Electronic Notarial Acts: e-Notariado and Signatures Guide

Understand how electronic notarial acts executed on the e-Notariado platform work, including the use of free notarized digital certificates and videoconferencing.

Última atualização:

Por Editorial Team of the 5th Notary Office of Recife — Notary Office / Notarial Legal Direction · 5º Tabelionato de Notas de Recife

Note: This content describes Brazilian legal and notarial practice under Brazilian legislation.

Electronic Notarial Acts via the e-Notariado Platform: Notarized Digital Certificate Issuance and Videoconferencing

Learn how electronic notarial acts work on the e-Notariado platform using a free notarized digital certificate and remote videoconferencing.

electronic-notarial-acts-via-e-notariado-platform-guide

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This article answers

  • What are electronic notarial acts performed through the e-Notariado platform?
  • How do you obtain a free notarized digital certificate at a notary office (tabelionato de notas)?
  • How do videoconferencing and digital signatures work during the execution of a notarial act?
  • What are the rules on territorial jurisdiction for signing electronic notarial acts?
  • What documents are required to execute an electronic notarial act?

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Summary

  • Electronic notarial acts are public instruments, such as deeds and powers of attorney, executed digitally on the e-Notariado platform with full legal validity (Código Civil [Brazilian Civil Code], art. 215).
  • You can obtain a free notarized digital certificate at any accredited notary office (tabelionato de notas) to sign documents remotely.
  • The notarial videoconference is a mandatory step where the notary public verifies your identity, legal capacity, and free expression of will (Código Civil, art. 104).
  • Digital execution complies with territorial jurisdiction rules based on the property location or the participants' domicile, as established by the National Council of Justice (Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023 [CNJ Provision No. 149/2023], Book II).

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What are electronic notarial acts performed through the e-Notariado platform?

Electronic notarial acts represent the delivery of notary office (tabelionato de notas) services through digital means, maintaining the same legal effects and public faith (fé pública) as paper deeds (Lei nº 8.935/1994 [Law No. 8,935/1994], art. 1º). The e-Notariado platform is the national infrastructure regulated by the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ - National Council of Justice) that unifies the execution of public deeds, powers of attorney, notarial certificates (atas notariais), and wills via electronic telecommunications (Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Book II).

By choosing digital execution, you complete the entire procedure without needing to physically visit the notary office. Process security is guaranteed through biometric verification, the use of a notarized digital certificate, and the audio/video recording of the videoconference led by the notary public (tabelião de notas) or their legal deputy (Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 6º).

You can learn more about how this infrastructure operates by reading our guide on e-Notariado and notarial electronic signatures. The technology behind e-Notariado enables connections between parties in different cities, provided the territorial jurisdiction rules specified by national regulations are respected.

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How do you obtain a free notarized digital certificate at a notary office?

A notarized digital certificate is an electronic identity issued exclusively by notary offices (tabelionatos de notas) accredited as Notarial Authorities. This digital document is free of charge for citizens and is used specifically to sign electronic notarial acts within the e-Notariado platform ([VERIFY: Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Book II]).

To issue your certificate, you can schedule an appointment at your preferred notary office. Validation can be conducted in person or via videoconference if your biometric data is already registered with the Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE - Superior Electoral Court) or in the Carteira Nacional de Habilitação (CNH - National Driver's License) database.

The notarized certificate remains valid for three years ([VERIFY: Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Book II]). During this period, you can use the smartphone application to sign public deeds, powers of attorney, and notarial certificates with total legal certainty and nationwide validity.

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How do videoconferencing and digital signatures work during the execution of a notarial act?

The videoconference is a virtual session led by the notary public (tabelião de notas) to read the public instrument and confirm the intent of all participants. During this stage, the notary verifies that the parties are acting knowingly and without any coercion (Código Civil, art. 104).

During the recording, which is stored in the digital archive of the notary office, the text of the act is read and explained in clear language. Upon receiving express consent from all participants present, the notary releases the document on the e-Notariado platform for signature collection.

Each participant receives a notification in the e-Notariado mobile application and uses their notarized digital certificate to sign the document. The process concludes with the signature of the notary public, who attests public faith (fé pública) and issues the digital certified copy (traslado digital) of the act (Código Civil, art. 215).

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What are the rules on territorial jurisdiction for signing electronic notarial acts?

Executing electronic notarial acts follows strict rules of territorial jurisdiction to prevent improper client solicitation between notary offices (Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Book II). For executing deeds related to real estate, jurisdiction belongs to the notary office (tabelionato de notas) located in the municipality where the real estate is situated or in the municipality of domicile of any of the buyers or sellers ([VERIFY: Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Book II]).

In cases involving public powers of attorney, the choice of notary office can follow either the principal's (outorgante) or attorney-in-fact's (outorgado) domicile. For detailed information on territorial boundaries, consult our article on territorial jurisdiction on e-Notariado.

If the act is hybrid—where one party signs in person at the notary counter and another signs via videoconference—the notary office executing the document must strictly observe the territorial jurisdiction defined in Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023 issued by the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ).

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What documents are required to execute an electronic notarial act?

The documentation required for electronic notarial acts is identical to that required for physical paper acts. The key difference lies in submitting scanned files in advance for legal qualification by the notary office.

| Entity Type | Mandatory Documents |

| :--- | :--- |

| Individuals | Government photo ID (RG or CNH), CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registry), updated civil status certificate, proof of residence, and active email address. |

| Corporate Entities | Current articles of incorporation or bylaws, CNPJ (Corporate Taxpayer Registry) card, representative ID documents, and commercial registry certificate. |

| Real Estate Transactions | Updated property registration certificate (matrícula), tax clearance certificates, property tax assessment/payment slips (ITBI/ITCMD), and payment receipts. |

After receiving and verifying the documentation, the notary drafts the document and sends the draft to the parties for review prior to scheduling the notarial videoconference.

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Document checklist for digital acts

  • [ ] Official government photo ID (RG, CNH, or professional registration card) in a legible digital file format.
  • [ ] Active CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registry) record in good standing with the Receita Federal (Federal Revenue Service).
  • [ ] Marriage or birth certificate issued recently by the civil registry (registro civil).
  • [ ] Updated proof of residence in the participant's name.
  • [ ] e-Notariado smartphone application installed with an active notarized digital certificate.
  • [ ] Specific transaction documents (property registration certificate, prior power of attorney, or corporate bylaws).

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Practical examples

Case 1: Real estate purchase and sale involving parties in different states

A buyer residing in Recife wants to purchase an apartment located in the same city, but the seller is temporarily living in São Paulo.

Resolution: The notary office (tabelionato de notas) in Recife, which holds jurisdiction because the property is located there, drafts the digital public deed. The videoconference is scheduled with both parties connecting simultaneously. The seller in São Paulo and the buyer in Recife digitally sign through the e-Notariado app. The deed is executed and transmitted electronically to the competent Real Estate Registry (Registro de Imóveis) to transfer ownership (Código Civil, art. 1º.245).

Case 2: Urgent execution of a public power of attorney for bank management

A citizen needs to urgently grant powers to her brother to manage bank transactions while she travels abroad.

Resolution: Before departing, she obtains a free notarized digital certificate via videoconference. Next, the notary office prepares the electronic power of attorney. The videoconference session takes place, the principal signs digitally on her smartphone, and the digital copy (traslado digital) of the power of attorney is issued with immediate legal validity. To learn more about this type of act, see our article on public powers of attorney at a notary office.

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Common errors

  • Attempting to use an expired or third-party ICP-Brasil certificate: Notarial acts require participants to use their own active notarized certificate or a valid ICP-Brasil certificate issued in their own name.
  • Ignoring territorial jurisdiction rules: Requesting the execution of a digital act at a notary office located in a state other than where the property is situated or where the parties reside—without legal grounds—results in registration refusal.
  • Assuming a standard phone call can replace a videoconference: The videoconference session must take place within the official e-Notariado platform, recorded and archived by the notary office.
  • Failing to submit clear scans of original documents: Uploading illegible photos or cropped documents delays legal evaluation and prevents scheduling the digital execution.

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  • Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 6º Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 6º — Establishes the exclusive duties of notary publics in drafting and executing public instruments.
  • Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 1º Lei nº 8.935/1994, art. 1º — Defines the purpose of notarial and registry services in ensuring publicity, authenticity, security, and effectiveness.
  • Lei nº 10.406/2002 — Código Civil, art. 215 Lei nº 10.406/2002, art. 215 — Governs the public faith and evidentiary value of public deeds.
  • Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Livro II Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Book II — Consolidates the regulations governing the e-Notariado system and electronic notarial acts in Brazil.
  • Lei nº 14.382/2022, art. 3º Lei nº 14.382/2022, art. 3º — Establishes the Electronic Public Registry System (SERP) and digital integration guidelines.

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Frequently asked questions

What are electronic notarial acts performed through the e-Notariado platform?

They are public deeds, powers of attorney, notarial certificates (atas notariais), and wills executed digitally through the national system managed by the Colégio Notarial do Brasil under the supervision of the Conselho Nacional de Justiça. These acts hold the exact same legal validity as physical paper documents (Código Civil, art. 215).

How do you obtain a free notarized digital certificate at a notary office?

Issuance occurs in person or via videoconference before a notary office (tabelionato de notas) after verifying identity and validating citizen documentation. The certificate is valid for three years at no cost to the requesting party.

How do videoconferencing and digital signatures work during the execution of a notarial act?

The notary public conducts a recorded videoconference session to read the document, confirm legal capacity, and obtain express consent (Código Civil, art. 104). Once the reading is complete, all participants sign the document digitally using the e-Notariado application.

What are the rules on territorial jurisdiction for signing electronic notarial acts?

Territorial jurisdiction is tied to the location of the real estate or the domicile of one of the participating parties (Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023, Book II). These rules are set by National Council of Justice guidelines to preserve statutory jurisdictional boundaries.

What documents are required to execute an electronic notarial act?

Required items include an official photo ID, CPF tax ID, proof of residence, and transaction-specific legal documents. Digital copies must be submitted in advance to the notary office for legal review.

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Editorial Team: 5º Tabelionato de Notas do Recife

Legal Review: Notarial and Electronic Acts Department

Last Review Date: August 25, 2026

Document Version: 1.0 — In compliance with Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023.

Disclaimer: This content is purely informative and institutional in nature. Its purpose is to guide citizens on how digital notarial acts function and does not replace individualized legal qualification provided during consultation at a notary office.

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