Notarization of documents or signatures
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzDocuments (copies, duplicates, negatives, electronic documents and printouts of electronic documents) as well as signatures and hand signs can be notarized. A distinction must first be made between official and public certification.
Official certification is governed by the State Administrative Procedure Act in conjunction with the Federal Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG) and only applies to documents whose original has been issued by an authority or whose copy is required for submission to an authority (unless the issue of certified copies from official registers and archives is reserved exclusively for other authorities). A signature or hand mark can also be officially certified if the signed document is required for submission to an authority or other body to which it must be submitted under a legal provision.
The legal basis for public certification of signatures is the German Civil Code. Public notarization of a signature is only permitted in cases that are prescribed by law.
Description of the service
Documents (copies, duplicates, negatives, electronic documents and printouts of electronic documents) as well as signatures and hand signs can be notarized. A distinction must first be made between official and public certification.
Official certification is governed by the State Administrative Procedure Act in conjunction with the Federal Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG) and only applies to documents whose original has been issued by an authority or whose copy is required for submission to an authority (unless the issue of certified copies from official registers and archives is reserved exclusively for other authorities). A signature or hand mark can also be officially certified if the signed document is required for submission to an authority or other body to which it must be submitted on the basis of a legal provision.
The legal basis for public certification of signatures is the German Civil Code. Public notarization of a signature is only permitted in cases prescribed by law.
Who do I need to contact?
Documents or signatures can be notarized at the Citizens' Service Office.
General information:
Signature on travel authorizations for children travelling alone
- Signatures on powers of attorney for children who are not traveling with their parents cannot be notarized by the Citizens' Service Office.
- The signatures must be notarized by a notary.
Official notarization of deeds and documents:
The employees of the Citizens' Service Office may only certify copies or transcripts of documents if the original was issued by another German authority or if the certified copy is submitted to another German authority.
Official certification of signatures:
Signatures may only be officially certified if the document to be signed is to be submitted to another German authority or to another body to which it must be submitted on the basis of a German legal provision.
Public notarization of signatures:
Public notarization of a signature for authorities is carried out if the document to be signed is required in private law matters and a law expressly prescribes public notarization for this purpose.
It is recommended that you state the legal basis from which the need for public certification arises, as otherwise the staff at the Citizens' Service Office will have to refer you to a notary in unclear cases.
Special features
Official notarization is not sufficient,
- if public notarization or public certification (by notaries, courts or certain authorities, e.g. the youth welfare office) is required, or
- if a specific authority has exclusive responsibility (e.g. civil status documents only from the registry office, extracts from the land register only from the surveying and land registry authorities).
Do you have any questions? Please use our call center numbers:
Central number (0 62 41) 853 - 0
Be sure to bring an identity card.