The Ministry of Justice ("MOJ") has recently issued the Rules of Notary Procedures (Revised Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") for public consultation by June 22, 2019.
Major contents of the Draft for Comment include: 1. expanding the scope of cases accepted by notary institutions to make it more convenient for the parties concerned to deal with notary matters; 2. requesting fewer materials for applications for notarial certificates and shortening the timeframe required for the notarization process; 3. consolidating and optimizing the notary procedures and making public the notarization status to the parties concerned; 4. intensifying responsibilities of notaries and notary institutions to safeguard lawful rights and interests of the parties concerned; 5. detailing procedures for key notarization business, such as testament notarization and notarization of instrument of creditor's claims to make it compulsorily enforceable, to enhance the quality of the notarization process; and 6. adding provisions on online notarization and electronic notarial certificates to meet demands of the "internet plus notarization" initiative. In addition, the Draft for Comment provides clarity on strictly maintaining the order of practices of notary institutions, examining the identities of natural persons strictly and seriously pursuing notaries' accountability and seeking compensation from them.