Anyone know a Russian notary in the Birmingham, AL area?

[chade1968]

My daughter went back to Russian alone (14 yo) and they would not let her board the plane in Moscow. He father was dropping her off but his name is not on her birth certicicate and now I must mail new document to Russian notorized in Russian. Thanks for your help!

[Faux Pas]

Can't you have your wife to write it in Russian and then just use a regular American notary?

[chade1968]

That's what I asked too. She said no. It just happened today so we are still in shock.. I will have her call and speak with the rep in Moscow.

[Boethius]

Can't you have your wife to write it in Russian and then just use a regular American notary?

You can't do that because the notary has to know that the document being notarized is a true copy of the original.  So, the notary has to compare the original, Russian document, and a copy, and be satisfied they are the same document.  But, you just need a notary who can understand Russian.  

I'd suggest asking someone from the Russian community there.

[aikorob]

I know it is a 2 hour drive, but there are several we use here in the Atlanta area

[Jack]

PM member WmGo

[SMS60]

You can't do that because the notary has to know that the document being notarized is a true copy of the original.  So, the notary has to compare the original, Russian document, and a copy, and be satisfied they are the same document.  But, you just need a notary who can understand Russian.  

I'd suggest asking someone from the Russian community there.

Ughhhh, I think you are mistaken. A notary just confirms or matches the signature with the person standing before them.  ID matches the person signing and the name on the document.
They could care less what it says or what language.

An Apostille confirms documents and translations. You can have this done by sending what you want to the secretary of state in your state. They will confirm it is what it is and put a seal on it.

You use this for dealing with international type docs

[Boethius]

You are correct that a notary doesn't care what is in the document, but if a notary is certifying that a document is a true copy of the original, he/she must be able to compare that document. 

I am a notary.  I would never notarize a document I could not read.

[SMS60]

I am a notary.  I would never notarize a document I could not read.

This is why there are notaries on every street corner. He should just move on to the next place which has a notary. When he finds the one who follows the law he will be fine.

[OlgaH]

When I had to send a notarized document to Russia I used an American notary with translation services. Russian officials told me that I could use a notary at the Russian embassy or consulate without translation or any American notary but in such case the translation of document must be. Some documents notarized by a regular American notary will be accepted in Russia only with an Apostille.

[acctBill]

Unless notaries in the US are different from those in the UK, American lawyers can do anything a notary can.

[Boethius]

This is why there are notaries on every street corner. He should just move on to the next place which has a notary. When he finds the one who follows the law he will be fine.

Laws vary from place to place, SMS.  No notary where I live would notarize a document he/she could not read or understand, unless all that is being notarized is an Affidavit of Execution. 

[OlgaH]

Ughhhh, I think you are mistaken. A notary just confirms or matches the signature with the person standing before them.  ID matches the person signing and the name on the document.
They could care less what it says or what language.

But Russian officials will care what is written in foreign language by a foreign notary public and will ask for a translation in Russian, and translation also should be notarized   

[SMS60]

But Russian officials will care what is written in foreign language by a foreign notary public and will ask for a translation in Russian, and translation also should be notarized    

Olga quit trying to confuse me :- And you know this depends on the Rubes wrapped up in the document. Sometimes this makes everyone understand everything

[Boethius]

Yes Olga, but if that translated document came to me, I wouldn't notarize it.  I would notarize an affidavit of the translator.

[SMS60]

Yes Olga, but if that translated document came to me, I wouldn't notarize it.  I would notarize an affidavit of the translator.

Why not? You do not have the authority to confirm what the documents are and pass judgement. You are required to confirm the signatures. Thats all. period.

[OlgaH]

Olga quit trying to confuse me :- And you know this depends on the Rubes wrapped up in the document. Sometimes this makes everyone understand everything

Not in my case 

[OlgaH]

Boethius,

in Russia a notary public also will ask for a translation before to notarized a document in foreign language.

[Boethius]

Why not? You do not have the authority to confirm what the documents are and pass judgement. You are required to confirm the signatures. Thats all. period.

No, that's not accurate.  The most common non English language documents I notarize are birth/marriage/death certificates.  If I am asked to notarize a copy of a marriage certificate in say, Mandarin, it is the authenticity of the document itself I am notarizing, not a signature on that document.

If the document is translated, I can notarize an affidavit of the translator, stating that it is a translation of the marriage certificate, a true copy of which is attached, but I am not in a position to notarize the Mandarin marriage certificate.

Boethius,

in Russia a notary public also will ask for a translation before to notarized a document in foreign language.

That makes sense to me. 

[BC]

Apostille anyone?

Best bet is probably the nearest RU consulate.

[SMS60]

Apostille anyone?

Yelp, post #6

[BC]

Yelp, post #6

Yepper. But then believe has to still be legalized at the RU foreign ministry IIRC just like the free to marry certificate. 

Consul is probably the only real alternative.

[Faux Pas]

Wouldn't it depend on the document and the purpose? If it is for the airline and he needs it quick, quite likely a document written in Russian and even a translated to english notarized might suffice. I currently have 6 notaries working for me and they all, only notarize signatures. If it's out of company they check for ID

[Boethius]

Wouldn't it depend on the document and the purpose? If it is for the airline and he needs it quick, quite likely a document written in Russian and even a translated to english notarized might suffice.

Yes, he should ensure he has exactly what they need.

I currently have 6 notaries working for me and they all, only notarize signatures. If it's out of company they check for ID

They're probably notarizing standard documents such as affidavits on real estate contracts?  I notarize a fair number of documents used by Canadians in the US.  Most of those notarizations relate to the execution of documents, and I have to ensure the person signing the document understands its contents.  Different governments have different requirements for notaries as well.  For example, the US Consulates require any Canadian notary to submit a copy of their seal and signature to the consulate.  If a US Consulate doesn't have a copy of the notary's seal and signature before a document is submitted, it won't authenticate (also by notarization) that particular document.

[philb]

PM member WmGo

Jack gave the best advise here.