HEALTH & WEALTH: The neccessity of Apostille
Last week, Roger (an old client) called me requesting help and assistance for his nephew who experienced problems on documents notarized by a novice Notary Public, which were returned for apostille.
After further conversation, I found out that his nephew had a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) notarized by a novice Notary Public without being apostilled. The novice Notary Public didn’t advise his nephew that the notarized SPA must be apostilled by the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California to be valid and legal in the Philippines.
Roger, who had been reading my columns on apostille and notarization in the weekly PHILIPPINE NEWS TODAY, requested me to help his nephew. I told Roger to bring the notarized SPA to my home office in San Francisco, California. Through our Mobile Signing Services (MSS), we’ll submit the notarized SPA to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California for apostille.
Since there are still many (including novice Notary Public) who do not realize and fully understand the necessity of apostille, I would like to share to our readers and the general public excerpts of the Special Notice from the Legal Section of the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California on the Accession of the Philippines to the Apostille Convention as of May 14, 2019, as follows:
“Philippine Consulate shall no longer issue Authentication Certificate (red ribbon) to documents notarized or apostilled in the states under its jurisdiction namely: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington State, Northern Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Northern California.
If you notarized documents before 14 May 2019, the Philippine Consulate will (1) will accept it for authentication (red ribbon) or (2) you may advise the applicant to secure an Apostille. On the other hand, if you notarized documents from 14 May, 2019 onward, we will no longer authenticate said documents. The applicant must forward it to the issuing State/Competent Authority for the issuance of Apostille Certificate.
Please note that apostilled documents no longer need additional authentication by the Philippine Consulate General. Once apostilled, it already has legal validity and can be sent to the Philippines for use.”
It’s very unfortunate that the nephew of my old client Roger sought the services of a novice Notary Public. As accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE# 00535976) in California since 1981, I always advice and remind all my old and new clients that notarized SPA, Affidavits and other documents needed in the Philippines must be apostilled first by the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, California before being sent to the Philippines. Once apostilled, the notarized documents have legal validity and can be sent to the Philippines for use.
If the nephew of our old client Roger originally sought the unique and complete services at Mobile Signing Services (MSS), he could have avoided the following:
1. The notarized documents should have not been returned;
2. Should have not experienced delay in the submission of needed documents in the Philippines;
3. Should have avoided spending extra and unnecessary expenses;
4. Should have avoided unexpected pressure and worries.
WE, at MSS, are committed and dedicated to assist and help old and new clients (particularly the veterans, elderly and those physically handicapped) in the notarization and apostille follow-up of Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney (SPA), DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Proof of Life, DEED OF DONATION, Parental Travel Permit (PTM), Waiver of Rights, Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention.
For immediate assistance and help in the signing, notarization and apostille follow up of all 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
If you live in San Jose/ Silicon Valley and need immediate help for the signing, notarization and apostille follow up of documents needed in the Philippines, just visit or contact our partner JEVI ESPANOLA OCLARIT at: Farmers Insurance, 16 Corning Avenue, Suite 266, Milpitas, CA 95035 Tel. (408)854-4274.
(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #00635976) in California since 1981. He is the 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.)
