Originally Posted By Mr X Okay, I need to provide a notorized OR certified copy of a particular document. So, what's the difference? Which is better? Which is cheaper? Where can I get either/or taken care of, while I'm in Boston (the only place I know to get something notorized is at the Embassy here in Tokyo, pain in the butt...I'm assuming it's easier in Boston when I go there for a visit soon)? Should I do both, just to be safe?
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Depends on the document. Like for court documents you can just call the court where the document is filed and then pay some nominal fee like $20 and then they "stamp" it with their official little court stamp and "certify" that it's a "true" copy of the original. Notarized is usually when someone is signing a document and a Notary Public personally witnesses that signature and vouches for the fact that that person was the one who actually signed the document. Usually pretty cheap unless it's like in The Godfather or something. Can you say what the document is?
Originally Posted By chickendumpling You don't have to of course - in a vacuum certified is easier usually.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <then they "stamp" it with their official little court stamp and "certify" that it's a "true" copy of the original.> Post number "two" was "brought" to you by "quotation marks". ;-) (I get what you were doin' but it's 3:45 a.m. and I couldn't pass it up, Lol)
Originally Posted By chickendumpling post # 3 was brought to you by some smart alec who consistently busts my chops.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling My definitions stand - even if I have only had 6 hours sleep in the last 2 days and left Daytona at 4 am this morning and spent the whole day flying back here to the left coast. So there, chopbuster.
Originally Posted By Mr X It's a copy of a passport (so, already signed and all that, just need to provide a copy so the passport won't be in their hands for 6/8 weeks).
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Well I haven't had to do that before but I think you have to get a certified copy of that from the Dept of State and I think your request has to be notarized. Ah, government at its finest...
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Yeah, I think this might help: <a href="http://travel.state.gov/passport/services/copies/copies_872.html" target="_blank">http://travel.state.gov/passpo rt/services/copies/copies_872.html</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X Thanks for the link, by the way. I don't think I need a copy of the passport "records", per se. Just a copy of the picture page, notarized or certified (whatever that means). Surfing around, I found a page FOR Notary Publics that said (at least for Massachusetts) that they CAN certify a passport. So, I guess I just have to find one. Where might I find one? And how much do they charge? Thanks for your help, CD, by the way.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling No problem. Not sure I've helped at all but no prob. lol. Don't know Boston but usually lawyers offices, real estate offices and really good hotels will have notaries. May want to call the local bar association ahead of time and see if they can hook you up or maybe the consulate of whatever country you are dealing with maybe? Here the can run anywhere from like $5 - $60 for average stuff.
Originally Posted By EdisYoda Look in the yellow pages when you get to Boston. They should be listed there under Notery Public. Most of those private mailbox places either have a notery onsite, or can refer you to one. I'm not sure of the cost, as I think different rules apply for each state (some states may set rates, others may let the market set the rate).
Originally Posted By LuLu Huh! I thought notaries could only charge $10 per signature, I guess that's only in CA. I do know that if you're a client at a bank, they usually have a staff person who'll do it for free. So if you have an account or a friend with an account at a bank in Boston, give 'em a call and see if they'll do that for ya.
Originally Posted By DisneyFreak96 Large bank branches, especially those with international and business customers. The fees are very wide ranged for non-members so I would call around.
Originally Posted By Labuda chickied said: "Don't know Boston but usually lawyers offices, real estate offices and really good hotels will have notaries. May want to call the local bar association ahead of time and see if they can hook you up or maybe the consulate of whatever country you are dealing with maybe? Here the can run anywhere from like $5 - $60 for average stuff." then Lulu said: "I thought notaries could only charge $10 per signature, I guess that's only in CA" And I say, not CA only - max of $10 here in Texas, too - they can get i BIG trouble if they charge more. Dang, chickied - where the heck do you live, girl?
