Notary services are set to go digital, thanks to amendments made to the law governing the office of notary by the lower house of Parliament recently. The revised law will enable notaries to notarize documents remotely, using electronic signatures or other technological means, in addition to traditional in-person methods. Currently, a system that will enable digital notarization is being built. Previously, the law required that all documents to be notarized must be signed in the presence of the notary, which often proved inconvenient and time-consuming for both parties involved. The new law is aimed at facilitating more efficient and effective service delivery by allowing notaries to conduct notarial acts electronically from wherever they are located, saving time and reducing travel costs. ALSO READ: How private notaries have eased land ownership transfer services Under the revised law, the conditions required to be a notary have also been amended. Candidates must now have at least three years of experience in law careers and meet the requirements of integrity, instead of the previous five years. The exam previously conducted by the Ministry of Justice before admission has also been removed as a requirement. While the amendments are expected to accelerate service delivery and reduce costs for customers, some private notaries have expressed concerns about the potential for increased fraud and cheating, particularly in identifying fake copies online. Despite this, the new system is expected to be gradually embraced and taught to the public, as Rwanda continues its drive to ensure that 100 per cent of government services are available online by 2024. Speaking to The New Times, Jean Pierre Uwabahizi, the private notary said the online notary will expedite and ease services but worried about defects can as well happen. “The price of the service will be reduced for the customers, but for us it’s a loss because the current fees are still few according to our expenses contrary to the public notaries who are paid monthly. The only worry is that cases of fraud are likely to increase,” he said.
