Spain drives Digitalization: Legal Innovations in the Notarial, Registration, and Corporate areas

Law 11/2023, dated May 8, transposes a series of European Union directives that, among other things, include measures of great relevance to promote digitisation in the field of notarial, registration, and corporate actions.

Telematic public deeds

Among the main novelties stands the possibility of signing certain public deeds telematically. The acts or legal transactions that may be executed and authorised without the physical presence of the grantors or interested parties include, among others, the following:

  • Commercial policies
  • Incorporation of companies and appointments
  • Powers of attorney and revocation of powers, except for general or preventive powers
  • Any other corporate act, except non-monetary contributions to the share capital
  • Notarial minutes of general shareholders’ meetings
  • Granting powers of attorney for procedural representation and for acting before public administrations
  • Cancellations of warranties
  • Signature legitimisations

To grant these deeds, the signatory must be a citizen of the European Union and have access to the notarial electronic platform, requiring a qualified electronic certificate for authentication.

Digital Company Formation

It is worth noting that this digitisation law enables the establishment of limited liability companies with monetary contributions via a fully online procedure. Upon completion, these companies will be registered in the Commercial Registry within five business days. Additionally, the law envisions a faster possibility where registration in the Commercial Registry can occur in less than one business day. However, this alternative is still pending the corresponding regulatory development.

Authorised Digital Copies

Finally, the digitisation law promotes the transition to electronic support for all types of notarial documents, introducing electronic authorised copies. Therefore, these copies will have the same effects as those on paper.

In conclusion, these measures will facilitate and expedite many notarial and registration processes. However, their implementation may require some time before becoming a common practice.

Carla Rissmann

If you would like more information on setting up a digital company in Spain,

Please note that this article is not intended to provide legal advice.

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