Signature Certification and Certified Copies

An honorary consul is authorized to certify (or notarize) signatures on many types of German legal documents. It is also possible to certify copies of original documents.

Simple signature certifications that can be performed by an honorary consul include the following documents: Power of Attorney (Vollmacht), Declaration of Approval of a Contract (Genehmigung), Declaration of Renouncement of Inhreitance (Erbausschlagung), and Application for Certificate of Standing/Police Report (Führungszeugnis).

Full signature certifications cannot be performed by an honorary consul, and must be executed at the German Consulate General. For example, an application for a Certificate of Inheritance (Erbschein) can only be certified at the Consulate General.

An honorary consul can also certify copies of original documents to be used with German authorities.

Link to further information about signature certifications.

Please contact our office by telephone or email to confirm that an honorary consul may certify the signature on your document and to schedule an appointment.