On April 1^st, 2020, the National Council of Justice (“CNJ”) published its Act No. 95 regulating the services provided by Notaries and Registry Offices during the period of Public Health Emergency of National Concern to be in force until April 30^th, 2020.

The specific dispositions established by the Act No. 94/2020 for the Real Estate Registry Offices have been maintained and were extended to Titles and Deeds Registry Offices, Civil Registry Offices of Natural Persons and Legal Entities among other Registry Offices as well as to Notaries.

In line with the previous act, CNJ now provides that Notaries and Registry Office services shall be considered as essential activities that must be maintained open during the pandemic period, with its services being performed preferably remotely. Among other  dispositions established by the Act No. 94 that were now extended for Notaries and other Registry Offices, we highlight the following: (i) on call remote services should be available for four hours and in-person services to be available for two hours; (ii) the use of post office services or any other means for the receipt and return of physical documents, and (iii) the authorization to receive electronic documents , including born digital and digitalized documents , according to technical standards.

This Act will benefit several States of Brazil, such as Rio Grande do Sul, where Notaries could only provide services in urgent cases. It represents a great progress for the regulation of electronic means for notary and registration services.

Access here the full content of CNJ’s Act No. 95.