On the morning of 2/3, Deputy Minister of Justice Dang Hoang Oanh presented the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Notarization Law to the National Assembly Standing Committee. She announced that the draft includes provisions for using digital data instead of physical documents when handling notarization requests.

Under the proposal, if information required for a notarization request is already present in qualified databases, individuals seeking notarization will not need to furnish documents like ID cards, passports, other identification documents, land use rights certificates, or property ownership certificates. Notaries will access and utilize this existing data to process and resolve requests.

Notaries will not demand original documents for verification. They can only request supplementary information if data cannot be retrieved on the day of processing, or if the available data is incomplete or inaccurate. The Ministry of Justice asserts that this regulation streamlines procedures, reduces processing time and costs, and guarantees the effective use of digital data in notarization.

The draft also aims to simplify procedures, benefiting both citizens and notarization organizations, while maintaining the rigorous nature of notarization as an essential public service.

Deputy Minister of Justice Dang Hoang Oanh. Photo: Hoang Phong

Hoang Thanh Tung, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee, endorsed the policy of replacing paper documents with digital data. However, he urged a review of regulations concerning information fields, managing entities, and investment strategies for the notarization database to ensure its feasibility. He also called for specific provisions on managing and accessing data related to asset origin and transaction status within the database.

The verifying agency recommended that the government re-evaluate transactions requiring mandatory notarization. The aim is to narrow the scope of compulsory notarization, promote voluntary notarization, and consequently reduce compliance costs for both organizations and individuals.

Nguyen Khac Dinh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, observed that existing regulations on mandatory notarization transactions are fragmented and cumbersome to search. He proposed exploring a narrower mandatory scope and simplifying procedures for low-value transactions, such as the sale of used motorcycles. Additionally, he suggested allowing notarization to transcend administrative boundaries in real estate once comprehensive land databases and electronic identification systems are in place.

The draft further proposes establishing a unified national notarization database, centrally managed by the Ministry of Justice, to replace the current dual central and local management model. Concurrently, it aims to enhance decentralization by transferring certain notary-related powers from the Minister of Justice to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

The National Assembly is slated to review and approve this draft Law during the 1st session of the 16th National Assembly, which is anticipated to commence on 6/4.

Son Ha