Finding a notary in France / Italy

7/5/2019 1:13:12 PM

While most advice on the internet is that only the US Consulates can notarize, I took #missvea’s advice and asked a “notaire” to “certify” my signature. The stamps & process are nearly identical to the notary process in the US. Honestly, it looks just like a US notarization. And there is law (Hague Convention?) that states that the US must recognize notarizations from almost all countries, with the exception of a short list. In fact, I spoke to someone at the US Consulate in Marseilles who told me that they often use local “notaires” as well as the local city hall to notarize documents themselves for the US. So I am left feeling like there is a problem with the semantics and that one can, in fact, get a US document notarized in France by a “notaire”. Just ask for a signature certification. (Even though a “notaire”, as many will point out, is not the same as a US “notary”.) Also, I was told that the US Passport office would accept this, although, in the end, due to a FedEx snafu, it’s not what I ended up using. (The passport office actually accepted an emailed copy of a notarization from the consulate. But that’s part of the longer story of our minor child’s emergency passport ordeal.)

6/20/2017 2:45:57 PM

I had a signature certified today (June 2017) by a notary in Montpellier and it was really simple and easy.

I called the notary nearest me and asked if they would certify a signature (“certifier une signature”). They said no problem, that I could stop by anytime. I showed up, signed the document in front of him, and showed my passport as ID. He certified my signature with an official stamp.

The whole thing took 90 seconds and he didn’t even charge me.

The document was in English (no French translation), but the notary didn’t mind because, as he said, he was only certifying the signature, not the contents of the document.

Thought I would share this here as my experience was so different from everything I had read online about France: going to city hall, needing an official translation, paying $50 at the US embassy, etc.

It was just as straightforward as having something notarized in Canada.

Unrelated: I’ve also had a document notarized in Indonesia (long story) and it was equally easy.

9/29/2011 10:08:17 AM

There is a list of Italian lawyers and notaries published by the Canadians. Maybe this might help you:

http://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/eng/document.jsp?did=6763

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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