Asked to be a witness? Here's what to do.

Someone has invited you to witness their document on Twala. You'll set up a free account, verify your ID, add your signature, and join a short session with them and an Electronic Notary Public.

Set up my witness account

What your role is, and what it isn't

A witness watches the signing and, depending on the document, signs it too, confirming you were there and saw it happen. You're not vouching for what the document says, and you're not giving legal approval. The notary handles the notarization itself.

Signing witness

Some documents have lines for witnesses to sign ("Signed in the presence of"). If you're one, you'll sign electronically during the session and confirm to the notary that you signed voluntarily.

Identity (credible) witness

In traditional notarization, a witness can vouch under oath for the identity of a signer who has no ID. If you've been asked to do this for an e-notarization, check with the notary first that it's allowed for this session.

You should not be a witness if you're a party to the document, you benefit from it, or you can't honestly say you saw the person sign. If you're unsure, ask the notary.

From invite to done

Step 1
Open your invite
You'll get an email from the principal or the notary. Create a free Twala account with the same email address so the invite can find you.
Step 2
Verify your ID and add your signature
Take a photo of a valid government ID and a live selfie, then save your signature to your account. The notary can only add you once this is done.
Step 3
Join the session
At the scheduled time, join by video from wherever you are, or go to the notary's office if the appointment is in person. Stay on camera for the whole session.
Step 4
Watch, sign, confirm
Watch the principal sign. If your signature is needed, sign electronically while the notary watches, then confirm to the notary that you signed freely. That's it.

Have these ready

A current government ID with photo and signature (PhilSys National ID, passport, driver's license, UMID, PRC, postal ID, and others)
A phone or computer with a working camera and microphone
Internet of at least 2 Mbps
Location services on, and no VPN
A private spot where you can stay on camera for the full session
Your signature saved to your Twala account

What happens to your information

A witness's details become part of an official record, so here's exactly what that means.

Your name, address, and the ID you used are entered in the notary's Electronic Notarial Book, as the Rules require.
The notary may ask to record a remote session. Recording only starts after every participant, including you, accepts.
Your information is processed under the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and shared with the Supreme Court under its data-sharing guidelines. You'll see this notice before the session.
If the notary's records are ever lost or compromised, the Rules require the notary to notify witnesses within 72 hours.

Built so nobody can pretend to be you

Live ID checks

ID verification, liveness detection, and multi-factor authentication.

Real location

Geolocation checks and VPN blocking.

Tamper-evident signatures

Your electronic signature is locked into the document with PKI and HashOrigin Technology.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to be a witness?

No. Creating an account and witnessing are free.

Do I have to be in the same place as the person signing?

No. In a remote session, each person joins from their own device.

Can I witness from abroad?

Yes. Only the notary has to be in the Philippines.

Who can be a witness?

Anyone with a valid ID who isn't a party to the document and doesn't benefit from it. If you're unsure, ask the notary.

Why do I need to verify my ID if I'm only witnessing?

Your name, address and ID details are entered in the notary's Electronic Notarial Book, so the notary has to confirm it's really you.

What exactly am I confirming?

That you were there, saw the principal sign and, if asked, signed yourself of your own free will. You aren't vouching for what the document says.

Can I join on my phone?

Yes, if it has a working camera, a microphone and a connection of at least 2 Mbps.

What if my connection drops?

Rejoin from the same appointment link. The notary will wait or reschedule if needed.

Will I get a copy of the document?

Not automatically. You can request a copy from your Twala account and say what it's for. The notary reviews the request and may grant it, charge a fee through a payment link, or decline it with a reason. You can follow each request under My copy requests.

Twala is a technology provider and does not give legal advice. Notarial acts are performed by commissioned Electronic Notaries Public.