Chile notary and registrar system reform

Chile has begun implementing Law 21.772, a reform targeting the notary, registrar, and archivist system. A central component of the legislation is the establishment of a mandatory retirement age of 75 for these judicial auxiliary roles, ending previous life-tenured practices. This has already resulted in the departure of 35 officials across various regions, including Biobío and Coquimbo.

To manage vacancies, the Court of Appeals and the Ministry of Justice are moving toward public competitions overseen by the High Public Management System (SADP) to ensure new appointments are merit-based. In the interim, offices are being managed by temporary lawyers.

The reform also introduces structural and economic changes. These include requirements for advanced electronic signatures, the creation of digital repositories for public consultation, and the introduction of price controls. The Ministry of Justice has proposed a decree to establish maximum tariffs for these services to address high costs and regional price discrepancies. A new Technical Commission involving the Ministries of Justice, Economy, and Finance will work to propose these regulated rates.