Duran & Duran-Schulze Law provides comprehensive and convenient notary public services within Bonifacio Global City (BGC) business district in Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. We ensure the validity and enforceability of legal documents by maintaining rigorous compliance with the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice and professional ethical standards.
What You Should Know About Notaries Public in the Philippines
A Notary Public is a lawyer commissioned by the court to perform notarial acts to give public character and authenticity to documents, helping prevent fraud and ensuring trust in legal transactions. Here are key details about notaries public in the Philippines:
The Nature of Public Instruments
A notarial act converts a private document into a public instrument, making it self-authenticating and admissible in court as evidence. Because the document is recorded in an official register and a duplicate is filed with the Clerk of Court, it creates a permanent legal record that protects all parties involved in the transaction.
The Personal Appearance Rule
The law strictly mandates that every signatory must physically appear before the notary at the time of notarization. This requirement is non-negotiable; notarizing a document for an absent party is a serious ethical violation that renders the instrument void and exposes the lawyer to disbarment.
Competent Evidence of Identity
To prevent fraud, a notary must verify a principal’s identity through “competent evidence” unless the person is personally known to them. This requires presenting a current, government-issued photo ID—such as a Passport, Driver’s License, or other IDs.
Territorial Jurisdiction
A notary’s authority is strictly limited to the geographic boundaries of the city or province where their commission was issued. For example, a notary commissioned in Taguig (BGC) may only perform notarial acts within Taguig; performing an act even a few meters across the border into a different city is a ground for the permanent revocation of the commission.
The Right of Refusal
A notary is legally obligated to refuse service if they suspect the transaction is unlawful, immoral, or if the signatory does not appear to be acting of their own free will. Furthermore, a notary must decline any document that is incomplete or contains blank spaces to prevent unauthorized alterations after the seal has been applied.
What Duran & Duran-Schulze Law Does
Duran & Duran-Schulze Law provides versatile notarization options to suit our clients’ requirements, including onsite services at our BGC office and mobile notarization for offsite needs at permitted locations. Both modes ensure full compliance with the 2004 Rules while maintaining the highest legal integrity.
Our Notary Public Services in BGC, Taguig
With the notarial commission granted by the court, we can perform the following notarial acts:
Acknowledgements
We perform acknowledgements for contracts, deeds, and conveyances to verify that signatures on documents were voluntarily affixed. We ensure that principals understand contents and declare the execution as their free and voluntary act.
Jurats
For affidavits and certifications, we administer the jurat process by witnessing the signature in person. We require taking an oath or affirmation, avowing under penalty of Philippine law that the contents of documents are entirely true.
Oaths and Affirmations
We are also empowered to administer official oaths of office and professional affirmations. On these occasions, we witness the individual’s formal pledge to fulfill specific duties or their solemn attestation to the truth of a particular statement.
Signature Witnessing
We provide signature witnessing for various legal instruments to verify the authenticity of a signing event. We certify that the individual appeared before us, was properly identified, and signed the specific document in our presence on a certain date.
Copy Certifications
We certify that a copy of a document is an accurate and complete reproduction of the original presented to us. Please note that we provide this service only for instruments that are not vital records, such as birth certificates, or documents part of the public record.
Signatures by Mark or Proxy
We facilitate notarization for individuals who are physically unable to sign. We certify signatures made via thumbmark or sign on a principal’s behalf, provided the act is performed in our presence with disinterested witnesses and the required notations.
Other Notarial Acts
Beyond standard certifications, we perform all other official functions authorized under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice. This includes specialized legal acts and any other supplementary duties mandated by the Supreme Court or applicable Philippine laws.
How to Get Started
For inquiries on requirements, processes, and fees, contact Duran & Duran-Schulze Law at (+632) 8478 5826, (+63) 917 194 0482, or info@duranschulze.com, or simply complete the form on this page. Our office is located at 1210 High Street South Corporate Plaza Tower 2, 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Notary Public Services FAQs
For your reference and guidance, here are some frequently asked questions about notaries public and notarial acts in the Philippines:
Notarization converts a private document into a public instrument, making it admissible in court as evidence without further proof of its authenticity. It also ensures that a duplicate copy is filed with the Clerk of Court for permanent public record.
We notarize a wide range of legal, business, and personal documents, including:
- Property Documents: Deeds of Absolute Sale, Real Estate Mortgages, and Lease Contracts.
- Business and Corporate Documents: Secretary’s Certificates, Board Resolutions, and Articles of Incorporation.
- Personal Statements: Affidavits (Loss, Support, Consent), Sworn Statements, and Statutory Declarations.
- Authorizations: Special Powers of Attorney (SPA) and General Powers of Attorney.
- Academic and Travel Documents: Copy certifications of Passports, Diplomas, and Transcripts.
Yes. Under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, the signatory must be physically present before the notary at the time of notarization.
While we accept walk-ins at our BGC office during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 08:00AM – 05:00PM, we strongly recommend booking an appointment for complex corporate documents or if you require mobile notarization. This ensures a commissioned notary is available to review your documents immediately and minimizes your waiting time.
For standard onsite documents like affidavits or SPAs, the process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, including the verification of identity, signing, recording in the Notarial Register, and affixing the official seal. Complex contracts or voluminous sets of documents may require more time for thorough review.
Mobile notarization is a service where our notary travels to your location (e.g., your BGC office, a hospital, or a detention facility). This is subject to the territorial jurisdiction of Taguig and specific “exceptional occasions” defined by law. Travel fees and expenses are charged separately and must be agreed upon prior to the visit.
By law, the notary is required to keep at least one (1) original copy of every contract or instrument for their own records and another for submission to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) as part of the monthly reportorial requirements. If you need two copies for yourself, you should bring at least four (4) original sets to the office.
