# What Is the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice (A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC)?


The **2004 Rules on Notarial Practice** (formally **A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC**) is the Supreme Court issuance that governs the commissioning, qualifications, powers, duties, and discipline of notaries public in the Philippines. It took effect on **1 August 2004** and replaced the older notarial regime under the Revised Administrative Code.

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## What the Rules Cover

The 2004 Rules are the foundational text for traditional (paper-based) notarial practice in the Philippines. They cover:

1. **Qualifications and commissioning** of notaries public
2. **Powers and limitations** -- which notarial acts a notary may perform
3. **Forms** -- prescribed forms for [acknowledgment](/glossary/acknowledgment/), [jurat](/glossary/jurat/), and other acts
4. **Identification** -- the [competent evidence of identity](/glossary/competent-evidence-of-identity/) requirement
5. **Recordkeeping** -- the [notarial book](/glossary/notarial-book/) and notarial register
6. **Seal and signature** -- the physical notarial seal and how it must be affixed
7. **Reporting** -- monthly reports to the Executive Judge / OCA
8. **Disqualifications** -- when a notary cannot act (party in interest, relatives within certain degrees)
9. **Revocation and discipline** -- grounds and procedure
10. **Fees** -- maximum fees a notary may charge

## Key Concepts Introduced or Codified

### Competent Evidence of Identity
The 2004 Rules formalized the requirement that a notary verify identity using a current government-issued photo ID with signature -- or, alternatively, the oath of a credible witness. See [competent evidence of identity](/glossary/competent-evidence-of-identity/).

### Personal Appearance
The 2004 Rules made it explicit that the principal must **personally appear** before the notary at the time of notarization. Notarizing a document brought in by a third party is grounds for revocation.

### Standardized Forms
The Rules prescribe standard forms for [acknowledgment](/glossary/acknowledgment/) and [jurat](/glossary/jurat/) certificates, replacing inconsistent local practice.

### Two-Year Commission, Limited Jurisdiction
A notarial commission is valid for **two years** and is limited to the **city or province** of the commissioning Executive Judge. A notary cannot perform notarial acts outside this jurisdiction.

### Recordkeeping
The Rules require strict, contemporaneous recordkeeping in a paper [notarial book](/glossary/notarial-book/), with chronological numbering and complete entries.

## How It Interacts with E-Notarization

The 2004 Rules govern **paper, in-person** notarial practice. They were not designed for electronic documents or remote appearance.

[A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC](/glossary/am-no-24-10-14-sc/), the **2024 Rules on Electronic Notarization**, was issued specifically to address the gap. It does not repeal the 2004 Rules -- it operates alongside them. A lawyer holding a traditional notarial commission under the 2004 Rules can apply for a separate commission as an [Electronic Notary Public](/glossary/electronic-notary-public/) under A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC and run both practices in parallel.

| Aspect | 2004 Rules (A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC) | 2024 Rules (A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC) |
|--------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Document format | Paper only | PDF / PDF-A only |
| Appearance | Physical presence required | IEN or REN |
| Commission | Executive Judge, RTC | Electronic Notary Administrator (ENA) |
| Seal | Physical rubber stamp | [Electronic notarial seal](/glossary/electronic-notarial-seal/) |
| Recordkeeping | Physical [notarial book](/glossary/notarial-book/) | Electronic notarial book + SC central database |
| Identity verification | Visual + ID | Multi-factor (ID + biometrics + OTP) |
| Geographic scope | City / province of commission | Broader, REN extraterritorial |

The two regimes share the underlying **conceptual framework** -- [acknowledgment](/glossary/acknowledgment/), [jurat](/glossary/jurat/), copy certification, [competent evidence of identity](/glossary/competent-evidence-of-identity/), personal appearance (in person or by audiovisual link) -- but apply them to different document formats.

## Why It Still Matters

Even with the rise of [e-notarization](/glossary/e-notarization/), the 2004 Rules continue to govern:

- All paper notarizations across the Philippines
- The conceptual definitions ([acknowledgment](/glossary/acknowledgment/), [jurat](/glossary/jurat/), competent evidence of identity, personal appearance) carried into the e-notarization rules
- Discipline and revocation of all notarial commissions, including (by analogy) electronic commissions
- The forms used in e-notarization, which adapt the 2004 Rules' prescribed certificates to electronic format

## Related Terms

- [A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC](/glossary/am-no-24-10-14-sc/)
- [Notary Public](/glossary/notary-public/)
- [Electronic Notary Public](/glossary/electronic-notary-public/)
- [Acknowledgment](/glossary/acknowledgment/)
- [Jurat](/glossary/jurat/)
- [Competent Evidence of Identity](/glossary/competent-evidence-of-identity/)

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[NotarialOS](https://notarialos.com) is a leading SC-accredited Electronic Notarization Facility built around both the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice and the 2024 Rules on Electronic Notarization.