Syrian Ministry of Justice Issues Directive on Procedures for Restoring Lost or Damaged Official Documents

RK News.. Syria’s Ministry of Justice has issued a new directive outlining the mechanisms for restoring records in several notary offices across different provinces that were damaged, lost, or destroyed. The directive applies to original contracts, deeds, and powers of attorney belonging to citizens, pending the issuance of a specific legislative decree on the matter.

According to the circular, addressed to heads of judicial departments in the provinces, applications for deposit, restoration, or registration will only be accepted if an original certified copy of the missing document is available at the relevant notary's office. In the absence of such a copy, applicants must pursue their claims through the competent judiciary in accordance with legal procedures.
The directive further stipulates that if one of the parties to a document possesses an original certified copy or a first certified duplicate that appears authentic and unaltered, they may request its deposit and registration at the notary's office where it was originally documented.

The circular requires the notary, at the applicant’s expense, to notify all other parties involved by delivering a copy of the request and accompanying documents — particularly the subject document — and invite them to express their position or objection within thirty days of notification.

If all parties approve the request or raise no objection, the notary will refer the file to the supervising first-instance judge, who will review the application and verify the parties’ identities and the document’s validity. The judge may order an expert examination to confirm the authenticity of the notary’s signature and official seal before deciding whether to approve or reject the registration request.
Once the judge’s decision is issued, the documents are returned to the competent notary's office for completion of the process.

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