The cost of notarization varies depending on the location and the notary public. Rates could range from Php 500 to Php 1,000 or higher.

Generally, yes, you can revoke the Special Power of Attorney anytime. You must write a new document titled ‘Revocation of Special Power of Attorney,’ which should state that you no longer want to be represented by your assigned representative.

After signing the document, have it notarized, and it will be effective immediately.

However, a SPA cannot be revoked in the following circumstances:
*if a bilateral contract depends upon it;
*it is a means to fulfill an obligation already contracted;
*if a partner is appointed manager of a partnership in the partnership contract and his removal from the management is unjustifiable.

Simply put, you as a principal cannot revoke the SPA granted to another person if doing so, an existing contract cannot be carried out, or the tasks under the SPA are the means to fulfill an obligation under the contract.

It depends on what type of Special Power of Attorney was made. If you have indicated that the SPA will only be valid within a specified period, then it will no longer be effective once that period’s over. On the other hand, if you haven’t indicated a validity period in the SPA, it will remain effective until you have it revoked.

No. As expressly stated under the Rules on Notarial Practice, an Attorney (or a Notary Public) cannot notarize a SPA or any document if he or she is a party to it.

Yes. There is no prohibition to putting many representatives/Attorney-in-fact in one document to perform particular tasks as long as you include their names in the SPA.

Yes, all parties who affixed their signature on the SPA must be physically present before a notary public at the time of the notarization.

However, suppose the person cannot be present during notarization. In that case, the notary public can sign the document on behalf of a person who cannot sign it provided that:

*the notary public is directed by the person unable to sign on his behalf;
*the signature of the notary public is affixed in the presence of two disinterested and unaffected witnesses to the document;
*both witnesses sign their names; the notary public writes below his signature, “Signature affixed by the notary in the presence of (names and address of two witnesses)”; and
*the notary public notarizes his signature by acknowledgment or jurat.

Generally, the notary public must only perform the notarial act within his regular place of work and business. Still, on exceptional occasions or situations, such as when the person signing the document is confined in the hospital or other medical institution for treatment, the notary public is authorized to perform the notarial act in the said hospital or medical institution.

Likewise, due to the Covid-19 situation in the country, the Supreme Court recently issued an interim rule allowing video conferencing facilities in cases where the notary public or at least one of the principal is situated in a locality under the community quarantine. This means that, through video conference, your document may be notarized without the need to go to the office of the notary public. The Interim Rule is valid until the Supreme Court directs otherwise.

There is no need for a principal to apply for a Philippine passport before he or she can obtain a SPA. Foreign nationals can execute a SPA to be used in the Philippines.

However, you have to check with the Philippine Consulate of the country you are in if they can notarize or consularize your SPA. It appears that rules are different in each Consular Office.
For example, the
Philippine Embassy in India states explicitly that it does not perform notarial services for non-Filipino nationals. In contrast, the German Embassy allows notarizing a SPA executed by a German citizen. On the other hand, the SPA form of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, California, or the United Kingdom does not require the citizenship of the principal.

If notarization of the SPA by a non-Filipino is not possible in the Philippine Consular Office, you can opt for an Apostillized document. Apostille documents are valid and automatically accepted in the Philippines. To learn more about this process, please read the next entry.

An Apostillized document is a public document (such as a birth/marriage/death certificate, school records, notarized documents such as SPA, etc.) that bears an Apostille issued by a Competent Authority of the foreign country. An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document.

Previously, the Philippine Consulate authenticated or affixed the red ribbon to public documents issued by a foreign country. Since May 14, 2019, authentication or affixing of the red ribbon is no longer done. Instead, you must obtain an Apostille.

To get an Apostille in your SPA, you first have to go to a notary public of the country you are in to have your SPA notarized following the law of the said country. The notarization converts the SPA into a public document. Once the SPA is notarized, you need to go to the Competent Authority designated by the country to get the Apostille. Check out this link to see the address and contact details of all the competent authorities authorized to issue Apostille in the country you are currently in.

Generally, the old SPA with no expiration date is still valid, provided that the modes of extinguishing the agency are absent.
However, in actual practice, the latest SPA is required to ensure that the agent still has the mandate and that the buyer’s current information (for example, the civil status has changed from single to married).

Buying and selling real property through an agent is risky; hence, parties must conduct due diligence. Requiring the latest SPA is part of the due diligence.

The SPA is no longer valid because one of the modes of extinguishing the agency is the death of the principal (or the agent). However, the SPA will remain valid even after the principal’s death if it has been constituted (or created) in the common interest of the principal and the agent or in the interest of a third person who accepted the stipulation in his favor.

You may verify the validity or authenticity of the SPA by checking with the notary public who notarized the document. Before notarizing the SPA, the notary public has ascertained that:

*the owner (or principal) personally appeared before him and presented *the SPA for notarization
the person who signed the document is indeed the owner through the *showing of competent evidence of identity (such as government-issued IDs)
*the principal voluntarily affixed his signature to the document.

You may also visit the notarial section of the Hall of Justice of the city or province where the SPA was notarized and verify if the document exists and is included in the notarial register of the notary public.

Notary publics are required to keep and maintain a notarial register. They must also furnish a copy of all documents acknowledged to the Clerk of Court every month.

Yes, multiple principals can make just one SPA to one agent or attorney-in-fact, such as in the case of a real estate property owned by several people/members of the family.

Yes, multiple agents or attorneys-in-fact are allowed. This is practical and will speed up the accomplishment of the tasks. For example, one is to do the leg work and be the liaison (processing papers in different offices), while the other is responsible for signing contracts, receiving payments, etc.

The tasks to be performed by an agent in a Special Power of Attorney is broader and could be any subject the principal wants to assign, including giving the agent authority to sell. In Authority to Sell, the subject is specific and limited to selling an object or property.

Yes, the agent may appoint a substitute, provided the principal does not prohibit him from establishing a substitute. However, please note that the attorney-in-fact shall be responsible for the acts of the substitute when:

*He was not given the power to appoint a substitute;
*He was given such power (the principal did not designate a particular substitute) but chose a notoriously incompetent or insolvent person.
Please note further that if the attorney-in-fact appointed a substitute even with the prohibition of the principal, all acts of the substitute shall be void.

For a substitution to be possible, the attorney-in-fact may execute a separate Special Power of Attorney (SPA) appointing a substitute, referencing/mentioning in the document the original SPA that the principal has given to him to show that he has the authority to act on behalf of the principal; and, enumerating in the SPA the specific tasks that the substitute shall perform.

Documents with a red ribbon are still valid, and you may still use the same, provided the subject document and the red ribbon are still within their validity period. Issuing the Apostille Certificate did not invalidate the previous process of authenticating a document by affixing a red satin ribbon. It only replaces it; hence, having the SPA apostilled again is unnecessary, as it will be redundant.

It depends on the entity requiring the Special Power of Attorney. Best to check with the entity requiring the SPA if it allows a digital copy. Generally, the entity will need an original copy of the SPA to validate the document’s authenticity and the signatories. This is critical in rights transfer transactions (e.g., SPA to Sell Real Property).

Yes, the Special Power of Attorney is valid as a thumb or another mark on a document is allowed instead of a signature. For a SPA with a thumb or another mark to be notarized, the thumb or other mark must be affixed in the presence of the notary public and of two disinterested witnesses.

Conclusion

Understanding the Special Power of Attorney in the Philippines is essential if you find yourself in a situation where you need someone to act on your behalf. Whether it’s for a real estate transaction, business dealings, legal matters, financial transactions, or healthcare decisions, an SPA can provide you with the peace of mind that your interests are protected.

Remember, while we’ve provided you with a sample template to get you started, it’s always a good idea to consult with a legal professional to ensure your SPA is tailored to your specific needs and complies with Philippine laws. Don’t hesitate to seek legal guidance when necessary, as it can save you from potential complications down the road.