I think most of us do not know about this that you can actually get a FREE notarization of your affidavit of loss from a public attorney.
Public attorneys are government lawyers that get paid from the people’s taxes.
Mostly they give legal aid to the indigents.
But for the notarization, I think they can cater to all since they serviced right away without asking about my background.
First off, you have to go to the Public Attorney’s Office or PAO in Capitol Building Cebu.
They are temporarily located at the right side (when you are directly facing Capitol).
You have to go through the first gate that you will encounter and walk straight ahead until you see in your right side a parking area where there are tents set up.
It also helps that you ask around – there are security guards at every corner.
I think their location is just temporary since a friend told me their office was once located on a building on the left side of Capitol.
Beforehand, I printed 2 copies of affidavits of loss (one for my lost SSS ID and another for my lost Driver’s license).
I just searched for affidavit of loss templates over the internet and edited some lines to make it fit my case (lost my wallet in the PUJ).
When I arrived at the PAO tent, there were some people inside (I am guessing all of them were lawyers), but only one of them was sitting at the receiving table.
There was one couple ahead of me when I approached the table so I waited at their back.
A couple of minutes later, a lady noticed me and asked what I needed.
I told her I need some affidavits for notarization.
It was quick, she just gave me an application form where I remembered writing my name and other basic personal stuffs, as well as my employment information including my monthly income.
After she signed the affidavits, she gave me a small piece of paper which served as a feedback sheet that would let me rate the service I received from that certain attorney.
I just checked there the highest rating since the notarization was hassle-free though I feel that they are not too vigilant or pleased to sit at the receiving table to cater to people right away.
But anyway they are professional lawyers after all.
And I am glad I knew about this free notarization coz if not I may have to go all the way to Cebu City Hall and pay P60-P100 for each affidavit notarized.
I give myself a pat in the back for this.
Also by the way, I asked the attorney if they can also cater for adoption cases.
She said they can only do it if the requestor is/are the biological parent/s of the kid.
I read some news about this from DSWD that the requestor of these cases must be an indigent.
So I guess I have to go to a private attorney (would cost ~P80K or up).
