Posted by Anonymous on 5/10/06 10:53am
Msg #118829

certifying a translation

Hello,
Someone asked me to notarize a birth certificate that was translated into english. The person didn't sign anything. He says it needs to be oficial. How would I notarize this? Can I do an acknowledgement for this? This is the first time some has asked me to do this. I'm not sure how to go about?

Any help please,
Thank you

Erika

Reply by whitesatin on 5/10/06 11:36am
Msg #118838

Hi Erika,

If you have the 2006 California notary Law Primer, look on page 11.

Can I certify a copy of a birth certificate?

No, California Notaries are authorized to certify copies only of powers of attorney and, if requested by the Secretary of State, entries in their official journals of notarial acts.

Some states do allow Notaries to certify copies, but copies of documents that are either public records or publicly recordable should never be certified by Notaries. Only an officer in a bureau of vital statistics should certify a copy of a birth certificate or other vital public record; a Notary's "certification" of a birth or death record may actually lend credibility to a counterfeit or tampered document. Only a county recording official should certify a copy of a deed or other recordable instrument.

While certifying copies of vital records is prohibited, a Notary may notarize an affidavit of a person requesting a certified copy of a birth or death certificate.

In states allowing Notary-certified copies, the types of documents that Notaries may properly certify copies of are original personal papers, such as letters and college diplomas, and in-house business documents.

Reply by Erika Murillo on 5/10/06 11:49am
Msg #118844

Hello, Thanks for your response. I did read that, but I'm not notarizing the birth certificate. I'm notarizing the translation from spanish to english. Is that still notarizing the birth certificate? I guess I'm looking at the translation purpose. Is this still not correct?

I really don't want to do this wrong.

Thank you.

Reply by janCA on 5/10/06 11:56am
Msg #118847

There is a document called "Copy Certification by document custodian", wherein the signer is stating the document is a true and exact copy of the correct and complete original document. I think I would call the SOS on this before proceeding.

Reply by janCA on 5/10/06 11:43am
Msg #118841

Erika, you cannot certify the actual birth certificate, only POA's and line items in the journal can be certified by CA law. Certified copies of birth certificates can only be made by the State Registrar's office.

Reply by SDgirl_CA on 5/10/06 12:05pm
Msg #118851

Erika

Please email me directly and I can sned you a document that I have.

Reply by Gerry_VT on 5/10/06 12:34pm
Msg #118856

Why not have the person with the certificate to ask the consulate of the country where the birth occured for help?

Reply by MelissaCT on 5/11/06 12:42pm
Msg #119144

You can only notarize a signature. If the person isn't signing anything -- you have nothing to notarize.

In CT, a notary can't notarize a document that they translated. I would have to only notarize the signature of the person who states that the translation is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and belief (jurat). However, I cannot choose the form to be used. The document producer or signer would ahve to know what type of notarial act needed to be performed.

So, in answer to your question (I believe I read it correctly) - no. You can't notarize the translation.