Summary.
The draft bill proposes creating the Second Notary Office of the Veraguas Circuit (Notaría Segunda del Circuito de Veraguas) to receive, prepare, and authenticate declarations, acts, and contracts. Article 1 covers documents for which natural and legal persons must or wish to obtain authenticity and a public record in Veraguas Province (Provincia de Veraguas). The proposed office’s function is to provide those notarial services within the specified circuit.
The explanatory statement places the proposal in the context of notarial public faith in Panama. It describes notaries as authenticating acts and contracts and states that notarized documents have evidentiary value before third parties and the Public Registry. It also refers to Article 2115 of the Administrative Code (Código administrativo), concerning the presence of a notary in each notarial circuit. That provision is cited as background to the proposal; the operative articles do not amend it.
For territorial and demographic context, the explanatory statement identifies Veraguas within the Republic of Panama and says it has one notary office. It cites estimates and projections from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo), giving an approximate population of 251,791 for Veraguas. It compares this with Coclé Province (Provincia de Coclé), with 268,294 inhabitants, and Colón Province (Provincia de Colón), with 281,986 inhabitants. According to the statement, each of those provinces has two notary offices in its circuit. It also describes the distances residents of different districts travel to obtain notarial services.
The explanatory statement links demand for notarial procedures to demographic, economic, commercial, educational, and social growth in the province, particularly in the city of Santiago (ciudad de Santiago). It mentions business, real estate, civil, and commercial activities, as well as demand for legal services. These circumstances provide the stated basis for the proposed office, while Article 1 defines its functions by reference to the acts and documents it would receive, prepare, and authenticate.
Article 2 gives the notary authority to appoint and dismiss the Second Notary Office’s staff and subordinates at will. It also makes the notary responsible for their remuneration and for all expenses associated with the premises and office supplies. Article 3 provides that the proposed law would take effect upon promulgation. The operative articles establish no penalties and expressly amend or repeal no other law.
The proposal concerns the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), which is considering it, and the National Institute of Statistics and Census, which the explanatory statement cites for population figures. Its subject matter could interest people seeking notarial services in Veraguas, including residents, legal professionals, and people involved in business, real estate, civil, and commercial activities.
What it proposes.
- Creation of a public notary office in the Veraguas Circuit.
- Notarial receipt, preparation, and authentication of declarations, acts, and contracts.
- Staff appointments and payment of the notary office’s expenses.
Who it would affect.
- Natural persons seeking authenticity and a public record.
- Legal persons seeking authenticity and a public record.
- The notary, staff, and subordinates of the proposed office.
Key points.
- The draft bill proposes creating the Second Notary Office of the Veraguas Circuit.Art. 1
- The office would receive, prepare, and authenticate declarations, acts, and contracts.Art. 1
- Its services would cover acts for which natural or legal persons must or wish to obtain authenticity and a public record in Veraguas Province.Art. 1
- The notary would appoint and dismiss staff and subordinates at will.Art. 2
- The notary would pay staff remuneration and all expenses for the premises and office supplies.Art. 2
- The proposed law would take effect upon promulgation.Art. 3