Deeds for, for example, a donation, a loan or the purchase of a home can be signed digitally from Monday 8 April via an eID or itsme. The persons involved in the deed must be physically present in the office of a notary, unless they grant a power of attorney.
Digital signing is also possible if clients each visit their own notary and follow the explanation of the deed together via a video conference. There are a few exceptions where digital signing is not possible. Wills and similar last will and testaments, highly personal and confidential instruments, must still be signed by hand.
For some deeds, people do not have to physically visit a notary office. This applies to all powers of attorney and company deeds. The discussion and signing will then take place via video conference. This option has been available since 2020 for powers of attorney, since 2021 for deeds of incorporation and since last year for other corporate deeds.
personal advice
According to the Federation of Notaries (Fednot), the measure is a new step in the digitalization of the notary profession. “At the same time, personal contact remains essential,” says notary Katrin Roggeman, chairman of Fednot. “The need for personal advice is even increasing. That is why clients often prefer to come to our office to discuss their file.”
If not all parties are willing or able to sign electronically, work will be done entirely on paper or a power of attorney will be granted to an employee of the notary to sign digitally instead of the client. Anyone who wants can still take a paper copy of their deed home with them. Everyone can also find their deed afterwards on the Izimi site or app, the digital safe that the notary offers free to every Belgian citizen.
Every year, 2.5 million citizens approach a notary.
