Notaries embracing IT solutions for remote operation, speed and continuity – Justice Minister

The majority of notarial services will be moved online and provided remotely. Visits to notary offices would be reserved solely for the direct identification of a person or expressed will. These changes in notarial procedures are included in draft amendments to the Law on the Notarial Profession, as announced by the Ministry of Justice on 1 April.

“To enhance the use of modern technologies in the work of notaries, we would like to enable the modernisation of these functions in order to achieve speed, convenience and continuity, especially in an emergency situation or other difficult circumstances in the country”, says Minister of Justice Elvinas Jankevičius. “We expect the digitalisation of notarial services to contribute to business development, as the necessary documents will be certified without a visit to a notary office, and the documents will be valid for civil circulation both in Lithuania and abroad”.

The draft amendments propose granting notaries the right to perform remote notarial acts and execute them as electronic notarial documents. The information will be transmitted to operating state registers and information systems. 

The remote notarial services will exclude certification of wills and their acceptance into custody, as well as authentication of the fact that a person is alive.

Notaries should not provide remote services if they believe that they would be able to ensure better protection of a client’s legitimate interests only when meeting with him or her in person or in case they need to document a person’s will, explain the consequences of notarial acts or ascertain a person’s identity.

The existing law does not provide for the use of digital instruments in notarial services and notaries so far are not able to issue electronic documents to clients.