Notarizations (General)

In many areas of everyday life, there is always a need to have your signature or copies of important documents notarized.

A distinction is made between 3 types of notarization:

• Official certification of photocopies / transcripts
• Official certification of signatures
• Public notarization of signatures

Official certification of photocopies / transcripts

The prerequisite for an official certification of photocopies / transcripts is that the original was issued by a German authority or that the photocopy / transcript to be certified is for submission to an authority. A copy / transcript can only be officially certified if the corresponding original is presented.

The following are frequently notarized

• School-leaver certificates for applications to universities and universities of applied sciences
• Certificates for registration at master schools
• Licensing certificates of physicians
• Proof of e.g. periods of employment in pension matters

Civil status documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates issued by German registry offices may not be officially certified. Only registrars are allowed to make certified copies or transcripts from the civil status registers they keep.

If a copy or duplicate of a civil status certificate is required, this must be requested directly from the relevant registry office.

Official certification of signatures

Official certification of signatures and hand signs is required if the document to be signed is required by law for submission to a German authority or other body.

If, for example, a participant in a traffic offence requires information from the central traffic register, the signature in the corresponding letter to the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg must be officially certified.

If the official certification of a signature is required, this cannot be replaced by an official certification.

Public notarization of signatures

Public certification of a signature is required if it is prescribed by law or for certifications that are not limited to submission to a specific authority, such as

• Entries in the land register,
• Deletion authorizations for entries in the land register,
• Rulings on inheritance,
• Entries or changes in the register of associations.

If not only the signature but the entire document is to be notarized in such a matter, the notary is exclusively responsible for this.

Public certification of a signature can be replaced by notarization. However, if notarization is required by law, it cannot be replaced by public certification. For example, a property purchase agreement with the corresponding signatures always requires notarization.

As the certification of a signature serves to verify the identity of a specific person, a valid passport or identity card must be presented.

Fees are charged for certifications in accordance with the State Fees Act for Rhineland-Palatinate. Notarizations in the following matters are free of charge

• work and services, including certificates for obtaining fare reductions,
• Attendance at general and vocational schools and universities, including the certificate for obtaining fare reductions for pupils and students,
• Certifications of transcripts and photocopies of certificates up to the fourth copy for school leavers from general and vocational schools, if the certifications are required for application purposes (training and employment),
• Payment of pensions, widows' and orphans' benefits, sickness benefits, support and the like from public and private funds,
• Clemency matters, social and youth welfare matters and war victims' welfare,
• Proof of need, tax clearance certificates for the award of public contracts.

• Municipal administration
• Municipal administration
• City administration