" I've done things for people before with docs that were going out of the country. I've always had people do Copy Certification By Document Custodian for that."
I'm also confused by the above statement. When you say, "I've always had people do Copy Certification By Document Custodian for that". This statement leads me to believe that you are telling them, this is the way to do it.
He did sign, print his name and dated the degree. Yes it was his signature that I was notarizing. He did not ask me to validate the degree.
Yeah, I'm confused as well. If he printed HIS name and signed it... then where's the problem? You don't notarize the content of a document, you notarize the signature of the person in front of you. The content of the document is not your concern.
I told him that the person who's degree it was needed to come in and do it.
I don't agree with that. Especially if he chose a jurat.
Consider somebody such as a school administrator being asked to certify that a document is genuine, such as a degree. It's not that person's name on the degree... but it doesn't matter. If the person in front of you want to sign a sworn statement saying that something is true, then that's what they want to do.
There is NO requirement that a document requiring a jurat be signed by a person named in the document. It's is simply a statement that they are saying the contents of the document are accurate. Frankly, it's none of our business why somebody is swearing to the contents of the document. I would have done this, without any problem.
All the apostille is going to do is verify YOUR signature and seal. Ultimately, it's up to the document receiver to determine if they will accept it or not, not you. You shouldn't worry about the apostille process... unless of course your commission isn't valid, then you're in trouble.
As long as you ID the person in front of you and notarize his signature, what's the big deal? Remember that a notarization does NOT change the legality or "status" of the information in a document. It only verifies that you are reasonably sure the person in front of you is who they claim to be (according to their ID and signature) and, that they signed the document and, if required, swore/affirmed the contents of the document.
NOW... the only way I would have declined this would have been if the statement the guy signed somehow said that "This is a copy of my degree..." or something similar. But even then... you're treading on thin ice because what if that person had a legal name change? If the person in front of you is willing to swear, under oath, that the contents of a document are true, then that's THEIR problem if they lie, not yours. The only way you'd be in trouble is if you knew the person was lying. And in this case... what's the problem? He was swearing that the copy was an accurate copy of the original document, right? Well, unless you see evidence to the contrary, then what's the problem?
Let's say I have some medical documents for my husband and we have to submit "certified" copies for a hearing. My husband is disabled so I often do these things for him. I can take copies and attach any statement I wish stating that those are accurate copies, swear to it under oath and having my signature notarized. Let me tell you, if that notary put up a fuss and told me that my husband had to be the one to sign that statement and argued with me over it because it was *his* name on the papers... I'd be filling out a complaint form to the Secretary of State alleging refusal of a lawful request.
@mharmon wrote:
He did sign, print his name and dated the degree. Yes it was his signature that I was notarizing. He did not ask me to validate the degree.
Yeah, I'm confused as well. If he printed HIS name and signed it... then where's the problem? You don't notarize the content of a document, you notarize the signature of the person in front of you. The content of the document is not your concern.
I told him that the person who's degree it was needed to come in and do it.
I don't agree with that. Especially if he chose a jurat.
Consider somebody such as a school administrator being asked to certify that a document is genuine, such as a degree. It's not that person's name on the degree... but it doesn't matter. If the person in front of you want to sign a sworn statement saying that something is true, then that's what they want to do.
There is NO requirement that a document requiring a jurat be signed by a person named in the document. It's is simply a statement that they are saying the contents of the document are accurate. Frankly, it's none of our business why somebody is swearing to the contents of the document. I would have done this, without any problem.
All the apostille is going to do is verify YOUR signature and seal. Ultimately, it's up to the document receiver to determine if they will accept it or not, not you. You shouldn't worry about the apostille process... unless of course your commission isn't valid, then you're in trouble.
As long as you ID the person in front of you and notarize his signature, what's the big deal? Remember that a notarization does NOT change the legality or "status" of the information in a document. It only verifies that you are reasonably sure the person in front of you is who they claim to be (according to their ID and signature) and, that they signed the document and, if required, swore/affirmed the contents of the document.
NOW... the only way I would have declined this would have been if the statement the guy signed somehow said that "This is a copy of my degree..." or something similar. But even then... you're treading on thin ice because what if that person had a legal name change? If the person in front of you is willing to swear, under oath, that the contents of a document are true, then that's THEIR problem if they lie, not yours. The only way you'd be in trouble is if you knew the person was lying. And in this case... what's the problem? He was swearing that the copy was an accurate copy of the original document, right? Well, unless you see evidence to the contrary, then what's the problem?
Let's say I have some medical documents for my husband and we have to submit "certified" copies for a hearing. My husband is disabled so I often do these things for him. I can take copies and attach any statement I wish stating that those are accurate copies, swear to it under oath and having my signature notarized. Let me tell you, if that notary put up a fuss and told me that my husband had to be the one to sign that statement and argued with me over it because it was *his* name on the papers... I'd be filling out a complaint form to the Secretary of State alleging refusal of a lawful request.
Thank you for the detailed post, very nice of you to share your experience.
I'll definitely think about it.
@ailmar wrote:
I alerted him that I would not be able to do it since his name was the one on the document.
My question is WHY did you tell him that? The apostille doesn't matter.
