Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila A.M. No.

02-8-2-SC August 13, 2002

RE: PROPOSED RULES REQUIRING NOTARIES PULIC TO HOLD OFFICE AT A SPECIFIC AND APPROPRIATE ADDRESS/ADDRESSES RESOLUTION Acting on the recommendation of the Committee on Legal Education and Legal Matters, the Court resolved to APPROVE the proposed rules requiring notaries public to hold office at a specific and appropriate address / addresses. These Rules shall take effect on September 2, 2002 following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and shall supercede Administrative Circular No. 11-93, dated June 30, 1993. August 13, 2002 (signed) HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR. Chief Justice JOSUE N. BELLOSILLO Associate Justice JOSE C. VITUG Associate Justice ARTEMIO V. PANGANIBAN Associate Justice CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO Associate Justice ANTONIO T. CARPIO Associate Justice REYNATO S. PUNO Associate Justice VICENTE V. MENDOZA Associate Justice LEONARDO A. QUISUMBING Associate Justice ANGELINA SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ Associate Justice MA. ALICIA AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ Associate Justice

RENATO C. CORONA Associate Justice

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila

RULES REQUIRING NOTARIES PUBLIC TO HOLD OFFICE AT A SPECIFIC AND APPROPRIATE ADDRESS / ADDRESSES WHEREAS, there is a need to improve supervision by Executive Judges of notaries public in the exercise of their functions; and WHEREAS, there is a need to prevent the office of the notary public from being demeaned and degraded by improper practices such as the performance of notarial services along sidewalks and in other inappropriate public places. NOW, THEREFORE, the following rules are hereby prescribed for observance by all concerned: 1. A notary public shall render notarial services only in his office. On certain exceptional occassions or situations, notarial services may be performed in the following sites: (a) Public offices, convention halls, and other appropriate public places for the purpose of administering oaths of office; (b) At the request of the parties, public function areas in hotels and other appropriate places for the signing of the contracts, deeds, and other documents requiring notarization; (c) Residence of any party of a contract, deed, or other document requiring notarization; (d) Hospitals and other medical institutions where a party to a contract is confined for treatment; (e) Any place where for legal reason a party to a contract, deed, or other document requiring notarization may be confined, and; (f) Such other places as may be dictated because of emergency. In all of the above instances, the notary public concerned shall ensure that his functions is performed with utmost solemnity and dignity. 2. Pursuant to these rules, applications for the issuance of commissions of notaries public, or renewal thereof, as well as the monthly reports required by S246 of Act No. 2657, shall also state the following: (a) The office address / addresses of the applicant / notary public;

(b) The legal basis (whether by lease or otherwise) on which the applicant / notary public is holding office in the said address / addresses; and (c) That the applicant / notary public will inform the Executive Judge within ten (10) days of any change in the previously given office address / addresses. Any false statement therein or any violation thereof shall be a ground for the denial of the application or the revocation of the notarial commission as so provided in Act. No. 2657, S249, pars. (g) and (h) without prejudice to the imposition of appropriate administrative sanctions against the offender. In the supervision of notaries public, Executive Judges may avail of themselves of the assistance of the local chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines within their respective jurisdictions.
lawphil.ne t

These Rules shall take effect on September 2, 2002 following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and shall supercede Administrative Circular No. 11-93, dated June 30, 1993.