Health & Wealth (Art Gabot Madlaing): Apostille of notarized documents by Secretary of State
As an accredited and commissioned Notary Public and founder of Mobile Signing Services (MSS) I continue to receive calls from old and new clients asking if we still do authentication (red ribbon) follow of notarized documents with the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California.
I explained to them that as of May 14, 2019, the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California no longer authenticate (red ribbon) notarized documents, but must now be submitted to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California, for apostille.
For guidance and information of our readers and the general public, I would like to share excerpts of the Special Notice from the Philippine Consulate, Legal Section, in San Francisco, California on the Accession of the Philippines to the Apostille Convention, as follows:
“Philippine Consulate shall no longer issue Authentication Certificate (red ribbon) for documents notarized or apostilled in the States under its jurisdiction namely: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington State, Northern Nevada, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and Northern California.
If you notarized documents before 14 May 2019, the Philippine Consulate will (1) still accept it for authentication (red ribbon) or (2) you may advice the applicant to secure an Apostille. On the other hand, if you notarized documents from 14 May 2019 onwards, we will no longer authenticate said documents. The applicant should it to the issuing State/Competent Authority for the issuance of an Apostille Certificate.
Please note that apostilled document/s no longer need additional authentication by the Philippine Consul General. Once apostilled, it already has legal validity and can be sent to the Philippines for use.
APPRECIATION AND COMMENDATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
As an accredited and commissioned Notary Public in California since 1981, I would like to express my personal appreciation and commendation to Dr. Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., our new Secretary of State in California.
She responded to my series of requests to open the Front Desk at the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, California for faster processing of submitted notarized documents for apostille. When the Front Desk was still closed the apostille processing of submitted notarized documents needed in the Philippines was 5-10 days.
Now that the Front Desk at the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California finally opened the apostille processing of submitted notarized documents is very fast. Today, my beloved wife and I normally drive to Sacramento from our home in San Francisco, California in the morning to submit notarized documents needed in the Philippines for apostille at the Front Desk of the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section. We’ll wait for the release of the apostilled documents in the afternoon, which is one-day turn around.
I would like also to express my personal thanks and appreciation to the very friendly, hospitable and efficient staff at the Front Desk of the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California. Last week I met Alfred Lopez, a Filipino staff at the Front Desk, who completed the apostille processing of the notarized documents I submitted efficiently and promptly.
We, at Mobile Signing Services (MSS), are committed and dedicated to assist and help old and new clients (particularly the elderly and veterans) in the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up of Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney, Proof of Life, Parental Travel Permit (PTP), DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement and other documents needed in the Philippines. Here are some advantages and benefits with MSS:
1, AVOID TAKE OFF FROM WORK – You don’t need to take off from work and drive to Sacramento just to submit notarized documents to the Secretary o State, Notary Public Section, for apostille. MSS will take care everything for you.
2. DISCOUNTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS – We offer special discounts to the elderly and veterans.
3. VERY FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS – We offer flexible appointments for old and new clients during regular office hours, after office hours and weekends except on Sundays.
4. FREE PARKING – When we had our Office at the Philippine Center near the Philippine Consulate, our old clients were complaining for the expensive parking fees. With our home office, old and new clients now have FREE parking in our driveway and street parking spaces nearby.
5. SAVINGS ON GAS AND MILEAGE FEES – We encourage our old and new clients to come to our home office in San Francisco to save on gas and mileage fees ($60 to $130).
6. FLEXIBLE LOCATION OF APPOINTMENTS – For those who can’t come to our home office in San Francisco, we can do signing and notarization of documents in the privacy of homes, offices, schools, restaurants, BART lobby, hospitals, USPS lobby and other locations.
7.MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND MULTIPE SIGNATURES DISCOUNTS- We offer 5% to 10% discounts on multiple documents and multiple signatures for old and new clients.
8. CONVENIENCE AND PEACE OF MIND – You have total convenience and peace of mind with the complete, efficient, unique and prompt services at MSS.
For immediate help and assistance in the signing, notarization and apostille follow up of Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention, just write or contact: MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584-7095 or email: artmadlaing@hotmail.com
(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #00635976) in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA.)
