Posted by RedBaron/IN on 8/1/11 4:12pm
Msg #392203

Notarize a grade transcript

A caller ask me to notarze his grades that it is a true copy. I told him that I could only notarize his signature providing he produced government issued ID. Am I right or wrong? You advise please.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 8/1/11 4:31pm
Msg #392208

Depending on the requester and reason for the request,

usually only a certified copy issued by the educational institution is acceptable, and the practice used to be that the certified copies were sent from the school in a sealed env with a stamp across the glued flap to insure it has not been tampered with.

As to "government issued ID," go to your state law/handbook.

As to Certifying a copy, go to your state law/handbook.

Reply by SouthernOK on 8/1/11 5:04pm
Msg #392218

Agree as above with conditions

Back when dinosaurs roamed the college campuses, registrar offices had secure fax lines that sent official transcripts directly to other educational institutions. I believe they are all but gone now.

In todays educational game the unsealed copy means nothing to anyone. It might be good enough to review credits but a student won't be fully enrolled without an official transcript. That official transcript must be embossed and sealed by the institution issuing it. Once it's sealed the student can address and forward it to the place of their choice. Colleges/Universities can charge if they have to mail a transcript but most offer a few copies free if you come and pick them up in person, then you just address and stamp!

An official "copy" isn't what the kid asked for but it's what they needed. You might tell the student that you know an ex-prof and she said you always keep an extra official/sealed copy in your academic records...my students always got this lecture.

In the last 12 years I haven't seen anything across the envelope flap but I do that on my letters of recommendation.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 8/1/11 5:34pm
Msg #392223

Ha! Dinosaurs - Mid-termadactyl and Finalsaurus Rex. n/m

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 8/1/11 6:56pm
Msg #392235

Florida notaries can issue "attested copies"

Essentially, we certify copies of driver licenses, passports - any original document aside from vital records and publicly-recorded documents. A diploma is an original document - a transcript is not - a transcript is issued by an educational institution. Even in states where notaries can issue certified copies, transcripts can not be certified.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/1/11 7:43pm
Msg #392244

I think that's the apostille service Paul used to do. n/m

Reply by Roger_OH on 8/1/11 9:15pm
Msg #392247

The caller asked if the IN notary could certify the true copy; maybe that's all that whomever was requestiing the copy needed. It might not necessarily be an educational institution.

If IN doesn't permit notaries to certify copies, then the caller can write a statement that HE/SHE attests it is a true copy, and then have his signature on the statement notarized.

Either way, the copy is certified as true, and that's what the caller was requesting.

Reply by Linda_in_MI on 8/2/11 7:03am
Msg #392262

Re: Notarize a grade transcript - exchange student?

I was contacted earlier this year by an exchange student from Spain who was ending a year of study here in Michigan. He needed his transcript and grades notarized to fulfill requirements for graduation in Spain. I explained--or tried to--that I couldn't notarize the grades, but only a signature attesting/acknowledging as to the accuracy of the grades. So someone could write a statement acknowledging/attesting that the grades were accurate and I would be able to notarize that statement. It surprised me that the schools didn't have someone on staff who had the ability to handle the task.