Apostille - where do I get one?

General Discussion
1

I have been asked to attach an apostille to a power of attorney document. Apparently an apostille is a document that confirms that the notaire I use is an authorised notaire. Does anyone know where i go for an apostille - is it eg the local prefecture or mairie ?

2

Thanks for that Alex. Happy with the process now - its just how long it might take the french bureaucrats that worries me!

1 Like
3

Your local Court of Appeal. Normally, your notary should be able to deal with this as he/she was the one who signed the document. It usually entails sending the original document to the Court of Appeal and requesting an Apostille under the Hague Convention. It isn't a document, but generally a seal (nowadays a printed / stamped seal) that is added to the original document.

As I only just noticed that the answer had already been provided, I'll just add that this is quite a common requirement for documents intended for Spanish speaking countries and Latin America, and some Asian countries.

4

Hi Catherine, I went this pm to the Notaire. He signed and stamped the power of attorney document (which was in both Spanish and French as its being used by a Spanish gestor). I gave him photocopies of my passport which he signed and stamped. He then demanded 120 euros ! attached a form and posted the lot off to a "ministerial" office in Riom (a city about 2 hours drive away). He expects it to return with an apostille attached in about 8 - 10 days (I've heard that before!) . So there's the answer - your local notaire will sort out an apostille for you.

5

Nick,

I’d be very interested in what the notaire says. Thanks.

6

Thanks Catherine - but - a recent European law demands that documents like a power of attorney, witnessed/signed by a notaire are to be accompanied by two supporting documents: an apostille which is a government document confirming that the Notaire is an authorised Notaire, and secondly by a copy of passports also signed and stamped by the notaire. I shall visit the Notaire today and ask him where i get an apostille

7

I thought from the notaire–our local notaire did this for me for my birth certificate–in my case he was attesting that I was the person on the birth certifcate (I took my passport). He stamped it and signed over the stamp, dated, etc. Best thing, he didn’t charge.

8

Can you,tell me where in France you are? I need an Apostille but I am in VAr.

9

The page I link to below gives the information to cover most situations. Note that the law has recently changed (March 2020) to allow some documents to be notarized at a regional level by the Presidents of the Regional (or Interregional) Notarial Association:

https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1400#:~:text=Vous%20devez%20adresser%20votre%20demande,formulaire%20ou%20sur%20papier%20libre.

10

That’s largely for French documents going elsewhere…I’m sort of presuming the OP is wanting a foreign document authenticated for using here?

Like this

https://www.cours-appel.justice.fr/aix-en-provence/apostilles

11

Thank you!