The digitization of notarial tasks in the context of digital transformation in Turkiye: Challenges and recommendations

The concept of digital transformation in Turkiye covers digital service and e-government studies and practices carried out in light of a number of framework documents such as strategy and policy documents, development plans, annual programs, and national strategies. These digitalization works are performed by public authorities with the aim of making safe and high-quality, accelerating, facilitating, and, to some extent, liberating the access processes to public resources by both citizens and public employees; it takes place under many different headings such as public procurement, public finance, electronic document management system, education, and health. While the positive impact of technological developments on public administration's working and service production processes is a global trend, notaries authorized to prepare or certify contracts, bills, and other types of documents also keep up with this trend through umbrella organizations such as the Notaries Union of Turkiye. Therefore, the digital transformation process in Turkiye also covers an important area such as notary transactions. Digitalization of notarial work means moving document and signature processes to the digital environment. While this process aims to make legal transactions faster, more efficient, effective, and user-friendly, it also brings various challenges and solution suggestions. The process of digitalization of notary affairs requires overcoming difficulties in the technological, bureaucratic, and regulatory areas. However, these challenges can be overcome with appropriate legislation and policies that encourage the use of proper technology. This study focuses on the general view of electronic notary transactions in Turkiye and examines these studies and practices in the context of digital transformation. It aims to make some suggestions to improve electronic notary activities in Turkiye by addressing the administrative obstacles and challenges to electronic notary transactions, which are developed in coordination with different stakeholders and integrated with e-government services.