Rules on Legal Practice

Section 1

"Acknowledgment" refers to an act in which an individual on a single occasion: (a) appears in person before the notary public and presents an integrally complete instrument or document; (b) is attested to be personally known to the notary public or identified by the notary public through competent evidence of identity as defined by these Rules; and (c) represents to the notary public that the signature on the instrument or document was voluntarily affixed by him for the purposes stated in the instrument or document, declares that he has executed the instrument or document as his free and voluntary act and deed, and, if he acts in a particular representative capacity, that he has the authority to sign in that capacity.

Section 2

The term "Affirmation" or "Oath" refers to an act in which an individual on a single occasion: (a) appears in person before the notary public; (b) is personally known to the notary public or identified by the notary public through competent evidence of identity as defined by these Rules; and (c) avows under penalty of law to the whole truth of the contents of the instrument or document.

Section 3

"Commission" refers to the grant of authority to perform notarial acts and to the written evidence of the authority.

Section 4

"Copy Certification" refers to a notarial act in which a notary public: (a) is presented with an instrument or document that is neither a vital record, a public record, nor publicly recordable; (b) copies or supervises the copying of the instrument or document; (c) compares the instrument or document with the copy; and (d) determines that the copy is accurate and complete.

Section 5

"Notarial Register" refers to a permanently bound book with numbered pages containing a chronological record of notarial acts performed by a notary public.

Section 6

"Jurat" refers to an act in which an individual on a single occasion: (a) appears in person before the notary public and presents an instrument or document; (b) is personally known to the notary public or identified by the notary public through competent evidence of identity as defined by these Rules; (c) signs the instrument or document in the presence of the notary; and (d) takes an oath or affirmation before the notary public as to such instrument or document.

Section 7

"Notarial Act" and "Notarization" refer to any act that a notary public is empowered to perform under these Rules.

Section 8

"Notarial Certificate" refers to the part of, or attachment to, a notarized instrument or document that is completed by the notary public, bears the notary's signature and seal, and states the facts attested to by the notary public in a particular notarization as provided for by these Rules.

Section 9

"Notary Public" and "Notary" refer to any person commissioned to perform official acts under these Rules.

Section 10

"Principal" refers to a person appearing before the notary public whose act is the subject of notarization.

Section 11

The term "regular place of work or business" refers to a stationary office in the city or province wherein the notary public renders legal and notarial services.

Section 12

The phrase "competent evidence of identity" refers to the identification of an individual based on: (a) at least one current identification document issued by an official agency bearing the photograph and signature of the individual; or (b) the oath or affirmation of one credible witness not privy to the instrument, document or transaction who is personally known to the notary public and who personally knows the individual, or of two credible witnesses neither of whom is privy to the instrument, document or transaction who each personally knows the individual and shows to the notary public documentary identification.

Section 13

"Official seal" or "Seal" refers to a device for affixing a mark, image or impression on all papers officially signed by the notary public conforming the requisites prescribed by these Rules.

Section 14

The term "signature witnessing" refers to a notarial act in which an individual on a single occasion: (a) appears in person before the notary public and presents an instrument or document; (b) is personally known to the notary public or identified by the notary public through competent evidence of identity as defined by these Rules; and (c) signs the instrument or document in the presence of the notary public.

Section 15

"Court" refers to the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Section 16

"Petitioner" refers to a person who applies for a notarial commission.

Section 17

"Office of the Court Administrator" refers to the Office of the Court Administrator of the Supreme Court.

Section 18

"Executive Judge" refers to the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of a city or province who issues a notarial commission.

Section 19

"Vendor" under these Rules refers to a seller of a notarial seal and shall include a wholesaler or retailer.

Section 20

"Manufacturer" under these Rules refers to one who produces a notarial seal and shall include an engraver and seal maker.