Translated Documents and the Need for Notarization / Apostille
When submitting translated documents, not just for domestic use but also for overseas submission, you may need notarization or an apostille.
These procedures require a visit to a notary office, but not all notary offices handle them in the same way. In reality, each office can differ significantly in its handling and conditions, so caution is needed.
Three Points Where Notary Offices Differ
1. Need for Appointments and Turnaround Speed
Some notary offices require appointments in advance, while others can handle walk-ins on the same day.
Moreover, offices that require appointments fall into two further types:
- Offices that allow appointments only after all documents are fully prepared
- Offices that accept appointments even before documents are fully prepared
If you are in a hurry, the former can delay your procedure, so it is safer to choose an office that accepts flexible appointment scheduling.
2. Differences in How Documents Are Bound
The way documents are processed after notarization also differs by office.
- Stapled once in the upper-left corner
- Stapled three times along the left edge
If the office staples three times along the left, it is smoother to print with extra margins on the left. Without enough margin, signatures and seals may be hidden. If preparing extra margins is difficult, it is safer to choose an office that staples in the upper-left corner.
3. Differences in Staff Response
The biggest difference is in how the notary office's staff respond.
- Offices that help prepare the declaration letter or power of attorney
- Offices that simply say, "Please prepare it yourself"
- Offices that brush you off with "We cannot handle that procedure," even when it actually is possible
The kindness and flexibility of staff differ enormously from place to place. Because re-doing notarization takes a great deal of effort, choosing an office with careful, helpful staff is critical.
The Closest Office Is Not Always the Best
If you choose a notary office only because "it is close," you may find that appointments are unavailable or that the response is inadequate, ending up costing more time and effort.
For that reason, we recommend calling several notary offices in advance to check their conditions and responses.
About Our Services
We provide everything from translation to notarization to apostille in one stop.
Whether it is a translation for overseas submission or the documents needed for the procedure, we can handle it all together.
If you would like to move complex procedures forward smoothly, please feel free to contact us.
