Notarized documents

The definition of notarized.

Notarized basically means to have something witnessed. It is most often used in the case of legal documents and the signature of these documents. That is, some legally binding documents will require that a notary witness the signature. A notary is different to a witness, though, because in most states and most countries a notary must be 7 year licensed lawyer to act in this way. In the case of documents, they cease to be effective or legally binding unless a licensed notary has notarized them. Not all documents require notarizing, however, most countries outside the USA require translation of the documents by a licensed notary

Why you must use a notary public.

A notary public, or simply a notary, is a person who is licensed by the government to sign documents making them legally binding. Some documents may only require that a signature be witnessed and the witness signs the form in the relevant place. A witness can be anybody that is around at the time. Conversely, however, you cannot use anyone as a notary for your document and it is essential that you use a licensed notary public when completing a form that requires it.

Getting your document notarized.

When you receive a form it should be very clear that you need to have that document notarized, and if this is the case it is important that you do so otherwise the form or document will be void and essentially useless. In order to have any document notarized you will need to find a licensed notary to complete the process for you. The Internet, being the huge resource that it is, has plenty of details on where to find notaries. Many have their own websites so you can contact them to arrange a visit and have your document legally notarized.

Not all documents need to be notarized.

Notarized basically means to have something witnesses. It is most often used in the case of legal documents and the signature of these documents. That is, some legally binding documents will require that a notary witness the signature. A notary is different to a witness, though, because in most states and most countries a notary must be 7 year licensed lawyer to act in this way. In the case of documents, they cease to be effective or legally binding unless a licensed notary has notarized them. Not all documents require notarizing, however, most countries outside the USA require translation of the documents by a licensed notary

How long it takes to get documents notarized.

Having a document notarized will be completed as quickly as you can get an appointment and complete the process. Once your document is notarized you can send it to the relevant group, organization or institution for verification. Once this is completed the document is deemed to be legally binding. The total length of time that this takes will depend entirely on the company the document is returned usually 14 days,

What is an Apostille?

An Apostille is a document that a government department uses to verify that a document is legitimate and legally binding. Each of the member countries of the Hague Conference agreed on the use of the Apostille in 1961 in order that people, groups, organizations and the governments themselves would be given greater clarity over legal documents.

Once an Apostille is awarded it signifies that a document has been checked and verified and that the signatures on the document have also been authenticated. The document is then legally binding in each of the other countries within the Hague Conference and can be used for its intended purposes. Many other countries now use and accept the Apostille, not only those who are part of the Hague Conference, because it is widely recognized around the world.

The Hague Conference?

The Hague Conference was set up in 1961 in order to allow a free passage of documents, contracts and other legal forms to be passed between member countries. Previously there had been difficulties in recognizing documents that were considered genuine in their originating country and The Hague Conference set out to alter this. It did so through the introduction of the Apostille, the terms and guidelines of which were set out when the Conference began.

What an Apostille consists of.

In order for an Apostille, and therefore the document it relates to, to be considered legal it must consist of several items all of which were agreed in the original Hague Conference. An Apostille must detail the document's country of origin, the signatory's name, signature and position, the place and date of certification, the authority that is issuing the certificate, the certificate number and a stamp or seal of the authority.

This is all quite basic information meaning that the Apostille that is produced is easy to understand and offers a good level of clarity when used in conjunction with the original document. Because of this clarity and the increasingly widespread use of this system, the Apostille has become very popular even with non-member countries.

The uses of an Apostille.

An Apostille can be used to authenticate any legal document or form. They are often used for government documents, agreements and personal legal documents. With the advance of the Internet and it's increased usage there are many more different uses for an Apostille because people can seek certificates, documents, contracts and qualifications from any number of countries around the world. To prove the authenticity and, therefore, validity of these documents you should consider obtaining an Apostille from the country you receive the document.

Distance learning has become very popular in recent years and regardless of where you live you can gain degrees and other qualifications from many different countries. This negates the need to travel to the country you study in. if you have been awarded a degree from a different country to where you intend to use it you should consider applying for an Apostille in order that you prove it is authentic should the need arise.

How to get an Apostille.

Because an Apostille is only awarded by the government agency in the country you receive the original document the most favorable option is to contact the company or organization from where you got the document. They will be able to apply for an Apostille on your behalf or, at the very least, give you the relevant details so you can apply for one yourself. In the case of applying for an Apostille for your degree, then you can contact the learning institution that your degree was attained through.

There are various websites that will handle a portion of the application for you as well as offline companies who offer the same service. You can consult a solicitor or an attorney and they will also be able to point you in the right direction.

The cost of an Apostille.

How much you pay for your Apostille may vary greatly depending on the country it is awarded in and the method you use to procure one. Generally this price will be somewhere around the $300 to $700 mark, or the local equivalent. Your Apostille will need to be signed for, and you should ensure that any service you use requires the same from you. You are dealing with original documents and you should treat them with the utmost care to ensure they arrive and you receive them in perfect order without going missing. We offer this service for only $199.