WHEREAS, authentication of documents provide reliable means of evidence and thus facilitate social, economic, contractual and other relations between persons both at domestic and international levels as well as registration of documents ensures availability of documents whenever required and provide guarantees for constitutional rights;

WHEREAS, it has become necessary to put in place law and procedure that meets international standard to make the activities of authentication and registration of documents uniform, effective and efficient all over the country;

WHEREAS, it has become necessary to amend the existing laws of authentication and registration of documents to create transparent relations between authentication and registration institutions and supervising improperly certified documents and to enable to have efficient economic and social relations among persons as well as to make the procedures predictable and thereby to create one economic community;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55 (6) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows: