The Commercial Registry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (JUCERJA) has always operated with its own processing format, distinguishing itself from most commercial registries in Brazil. This distinctiveness has become even more evident with regard to digital signature at JUCERJA, especially after implementation of its Signature Portal in 2025. Although the new system represents a breakthrough, it does not eliminate the complexity of the environment; it merely redistributes it.

Historically, signatures at JUCERJA are made within the Web Protocol, a system that centralizes the submission and development of processes. According to JUCERJA’s manuals, the flow involves rigid steps:

• Creation of registration and access via portal;
• Filling out the request;
• Feasibility and DBE (when applicable);
• Generation and monitoring of the protocol; and
• Native signature in the system.

In this format, no external links are sent for signature. Users must go through the complete flow and the signature refers to the protocol as a whole and not an isolated document.

Based on the legislative evolution, in particular Resolution No. 168/2025, JUCERJA started to admit new electronic signature formats on its own platform, the Signature Portal. The fundamental change is a shift in focus: from the process to the document.

• Direct signature of articles of incorporation, minutes, termination agreements and powers of attorney;
• Use of qualified electronic signatures or via Gov.br; and
• Centralization of the signature act outside the linear flow of the protocol.

The new portal resolves operational bottlenecks by reducing steps and allowing greater control over multiple documents. However, it requires technical rigor. JUCERJA reinforced criteria such as file integrity, standardization and digitization requirements (such as 300 dpi resolution).

Non-standard files or incompatibilities with digital certificates can generate requirements that halt the process. In addition, the traditional system remains mandatory for specific acts, such as the registration of business books.

Currently, two formats coexist: the Signature Portal (focused on the document) and the Web Protocol (focused on the process). Choosing the wrong workflow at the very beginning can result in rework or the need to restart the entire procedure.

A critical risk lies in protocol control. As the access is linked to the individual login (Gov.br), the process is strictly linked to the person who initiated it. This implies that:

1. Transferring the protocol to third parties is not possible;

2. Compliance with requirements depends on the original user; and

3. Subsequent intervention by another person in charge may be unfeasible, requiring new payment of fees and new signatures.

Practical experience at JUCERJA demonstrates that it is not enough to operate the system; it is necessary to understand how each decision influences the granting of registration. Mistakes in the platform choice or document preparation lead to avoidable delays.

PLBrasil Paralegal conducts processes before JUCERJA from the initial stages, structuring the flow of document preparation to the completion of the registration, with a focus on mitigating risks and ensuring predictability in the process.