Notarial Acts for Use in Other States and Countries
A Massachusetts Notary Public is authorized to notarize documents for use both within the United States and abroad. Under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution, every state must recognize the official acts of a duly commissioned notary public.
When a notarized document is being sent outside the United States, the receiving country may require additional proof of the notary’s authority. This verification comes in two forms, depending on the destination country:
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Hague Convention countries: If the country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the required proof is a Massachusetts Apostille, issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. An apostille certifies the notary’s commission and signature for international use.
Non-Hague Convention countries: For countries not part of the Hague Convention, an apostille is not accepted. Instead, the document must go through a different certification process, which typically includes:
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