Ammon News - The Lower House of Parliament on Monday approved, by majority vote, four articles of the draft amendment to the Notaries Public Law of 2025, which consists of 14 articles.

The draft law seeks to improve public service delivery by permitting electronic processing of transactions submitted from outside the Kingdom and authorizing the use of electronic means in notary public procedures with full legal validity.

Under the proposed amendments, the territorial jurisdiction of notaries public will be expanded to cover all governorates, without being restricted by the jurisdictional boundaries of the courts to which they are affiliated. The measure aims to reduce time, effort, and costs for citizens and service recipients and enable them to complete transactions electronically or at the nearest available location.

The approved articles stipulate that the legislation shall be cited as the Amendment to the Notaries Public Law of 2025 and read in conjunction with Law No. 11 of 1952, hereinafter referred to as the original law, along with its amendments, as a single law. The amendment will enter into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

Regarding the second article of the draft amendment, the Lower House endorsed the recommendations of the Parliamentary Legal Committee and approved the article as presented. The article allows the use of electronic means in notary public transactions, granting them the same legal standing as paper-based procedures. It also aims to enhance the quality of public services by enabling notaries public to process transactions submitted electronically from outside the Kingdom.

The provisions outline the legal framework governing the appointment and duties of notaries public, as set out in the original law and its proposed amendments. Under the original Article Three, notarial functions are primarily carried out by appointed government employees, with alternative arrangements in place through court clerks in areas lacking designated notaries. The article also extends these functions abroad to Jordan’s consuls and authorizes the Minister of Justice to license former judges or senior lawyers to perform notarial duties, subject to regulatory conditions, oversight, and disciplinary measures.

As part of the legislative amendments, the Lower House of Parliament approved revised provisions regulating where and how notaries public may perform their duties. The amended article restricts notarial work to designated locations and prohibits travel to conduct official business without prior written or electronic authorization from the competent judicial authority or the Minister or their designee. It also tightens controls on the transfer of official records and documents, requiring explicit authorization in all cases.