate of Authorization to
robles virtual law library Purchase a Notarial Seal. - The Certificate of
Authorization to Purchase a Notarial Seal shall
_____________________ substantially be in the following
Executive Judge form:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES notaries public. The Office of the Court
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Administrator shall keep a permanent, complete
OF_____________ chan robles virtual law and updated database of such records. chan
library robles virtual law library

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION SEC. 13. Renewal of Commission. - A notary

TO PURCHASE A NOTARIAL SEAL chan public may file a written application with the
robles virtual law library Executive Judge for the renewal of his
commission within forty-five (45) days before
This is to authorize (name of notary public) of the expiration thereof. A mark, image or
(city or province) who was commissioned by impression of the seal of the notary public shall
the undersigned as a notary public, within be attached to the application.cralaw
and for the said jurisdiction, for a term
ending, the thirty-first of December (year) to Failure to file said application will result in the
purchase a notarial seal.chanrobles virtual deletion of the name of the notary public in the
law library chan robles virtual law library register of notaries public.cralaw

Issued this (day) of (month) (year). The notary public thus removed from the
Register of Notaries Public may only be
________________________ reinstated therein after he is issued a new
Executive Judge commission in accordance with these Rules.
chan robles virtual law library

SEC. 10. Official Seal of Notary Public. - Every SEC. 14. Action on Application for Renewal of
person commissioned as notary public shall have Commission. - The Executive Judge shall, upon
only one official seal of office in accordance payment of the application fee mentioned in
with these Rules. Section 3 above of this Rule, act on an
application for the renewal of a commission
SEC. 11. Jurisdiction and Term. - A person within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof. If
commissioned as notary public may perform the application is denied, the Executive Judge
notarial acts in any place within the territorial shall state the reasons therefor.cralaw
jurisdiction of the commissioning court for a
period of two (2) years commencing the first day RULE IV
of January of the year in which the POWERS AND LIMITATIONS OF NOTARIES
commissioning is made, unless earlier revoked or PUBLIC
the notary public has resigned under these Rules
and the Rules of Court. chan robles virtual law SECTION 1. Powers. - (a) A notary public is
library empowered to perform the following notarial
acts:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
SEC. 12. Register of Notaries Public. - The
Executive Judge shall keep and maintain a (1) acknowledgments;
Register of Notaries Public in his jurisdiction (2) oaths and affirmations;
which shall contain, among others, the dates of (3) jurats; chan robles virtual law library
issuance or revocation or suspension of notarial (4) signature witnessings;
commissions, and the resignation or death of (5) copy certifications; and
notaries public. The Executive Judge shall (6) any other act authorized by these Rules.
furnish the Office of the Court Administrator
information and data recorded in the register of
(b) A notary public is authorized to certify the located within his territorial jurisdiction: chan
affixing of a signature by thumb or other mark robles virtual law library
on an instrument or document presented for
notarization if:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary (1) public offices, convention halls, and similar
places where oaths of office may be
(1) the thumb or other mark is affixed in the administered;
presence of the notary public and of two (2) (2) public function areas in hotels and similar
disinterested and unaffected witnesses to the places for the signing of instruments or
instrument or document; documents requiring notarization;
(2) both witnesses sign their own names in (3) hospitals and other medical institutions
addition to the thumb or other mark; where a party to an instrument or document is
(3) the notary public writes below the thumb or confined for treatment; and
other mark: "Thumb or Other Mark affixed by (4) any place where a party to an instrument or
(name of signatory by mark) in the presence of document requiring notarization is under
(names and addresses of witnesses) and detention.
undersigned notary public"; and chan robles
virtual law library (b) A person shall not perform a notarial act if
(4) the notary public notarizes the signature by the person involved as signatory to the
thumb or other mark through an instrument or document -
acknowledgment, jurat, or signature witnessing.
(1) is not in the notary's presence personally at
(c) A notary public is authorized to sign on the time of the notarization; and
behalf of a person who is physically unable to (2) is not personally known to the notary public
sign or make a mark on an instrument or or otherwise identified by the notary public
document if:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary through competent evidence of identity as
defined by these Rules. chan robles virtual law
(1) the notary public is directed by the person library
unable to sign or make a mark to sign on his
behalf; SEC. 3. Disqualifications. - A notary public is
(2) the signature of the notary public is affixed disqualified from performing a notarial act if
in the presence of two disinterested and he:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
unaffected witnesses to the instrument or
document; (a) is a party to the instrument or document that
(3) both witnesses sign their own names ; is to be notarized; chan robles virtual law library
(4) the notary public writes below his signature: (b) will receive, as a direct or indirect result, any
“Signature affixed by notary in presence of commission, fee, advantage, right, title, interest,
(names and addresses of person and two [2] cash, property, or other consideration, except as
witnesses)”; and provided by these Rules and by law; or
(5) the notary public notarizes his signature by (c) is a spouse, common-law partner, ancestor,
acknowledgment or jurat. descendant, or relative by affinity or
consanguinity of the principal within the fourth
SEC. 2. Prohibitions. - (a) A notary public shall civil degree. chan robles virtual law library
not perform a notarial act outside his regular
place of work or business; provided, however, SEC. 4. Refusal to Notarize. - A notary public
that on certain exceptional occasions or shall not perform any notarial act described in
situations, a notarial act may be performed at the these Rules for any person requesting such an act
request of the parties in the following sites even if he tenders the appropriate fee specified
by these Rules if:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
(a) the notary knows or has good reason to expressly prescribed and allowed herein, shall be
believe that the notarial act or transaction is collected or received for any notarial
unlawful or immoral; service.cralaw
(b) the signatory shows a demeanor which
engenders in the mind of the notary public SEC. 4. Payment or Refund of Fees. - A notary
reasonable doubt as to the former's knowledge of public shall not require payment of any fees
the consequences of the transaction requiring a specified herein prior to the performance of a
notarial act; and notarial act unless otherwise agreed upon. chan
(c) in the notary's judgment, the signatory is not robles virtual law library
acting of his or her own free will.
Any travel fees and expenses paid to a notary
SEC. 5. False or Incomplete Certificate. - A public prior to the performance of a notarial act
notary public shall not: chan robles virtual law are not subject to refund if the notary public had
library already traveled but failed to complete in whole
or in part the notarial act for reasons beyond his
(a) execute a certificate containing information control and without negligence on his part.cralaw
known or believed by the notary to be false.
(b) affix an official signature or seal on a SEC. 5. Notice of Fees. - A notary public who
notarial certificate that is incomplete. chan robles charges a fee for notarial services shall issue a
virtual law library receipt registered with the Bureau of Internal
Revenue and keep a journal of notarial fees. He
SEC. 6. Improper Instruments or Documents. - A shall enter in the journal all fees charged for
notary public shall not services rendered. chan robles virtual law library
notarize:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
A notary public shall post in a conspicuous place
(a) a blank or incomplete instrument or in his office a complete schedule of chargeable
document; or chan robles virtual law library notarial fees.cralaw
(b) an instrument or document without
appropriate notarial certification. RULE VI
NOTARIAL REGISTER
RULE V
FEES OF NOTARY PUBLIC SECTION 1. Form of Notarial Register. - (a) A
notary public shall keep, maintain, protect and
SECTION 1. Imposition and Waiver of Fees. - provide for lawful inspection as provided in
For performing a notarial act, a notary public these Rules, a chronological official notarial
may charge the maximum fee as prescribed by the register of notarial acts consisting of a
Supreme Court unless he waives the fee in whole or in
part. permanently bound book with numbered pages.
chan robles virtual law library chan robles virtual law library
SEC. 2. Travel Fees and Expenses. - A notary
public may charge travel fees and expenses The register shall be kept in books to be
separate and apart from the notarial fees furnished by the Solicitor General to any notary
prescribed in the preceding section when public upon request and upon payment of the
traveling to perform a notarial act if the notary cost thereof. The register shall be duly paged,
public and the person requesting the notarial act and on the first page, the Solicitor General shall
agree prior to the travel.cralaw certify the number of pages of which the book
consists.cralaw
SEC. 3. Prohibited Fees. – No fee or
compensation of any kind, except those
For purposes of this provision, a Memorandum for refusal to allow inspection or copying of a
of Agreement or Understanding may be entered journal entry shall also be recorded.cralaw
into by the Office of the Solicitor General and
the Office of the Court Administrator. chan (d) When the instrument or document is a
robles virtual law library contract, the notary public shall keep an original
copy thereof as part of his records and enter in
(b) A notary public shall keep only one active said records a brief description of the substance
notarial register at any given time.cralaw thereof and shall give to each entry a consecutive
number, beginning with number one in each
SEC. 2. Entries in the Notarial Register. - (a) For calendar year. He shall also retain a duplicate
every notarial act, the notary shall record in the original copy for the Clerk of Court.cralaw
notarial register at the time of notarization the
following: chan robles virtual law library (e) The notary public shall give to each
instrument or document executed, sworn to, or
(1) the entry number and page number; chan acknowledged before him a number
robles virtual law library corresponding to the one in his register, and shall
(2) the date and time of day of the notarial act; also state on the instrument or document the
(3) the type of notarial act; chan robles virtual page/s of his register on which the same is
law library recorded. No blank line shall be left between
(4) the title or description of the instrument, entries.cralaw
document or proceeding;
(5) the name and address of each principal; chan (f) In case of a protest of any draft, bill of
robles virtual law library exchange or promissory note, the notary public
(6) the competent evidence of identity as defined shall make a full and true record of all
by these Rules if the signatory is not proceedings in relation thereto and shall note
personally known to the notary; chan robles therein whether the demand for the sum of
virtual law library money was made, by whom, when, and where;
(7) the name and address of each credible whether he presented such draft, bill or note;
witness swearing to or affirming the person's whether notices were given, to whom and in
identity; what manner; where the same was made, when
(8) the fee charged for the notarial act; and to whom and where directed; and of every
(9) the address where the notarization was other fact touching the same.cralaw
performed if not in the notary's regular place of
work or business; and (g) At the end of each week, the notary public
(10) any other circumstance the notary public shall certify in his notarial register the number of
may deem of significance or relevance. instruments or documents executed, sworn to,
acknowledged, or protested before him; or if
(b) A notary public shall record in the notarial none, this certificate shall show this fact.cralaw
register the reasons and circumstances for not
completing a notarial act. (h) A certified copy of each month's entries and a
duplicate original copy of any instrument
(c) A notary public shall record in the notarial acknowledged before the notary public shall,
register the circumstances of any request to within the first ten (10) days of the month
inspect or copy an entry in the notarial register, following, be forwarded to the Clerk of Court
including the requester's name, address, and shall be under the responsibility of such
signature, thumbmark or other recognized officer. If there is no entry to certify for the
identifier, and evidence of identity. The reasons month, the notary shall forward a statement to
this effect in lieu of certified copies herein (10) days after informing the appropriate law
required.cralaw enforcement agency in the case of theft or
vandalism, notify the Executive Judge by any
SEC. 3. Signatures and Thumbmarks. - At the means providing a proper receipt or
time of notarization, the notary's notarial register acknowledgment, including registered mail and
shall be signed or a thumb or other mark affixed also provide a copy or number of any pertinent
by each:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary police report.cralaw

(a) principal; (b) Upon revocation or expiration of a notarial

(b) credible witness swearing or affirming to the commission, or death of the notary public, the
identity of a principal; and notarial register and notarial records shall
(c) witness to a signature by thumb or other immediately be delivered to the office of the
mark, or to a signing by the notary public on Executive Judge.cralaw
behalf of a person physically unable to sign.
SEC. 6. Issuance of Certified True Copies. - The
SEC. 4. Inspection, Copying and Disposal. - (a) notary public shall supply a certified true copy of
In the notary's presence, any person may inspect the notarial record, or any part thereof, to any
an entry in the notarial register, during regular person applying for such copy upon payment of
business hours, provided; the legal fees.cralaw

(1) the person's identity is personally known to RULE VII

the notary public or proven through competent SIGNATURE AND SEAL OF NOTARY PUBLIC
evidence of identity as defined in these Rules;
(2) the person affixes a signature and thumb or SECTION 1. Official Signature. – In notarizing a
other mark or other recognized identifier, in the paper instrument or document, a notary public
notarial register in a separate, dated entry; shall:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
(3) the person specifies the month, year, type of
instrument or document, and name of the (a) sign by hand on the notarial certificate only
principal in the notarial act or acts sought; and the name indicated and as appearing on the
(4) the person is shown only the entry or entries notary's commission; chan robles virtual law
specified by him. library
(b) not sign using a facsimile stamp or printing
(b) The notarial register may be examined by a device; and
law enforcement officer in the course of an (c) affix his official signature only at the time the
official investigation or by virtue of a court notarial act is performed.
order.
SEC. 2. Official Seal. - (a) Every person
(c) If the notary public has a reasonable ground commissioned as notary public shall have a seal
to believe that a person has a criminal intent or of office, to be procured at his own expense,
wrongful motive in requesting information from which shall not be possessed or owned by any
the notarial register, the notary shall deny access other person. It shall be of metal, circular in
to any entry or entries therein.cralaw shape, two inches in diameter, and shall have the
name of the city or province and the word
SEC. 5. Loss, Destruction or Damage of Notarial “Philippines” and his own name on the margin
Register. - (a) In case the notarial register is and the roll of attorney's number on the face
stolen, lost, destroyed, damaged, or otherwise thereof, with the words "notary public" across
rendered unusable or illegible as a record of the center. A mark, image or impression of such
notarial acts, the notary public shall, within ten
seal shall be made directly on the paper or have the duty to surrender it to the Executive
parchment on which the writing appears. Judge.cralaw

(b) The official seal shall be affixed only at the SEC. 3. Seal Image. - The notary public shall
time the notarial act is performed and shall be affix a single, clear, legible, permanent, and
clearly impressed by the notary public on every photographically reproducible mark, image or
page of the instrument or document notarized. impression of the official seal beside his
chan robles virtual law library signature on the notarial certificate of a paper
instrument or document.cralaw
(c) When not in use, the official seal shall be kept
safe and secure and shall be accessible only to SEC. 4. Obtaining and Providing Seal. - (a) A
the notary public or the person duly authorized vendor or manufacturer of notarial seals may not
by him. chan robles virtual law library sell said product without a written authorization
from the Executive Judge.cralaw
(d) Within five (5) days after the official seal of a
notary public is stolen, lost, damaged or other (b) Upon written application and after payment
otherwise rendered unserviceable in affixing a of the application fee, the Executive Judge may
legible image, the notary public, after informing issue an authorization to sell to a vendor or
the appropriate law enforcement agency, shall manufacturer of notarial seals after verification
notify the Executive Judge in writing, providing and investigation of the latter's qualifications.
proper receipt or acknowledgment, including The Executive Judge shall charge an
registered mail, and in the event of a crime authorization fee in the amount of PhP 4,000 for
committed, provide a copy or entry number of the vendor and PhP 8,000 for the manufacturer.
the appropriate police record. Upon receipt of If a manufacturer is also a vendor, he shall only
such notice, if found in order by the Executive pay the manufacturer's authorization fee.cralaw
Judge, the latter shall order the notary public to
cause notice of such loss or damage to be (c) The authorization shall be in effect for a
published, once a week for three (3) consecutive period of four (4) years from the date of its
weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation in issuance and may be renewed by the Executive
the city or province where the notary public is Judge for a similar period upon payment of the
commissioned. Thereafter, the Executive Judge authorization fee mentioned in the preceding
shall issue to the notary public a new Certificate paragraph.cralaw
of Authorization to Purchase a Notarial
Seal.cralaw (d) A vendor or manufacturer shall not sell a seal
to a buyer except upon submission of a certified
(e) Within five (5) days after the death or copy of the commission and the Certificate of
resignation of the notary public, or the revocation Authorization to Purchase a Notarial Seal issued
or expiration of a notarial commission, the by the Executive Judge. A notary public
official seal shall be surrendered to the Executive obtaining a new seal as a result of change of
Judge and shall be destroyed or defaced in public name shall present to the vendor or manufacturer
during office hours. In the event that the missing, a certified copy of the Confirmation of the
lost or damaged seal is later found or Change of Name issued by the Executive
surrendered, it shall be delivered by the notary Judge.cralaw
public to the Executive Judge to be disposed of
in accordance with this section. Failure to effect (e) Only one seal may be sold by a vendor or
such surrender shall constitute contempt of court. manufacturer for each Certificate of
In the event of death of the notary public, the Authorization to Purchase a Notarial Seal.cralaw
person in possession of the official seal shall
(f) After the sale, the vendor or manufacturer RULE IX
shall affix a mark, image or impression of the CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF NOTARIES
seal to the Certificate of Authorization to PUBLIC
Purchase a Notarial Seal and submit the
completed Certificate to the Executive Judge. SECTION 1. Certificate of Authority for a
Copies of the Certificate of Authorization to Notarial Act. - A certificate of authority
Purchase a Notarial Seal and the buyer's evidencing the authenticity of the official seal
commission shall be kept in the files of the and signature of a notary public shall be issued
vendor or manufacturer for four (4) years after by the Executive Judge upon request in
the sale.cralaw substantially the following form: chan robles
virtual law library
(g) A notary public obtaining a new seal as a
result of change of name shall present to the CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY FOR A
vendor a certified copy of the order confirming NOTARIAL ACT
the change of name issued by the Executive
Judge.cralaw I, (name, title, jurisdiction of the Executive
Judge), certify that (name of notary public),
RULE VIII the person named in the seal and signature on
NOTARIAL CERTIFICATES the attached document, is a Notary Public in
and for the (City/Municipality/Province) of
SECTION 1. Form of Notarial Certificate. - The the Republic of the Philippines and
notarial form used for any notarial instrument or authorized to act as such at the time of the
document shall conform to all the requisites document's notarization.chanrobles virtual
prescribed herein, the Rules of Court and all law library chan robles virtual law library
other provisions of issuances by the Supreme
Court and in applicable laws. chan robles virtual IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have affixed
law library below my signature and seal of this office this
(date) day of (month) (year).chanrobles
SEC. 2. Contents of the Concluding Part of the virtual law library chan robles virtual law
Notarial Certificate. – The notarial certificate library
shall include the _________________
following:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary (official signature)
(seal of Executive Judge)
(a) the name of the notary public as exactly
indicated in the commission; RULE X
(b) the serial number of the commission of the CHANGES OF STATUS OF NOTARY PUBLIC
notary public;
(c) the words "Notary Public" and the province SECTION 1. Change of Name and Address. -
or city where the notary public is commissioned,
the expiration date of the commission, the office Within ten (10) days after the change of name of
address of the notary public; and the notary public by court order or by marriage,
(d) the roll of attorney's number, the professional or after ceasing to maintain the regular place of
tax receipt number and the place and date of work or business, the notary public shall submit
issuance thereof, and the IBP membership a signed and dated notice of such fact to the
number. Executive Judge.

The notary public shall not notarize

until:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
(a) he receives from the Executive Judge a (b) In addition, the Executive Judge may revoke
confirmation of the new name of the notary the commission of, or impose appropriate
public and/or change of regular place of work or administrative sanctions upon, any notary public
business; and who:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

(b) a new seal bearing the new name has been (1) fails to keep a notarial register;
obtained. (2) fails to make the proper entry or entries in his
notarial register concerning his notarial acts;
The foregoing notwithstanding, until the (3) fails to send the copy of the entries to the
aforementioned steps have been completed, the Executive Judge within the first ten (10) days of
notary public may continue to use the former the month following;
name or regular place of work or business in (4) fails to affix to acknowledgments the date of
performing notarial acts for three (3) months expiration of his commission;
from the date of the change, which may be (5) fails to submit his notarial register, when
extended once for valid and just cause by the filled, to the Executive Judge;
Executive Judge for another period not (6) fails to make his report, within a reasonable
exceeding three (3) months. time, to the Executive Judge concerning the
performance of his duties, as may be required by
SEC. 2. Resignation. - A notary public may the judge;
resign his commission by personally submitting (7) fails to require the presence of a principal at
a written, dated and signed formal notice to the the time of the notarial act;
Executive Judge together with his notarial seal, (8) fails to identify a principal on the basis of
notarial register and records. Effective from the personal knowledge or competent evidence;
date indicated in the notice, he shall immediately (9) executes a false or incomplete certificate
cease to perform notarial acts. In the event of his under Section 5, Rule IV;
incapacity to personally appear, the submission (10) knowingly performs or fails to perform any
of the notice may be performed by his duly other act prohibited or mandated by these Rules;
authorized representative.cralaw and
(11) commits any other dereliction or act which
SEC. 3. Publication of Resignation. - The in the judgment of the Executive Judge
Executive Judge shall immediately order the constitutes good cause for revocation of
Clerk of Court to post in a conspicuous place in commission or imposition of administrative
the offices of the Executive Judge and of the sanction.
Clerk of Court the names of notaries public who
have resigned their notarial commissions and the (c) Upon verified complaint by an interested,
effective dates of their resignation.cralaw affected or aggrieved person, the notary public
shall be required to file a verified answer to the
RULE XI complaint. If the answer of the notary public is
REVOCATION OF COMMISSION AND not satisfactory, the Executive Judge shall
DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS conduct a summary hearing. If the allegations of
the complaint are not proven, the complaint shall
SECTION 1. Revocation and Administrative be dismissed. If the charges are duly established,
Sanctions. - (a) The Executive Judge shall revoke the Executive Judge shall impose the appropriate
a notarial commission for any ground on which administrative sanctions. In either case, the
an application for a commission may be denied. aggrieved party may appeal the decision to the
chan robles virtual law library Supreme Court for review. Pending the appeal,
an order imposing disciplinary sanctions shall be
immediately executory, unless otherwise ordered influences a notary public to commit official
by the Supreme Court. misconduct.

(d) The Executive Judge may motu proprio SEC 2. Reports to the Supreme Court. - The
initiate administrative proceedings against a Executive Judge concerned shall submit
notary public, subject to the procedures semestral reports to the Supreme Court on
prescribed in paragraph (c) above and impose the discipline and prosecution of notaries public.
appropriate administrative sanctions on the
grounds mentioned in the preceding paragraphs RULE XIII
(a) and (b).cralaw REPEALING AND EFFECTIVITY
PROVISIONS
SEC. 2. Supervision and Monitoring of Notaries
Public. - The Executive Judge shall at all times SECTION 1. Repeal. - All rules and parts of
exercise supervision over notaries public and rules, including issuances of the Supreme Court
shall closely monitor their activities. chan robles inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or
virtual law library accordingly modified. chan robles virtual law
library
SEC. 3. Publication of Revocations and
Administrative Sanctions. - The Executive Judge SEC. 2. Effective Date. - These Rules shall
shall immediately order the Clerk of Court to take effect on the first day of August 2004,
post in a conspicuous place in the offices of the and shall be published in a newspaper of
Executive Judge and of the Clerk of Court the general circulation in the Philippines which
names of notaries public who have been provides sufficiently wide circulation.
administratively sanctioned or whose notarial
commissions have been revoked.cralaw Promulgated this 6th day of July, 2004. chan
robles virtual law library
SEC. 4. Death of Notary Public. - If a notary
public dies before fulfilling the obligations in Davide, Jr. C.J., Puno, Vitug, Panganiban,
Section 4(e), Rule VI and Section 2(e), Rule VII, Quisumbing, Ynarez-Santiago, Sandoval-
the Executive Judge, upon being notified of such Gutierrez, Carpio, Austria-Martinez, Corona,
death, shall forthwith cause compliance with the Carpio-Morales, Callejo, Sr., Azcuna and Tinga,
provisions of these sections. chan robles virtual JJ.cralaw
law library

RULE XII
SPECIAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Punishable Acts. - The Executive

Judge shall cause the prosecution of any person
who:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

(a) knowingly acts or otherwise impersonates a

notary public; chan robles virtual law library
(b) knowingly obtains, conceals, defaces, or
destroys the seal, notarial register, or official
records of a notary public; and
(c) knowingly solicits, coerces, or in any way