In the context of the Covid-19 global health crisis, President Cristina N. Armella, on behalf of the International Union of Notaries, sends the following message to all Member Notariats, individual members and partners of the UINL:

"Dear All, 

At the end of April 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to be a undeniable reality. 

I reiterate my solidarity with all the notaries of the world and their national organizations during this critical time. 

Our Union continues its activity through virtual visits and electronic exchanges. Our commissions and working groups are working to fulfill their action plans. 

This time of pandemic is, no doubt, generating great difficulties for the notarial activity throughout the world, but it is also leading us to reflect on new scenarios, with the use of remote communication tools. 

We express the wish that all Member Notariats embark on the path of digital transition, in a secure manner and respecting the fundamental principles of the Latin Notariat.

Technological means are great tools for notaries in the exercise of their functions as long as they are controlled and enable notaries to fulfil their duty to qualify the capacity and discernment of the parties, while respecting professional secrecy and the protection of users' data. 

Notaries, in their public service function, must ensure legal certainty in the provision of consent by the parties, identify them and control the legality; they are the sole persons responsible for this control and the authentication requires their intervention beyond computerized means.  

It is therefore a matter of using new technologies from secure platforms as an instrument at the service of our function, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Latin Notariat. 

"Innovating without losing the essence"

Yours sincerely, 

Not. Dra. Cristina N. Armella
President of the International Union of Notaries "