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In depth
Notarization is the act of a notary public certifying a document or witnessing a signature. In CBD cases, notarization is often required before apostille — the notary certifies the document, then the apostille certifies the notary's signature.
For CBD cases, notarization is typically required for: (1) powers of attorney, (2) affidavits, (3) certified copies of non-government documents (like family letters or photographs), and (4) some translations (depending on the country).
In the US, notaries are commissioned by each state and have limited powers (witnessing signatures, certifying copies). In civil law countries (Italy, France, Germany), notaries are highly trained legal professionals with broader powers, including drafting legal documents.
Related terms
A notary public is a public official authorized to witness signatures, certify documents, and administer oaths, used in CBD cases for document certification.
An apostille is a certification that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country that is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
A certified copy is a copy of a document that has been verified as a true and accurate copy by the issuing authority, typically required for CBD applications.
The Hague Apostille Convention (1961) is the international treaty that established the apostille system for document authentication between member countries.
Legalization is the multi-step process of authenticating a document for use in a country that is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
A sworn translator is a translator who has been officially authorized by a court or government to produce certified translations accepted by legal authorities.