For students, journalists and the curious
How we got here: 2004 to today
From the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, through the 2020 pandemic interim rules, to the 2025 Rules on Electronic Notarization and the staged rollout since.
Last reviewed
Outline page. The structure and the key facts are here; the full-length copy for this page is still being written. Everything stated below is sourced from the Rules.
Quick answer
2004: the modern paper rules. 2020: a temporary pandemic system for remote notarization of paper documents. 2025: the Rules on Electronic Notarization, which repealed the 2020 interim rules and built something permanent. 2025–2026: a staged rollout that is still in progress.
2004 — The Rules on Notarial Practice
The foundation still in force for paper. Territorial commissions issued by RTC Executive Judges, personal appearance, competent evidence of identity, a physical notarial register.
Everything in the 2025 Rules is recognisably descended from this. The requirements were translated, not abandoned.
2020 — The pandemic interim rules
A.M. No. 20-07-04-SC, the Interim Rules on Remote Notarization of Paper Documents, was an emergency measure: courts were closed, movement was restricted, and documents still had to move.
It was explicitly temporary, and it applied to paper documents notarized remotely — a different thing from what exists now.
4 February 2025 — Approval
The Supreme Court En Banc approved the Rules on Electronic Notarization (A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC), together with the Guidelines on the Accreditation of Electronic Notarization Facility Providers.
9 March 2025 — Publication
Published, alongside a Supreme Court press release announcing the approval.
24 March 2025 — In force
The Rules take effect. They supplement the 2004 Rules and repeal the 2020 interim rules.
9 December 2025 — ENF accreditation opens
Applications open for Electronic Notarization Facility providers, through a portal on the Supreme Court website. ₱5,000 application fee, ₱100,000 performance bond, three-year accreditation.
January 2026 — The market moves
Provider Twala announces a partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Several providers position themselves publicly. At this point no accredited-provider list had been published, so every accreditation claim in the market was still self-reported.
April 2026 — Enforcement
The NBI arrests five people in Manila for fake notarization using a stolen notarial seal — a reminder that the fraud the new system is designed to make harder is real and current.
August 2026 — Where we are
The Supreme Court accredits its first three Electronic Notarization Facility providers: Ohelio, Inc.'s Twala, Quanby Solutions, Inc.'s QLegal, and UNAWA, Inc.'s NotarizeIT. The ENP application form is posted and commissioning is being stood up, but the Supreme Court's "List of Commissioned ENPs" page still reads available soon — so there is a list of accredited platforms, and still no directory of individual e-notaries.
What to watch next
- The first published list of commissioned ENPs
- Further ENF accreditations beyond the first three
- A fee guide for e-notarization services
- Confirmation that the Central Notarial Database is operational
- The first agency announcements on accepting e-notarized documents
All of these land on the rollout tracker as they happen.
Sources
We are not a provider. This is an independent educational website. We do not notarize documents, we are not an accredited Electronic Notarization Facility, and we are not affiliated with the Supreme Court or with any platform listed here. We cannot notarize, process or verify anything for you.
Not legal advice. General legal information only — not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a Philippine lawyer or notary public.