Justice Ministry issues Notarization Law regulations: 8 conditions for practicing as a civil notary - Sarmad

The Official Gazette, “Kuwait Today,” published on Sunday, the decision of the Ministry of Justice to issue the executive regulations for Law No. 10 of 2020 concerning Notarization, as amended by Decree-Law No. 147 of 2025.

The decision stipulates that those licensed to practice as private notaries must be Kuwaiti nationals and possess full legal capacity, whether they are natural persons, managers of professional companies, or partners therein. Furthermore, natural persons, managers of professional companies, partners therein, and employees who carry out notarization activities must hold a law degree or an equivalent certificate recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education.

The decision also requires that the aforementioned individuals have good conduct and reputation, and that no final conviction has been issued against any of them for a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude or breach of trust, or for any of the crimes against the dignity of the Amir, terrorism, or state security, unless their reputation has been restored. Additionally, none of them may have been previously dismissed for disciplinary reasons, and they must successfully complete the prescribed training programs and examinations. This requirement is waived for those who have previously served as government notaries for at least ten years, provided they have at least ten years of practical experience in legal affairs.

The decision further requires that they have a suitable and appropriate office to conduct notarization activities, along with providing a valid insurance policy against professional liability errors, issued by one of the insurance companies licensed in Kuwait, with an annual coverage amount of no less than 100,000 Kuwaiti Dinars.

The regulations permit conducting activities through video conferencing, “subject to the provisions of Articles 18 and 19 of these regulations, notarization or certification may be carried out via video conferencing, provided that the concerned parties possess a secure electronic signature, and a verification code may be included in the document to enable authentication of its authenticity and integrity.”