Rabat – Following amendments required by the Constitutional Court, Morocco’s House of Representatives has approved a bill that revises the legal framework governing adouls, public officials tasked with authenticating legal documents, particularly in personal and family matters.
The draft law was approved during Monday’s legislative session; it drew support from 85 MPs, while 35 voted against. The text had already undergone revisions within the parliamentary committee on justice, legislation, human rights, and freedoms.
Lawmakers introduced a series of changes across key provisions of the bill. These revisions address both procedural gaps and practical issues tied to how adouls carry out their duties, with a clear aim to maintain uninterrupted public access to authentication services.
One of the notable updates appears in Article 8 and sets a strict obligation for any adoul unable to perform their duties to notify the head of the regional council within 15 days. The measure allows authorities to step in quickly and avoid situations that could affect citizens who rely on these services.
Another change concerns people with hearing or speech impairments. Under the revised Article 53, an interpreter becomes mandatory when communication proves difficult. Lawmakers removed earlier wording that left room for ambiguity, opting instead for a clearer safeguard.
The bill also revisits disciplinary procedures. Following remarks from the Constitutional Court, the role of the Prosecutor General of the King now stops at enforcing decisions. The authority to issue those decisions rests with a dedicated disciplinary commission operating under the Justice Ministry.
Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi also addressed the issue of adoul archives, which often remain scattered or difficult to access. He said the ministry is working on a structured system to organize these records, alongside a broader plan to digitize and preserve them.
The reform reflects a wider push to update how the profession operates, as authorities seek to bring more clarity, accessibility, and oversight to a service that plays a central role in everyday legal transactions.
