Cost of Notarizing a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) in the Philippines Everything you need to know in one practical legal guide
1 | What is a Special Power of Attorney and why must it be notarized?
A Special Power of Attorney is a written authority by which a principal delegates a specific act or transaction—e.g., selling a parcel of land, claiming benefits, managing a bank account—to an agent or “attorney-in-fact.” Because an SPA involves the transfer of legal rights, Philippine law, practice, and most private institutions require it to be acknowledged before a notary public so that it becomes a public document. A notarized SPA:
- elevates the document’s evidentiary weight (self-authenticating under the Rules of Court),
- makes it binding on third persons who rely in good faith, and
- is often an explicit documentary requirement of registries, banks, and government agencies.
Failing to notarize may render the SPA unenforceable against third parties and expose the parties to fraud risks.
2 | Legal framework that dictates cost
| Source of authority | Relevance to fees |
|---|---|
| 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice (A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC) | Empowers Executive Judges of Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) to fix maximum notarial fees within their territorial jurisdiction (Rule 9, §1-2). |
| NIRC of 1997, as amended – Sec. 188 | Imposes a ₱30 documentary stamp tax (DST) on “powers of attorney,” plus DST on each duplicate original. |
| Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 – Sec. 153 | Allows cities/municipalities to levy business permit fees on notarial offices, indirectly affecting pricing. |
| Senior Citizens Act (RA 7432) & Magna Carta for PWDs (RA 10754) | Grants a 20 % discount on “professional fees” of lawyers, including notarization. |
| Rules on e-Notarization (Interim, 2020-2022) | Authorize remote notarization with fees “not higher than” those for in-person services, plus platform charges. |
Because maximum charges are set locally, there is no single nationwide tariff. Executive Judges usually issue an Office Order every few years listing ceiling amounts for common instruments, including SPAs.
3 | Typical notarial fee ranges (onshore)
| Location / Service setting | 1-page SPA (personal) | 2-3-page SPA or with annexes | “Rush” / out-of-office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Manila law firm | ₱300 – ₱500 | ₱500 – ₱1,000 | add ₱500 – ₱1,500 |
| Metro Manila walk-in notary stall / mall kiosk | ₱200 – ₱300 | ₱300 – ₱600 | add ₱300 – ₱800 |
| Provincial city or town | ₱150 – ₱250 | ₱250 – ₱450 | add ₱200 – ₱600 |
| Barangay Hall / City Hall legal office | Often ₱100 flat (public service rate) | — | N/A |
Add ₱30 DST per original, plus ₱15 DST per “duplicate original” (commonly each notarized copy the notary stamps). If the notary supplies the stamps, that cost is rolled into the quoted price; otherwise you must purchase them from a BIR eDST-accredited outlet.
4 | Notarizing an SPA for use outside the Philippines
Philippine Embassy/Consulate notarization
- Consular notarization fee: US $25 – $30 (or local currency equivalent).
- Some posts charge per signature or per notarial act.
- Takes 1-3 banking days; same document is immediately “consularized,” so no DFA apostille needed.
Local notarization + DFA Apostille
Step Government fee Typical service option Notarial fee & DST per § 3 above Private notary DFA Apostille (regular) ₱200 3 business days DFA Apostille (express) ₱400 1 business day Courier add-on ₱180 – ₱350 Optional
Embassies of destination states that are NOT Hague Apostille Contracting Parties (e.g., Canada, UAE) still require consular authentication after the DFA apostille, usually another US $25 – $40.
5 | Other out-of-pocket expenses you might overlook
| Expense | Indicative cost (₱) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community Tax Certificate (Cedula), if needed for signature line | 5 – 100 | Depends on basic tax & additional tax on earnings |
| Secure and Authentic ID printouts | 2 – 10 per photocopy | Two IDs normally required |
| Typing/printing assistance | 20 – 100 per page | Some kiosks bundle this |
| Photocopying extra sets | 2 – 5 per page | Agencies often ask 3-5 sets |
| Transportation / parking | variable | Higher for urgent “house calls” |
| Language translation (if foreign party) | 500 – 2,000 per page | Must be sworn/consularized |
6 | Electronic & remote notarization costs
During the COVID-19 emergency, the Supreme Court allowed real-time online notarization (OCA Circular No. 335-2020). While the base notarial fee stayed the same, the following were common add-ons:
| Line item | Range |
|---|---|
| Video-conferencing platform / secure storage fee | ₱50 – ₱150 |
| e-Signature credential (one-off) | ₱100 – ₱300 |
| Courier of original copies | normal courier rates |
These charges are market-driven because the interim rules do not set maximums.
7 | Factors that make your SPA cheaper or pricier
- Geography – Fees trend higher in major business districts (Makati, BGC, Cebu IT Park).
- Reputation & overhead – Large firms charge more due to compliance, record-keeping, and professional liability coverage.
- Urgency & convenience – After-hours, weekend, or on-site notarization can double the base fee.
- Page count & attachments – Each annex usually incurs an incremental ₱50 – ₱150.
- Number of principal signatories – Separate acknowledgments are needed if parties appear at different times.
- Discounts – Senior citizens & persons with disability are legally entitled to 20 % off on the service portion of the fee.
- Indigent access – The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) can prepare & notarize an SPA free of charge for qualified clients (monthly family income ≤ the poverty threshold).
8 | Illustrative cost breakdowns
| Scenario | Base notarial fee | DST | Government authentications | Misc. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-page SPA, walk-in Makati | ₱300 | ₱30 | — | ₱20 copies | ₱350 |
| 3-page SPA + 2 annexes, urgent home visit QC | ₱800 | ₱30 | — | ₱500 visit + ₱30 copies | ₱1,360 |
| SPA for sale of property, to be used in Spain | ₱500 | ₱30 | DFA apostille ₱200 | ₱50 copies, transport ₱150 | ₱930 |
| Overseas consular notarization (Jeddah) | US $25 ≈ ₱1,400 | DST N/A | Consular fee covers notarization | — | ≈ ₱1,400 |
9 | Practical ways to keep costs down
- Draft the SPA yourself using templates—just leave signature blocks blank.
- Bundle multiple documents in one notarial visit; many notaries discount bulk jobs.
- Visit the City or Municipal Hall Legal Office; fees are capped for public service.
- Bring all signatories together and sufficient ID copies to avoid repeat trips.
- Purchase DST from an Authorized Agent Bank—they charge face value, while some notaries mark up.
- Check if you or your parents qualify for PAO or senior-citizen privileges.
- For overseas use, verify if your destination country accepts apostilles; a local apostille + courier is often cheaper than consular notarization abroad.
10 | Execution checklist (Philippine notary)
- Two original government-issued IDs per signatory (e.g., passport, PhilSys ID).
- Personal appearance of the principal (or attorney-in-fact if SPA already signed and principal not present, with compliance to notarization of subscribed instrument).
- Printed SPA on bond paper, leaving 3-inch margin on page 1 for notarial seal.
- Documentary Stamp Tax affixed (₱30) before acknowledgment.
- Payment of notarial fee; ask for official receipt with BIR OR serial.
- Receive at least one duplicate original bearing the notary’s seal and signature.
- Logbook entry—check that the Notarial Register entry number matches the seal.
11 | Consequences of underpaying or using “fly-by-night” notaries
- Document may be invalidated if the notary’s commission has expired or exceeds geographic limits.
- Parties could face criminal liability (falsification, perjury) or civil damages.
- Government registries (e.g., Registry of Deeds, LRA, SSS) routinely reject SPAs whose notarial details are inconsistent with the Notarial Register.
12 | Key take-aways
- ₱200 – ₱500 is the realistic baseline for a simple SPA notarized in person within the Philippines, plus ₱30 DST per original.
- Costs rise with page count, urgency, location, and overseas authentication requirements.
- Senior citizens, PWDs, and indigent clients have statutory fee relief.
- Secure a legitimate notary public whose commission is current; the small extra cost is worth avoiding legal headaches.
Disclaimer – This article provides general information derived from Philippine statutes, rules, and typical market practice as of June 1 2025. It is not legal advice. For document-specific guidance, consult a licensed Philippine lawyer or the nearest Philippine Embassy/Consulate.