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Pennsylvania Statutes Title 57 Pa.C.S.A. Notaries Public § 314. Foreign notarial act

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) (Reserved).

(b) Effect.--

(1) This subsection applies to a notarial act:

(i) performed under authority and in the jurisdiction of a foreign state or constituent unit of the foreign state; or

(ii) performed under the authority of a multinational or international governmental organization.

(2) A notarial act under paragraph (1) has the same effect under the law of this Commonwealth as if performed by a notarial officer of this Commonwealth.

(c) Conclusive establishment.--If the title of office and indication of authority to perform notarial acts in a foreign state appears in a digest of foreign law or in a list customarily used as a source for that information, the authority of an officer with that title to perform notarial acts is conclusively established.

(d) Prima facie evidence.--The signature and official stamp of an individual holding an office described in subsection (c) are prima facie evidence that:

(1) the signature is genuine; and

(2) the individual holds the designated title.

(e) Hague Convention.--

(1) This subsection applies to an apostille which is:

(i) in the form prescribed by the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961;  1 and

(ii) issued by a foreign state party to the Hague Convention.

(2) An apostille under paragraph (1) conclusively establishes that:

(i) the signature of the notarial officer is genuine; and

(ii) the notarial officer holds the indicated office.

(f) Consular authentications.--

(1) This subsection applies to a consular authentication:

(i) issued by an individual designated by the United States Department of State as a notarizing officer for performing notarial acts overseas; and

(ii) attached to the record with respect to which the notarial act is performed.

(2) A consular authentication under paragraph (1) conclusively establishes that:

(i) the signature of the notarial officer is genuine; and

(ii) the notarial officer holds the indicated office.

(g) Definition.--As used in this section, the term “foreign state” means a government other than the United States, a state or a federally recognized Indian tribe.

1 Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, done at The Hague on October 5, 1961, T.I.A.S. No. 10072, 1981 WL 375769.
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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 57 Pa.C.S.A. Notaries Public § 314. Foreign notarial act - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-57-pacsa-notaries-public/pa-csa-sect-57-314/

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