certifications

general description

In many areas of daily life there is always the need to have one's own signature or copies of important documents notarized.

There are 3 types of certifications:

1. Official certification of photocopies / transcripts
2. Official certification of signatures
3. Public certification of signatures

to 1. Official certification of photocopies / transcripts

The prerequisite for an official certification of photocopies / copies is that the original was issued by a German authority or that the photocopy / copy to be certified is used for submission to an authority. A copy / copy can only be officially certified if the corresponding original is presented.

Officially certified are often

• Certificates from school leavers for applications to universities and technical colleges
• Certificates for registration at master schools
• Medical license certificates
• Evidence of e.g. periods of employment in pension matters

PLEASE NOTE:
Civil status documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates issued by German registry offices may not be officially authenticated.

If a photocopy or copy of a civil status certificate is required, this must be requested directly from the responsible registry office.

to 2. Official authentication of signatures

Official certification of signatures and initials is required if the document to be signed is required by law to be submitted to a German authority.

If a road user requires information from the central traffic register, for example, the signature in the corresponding cover letter to the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg must be officially certified.

If the public certification of a signature is required, this cannot be replaced by an official certification.

to 3. Public certification of signatures

The public certification of a signature is required insofar as it is required by law or for certifications which should not be limited to submission to a specific authority, e.g.

• Deletion permits for entries in the land register,
• Entries or changes in the register of associations.

If in such a matter not only the signature but the entire document is to be certified, this is the case only the notary responsible.

The public certification of a signature can be replaced by a notarial certification. However, if a notarial certification is required by law, this cannot be replaced by a public certification. For example, a property purchase contract with the corresponding signatures always requires notarial certification.

Since the authentication of a signature serves to verify the identity of a specific person, a valid passport or identity card must be presented.

Fees are charged for certifications in accordance with the State Fees Act for Rhineland-Palatinate. Certifications in the following matters are free of charge

• Matters relating to school and university attendance as well as training, further education and further training for the first 3 certifications
• Payment of pensions, widows' and orphans' benefits, sick pay, benefits and the like from public and private funds,
• Matters of clemency, matters of social and youth welfare as well as welfare for war victims,
• Proof of need, tax clearance certificates for the award of public contracts.