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An apostille verifies the signatures and seals contained within a legal document whereas notarization witnesses and certifies the authenticity of signatures.

An apostille is a document that verifies that the signatures and seals contained within a document are legally valid and can be accepted as such internationally whereas notarization witnesses and certifies the authenticity of a document’s signatures.

The authority to validate a document’s legitimacy for an apostille is federally approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Pakistan. In nutshell, a notary is an individual that verifies the legal validity of a document’s signatures, an apostille is a document that guarantees the international validity of a document.

Both apostille and notary guarantee the legal validity of a signed document, an apostille and notarization are not the same procedures. The main difference between the two is that notarization ensures a document will be accepted as legally binding within Pakistan as long as it is notarized according to the governmental guidelines where the

RIZWAN & ASSOCIATES - LLP | APOSTILLE & NOTARIZATION

document is signed. On the other hand, an apostille guarantees that a document signed and notarized within Pakistan will be valid and accepted in any country participating in the Hague Convention of 1961.

NOTARIZATION SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS

Notarization is a process of having a document verified and authentication by a licensed Notary Public, who witnesses and certifies the signatures on the document, thereby providing legal assurance and preventing fraud. A Notary Public is an authorized legal professional who is licensed by the government to witness and authenticate / verify the signatures on the documents.

The process involves the Notary Public to verify the identity of the person / individual who is singing the document and ensuring that the document is genuine. The Notary Public also makes sure that the person is singing the document voluntarily and is not under any pressure. After satisfaction, the Notary Public then add the official seal and their signatures, thereby certifying the authenticity of the document and that the individual who signed it is who they claim to be.

The types of documents that can be notarized in Pakistan can vary, but commonly the documents that are notarized include affidavits, power of attorneys and contracts. Notarization is typically required for documents that need to be used for legal or official purposes.

It is important to note that notarization is not the same as legalization as it is a separate procedure. Notarization simply certifies the authenticity of the document and the individual signing it, whereas, legalization is an additional step that is required for the use of documents internationally.

HOW RA-LLP MAY HELP?

While the purpose of an apostille and notary services may seem similar, apostilles specifically function as a way of upholding an internationally recognized standard for document verification. Although the procedure for obtaining an apostille has different requirements than notarization, RA-LLP can help you streamline the process by ensuring your documents are complete, valid, and ready to go.

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