Trina Brown, our new Consulate in Cabo, has not yet received her security clearance from Washington that she needs before she can notarize anything.
Her assistant can't do it either.
I am involved in a transaction that's supposed to close by Friday the 6th, and I need the services of an American notary without having to go to
Tijuana or the mainland to an American Consulate. The state in which the sale is located will not accept a Mexican notary. Does anyone have any
knowledge on how to handle this locally, like maybe a local branch of an American insurance company?
Ms. Brown says there are many of us in BCS with a similar problem, with a lot of issues backed up because the Consulate was closed for so long.
Please U2U me or respond on the board, depending on whether or not discretion is required. Mil gracias, bajajazzWoooosh - 3-2-2009 at 02:23 PM
It is my understanding that a USA notary cannot do notary services in Mexico. If you are talking about a Mexican Notary- those are few and far
between. They really don't do the same things.DENNIS - 3-2-2009 at 02:26 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
It is my understanding that a USA notary cannot do notary services in Mexico. If you are talking about a Mexican Notary- those are few and far
between. They really don't do the same things.
That was my understanding as well. Maybe in the embassy, it's considered U.S. territory.BajaBruno - 3-2-2009 at 03:01 PM
I am also informed that a notary public commission is issued by a US State and can only certify signatures within the boundary of that state.
Unfortunately for you, "Consular Officers perform notary services customarily provided by Notaries Public in the United States" [US Embassy quote].
The Mexican notary is a completely different animal than the US version--similar to a Louisiana notary, and very expensive to contract with.DENNIS - 3-2-2009 at 03:05 PM
Bajajazz needs a U.S. notary. Not a Notario Publico.Hook - 3-2-2009 at 03:20 PM
Check flights from Cabo to Hermosillo or TJ. That may be your only hope. US Consulate in Hermosillo.bajabound2005 - 3-2-2009 at 03:25 PM
As a former Notary Public from California, I can tell you it would be illegal for a Notary to notarize a document outside of the US. That doesn't
mean they don't do it.ckiefer - 3-2-2009 at 04:01 PM
I recently had the need for a notary here in Cabo. I was referred to Notary #1 who would perform this service for $90 USD. There are Notaries who
can perform the services for business purposes, Notary #1 does it for personal services i.e. POA etc.
I don't know if this is recognized in the U.S.BajaNuts - 3-2-2009 at 05:38 PM
clarify please, you are buying a property in USA and you are in La Paz?
Check out "apostille"...We had to do this when I was in La Paz and Hubby was in WA state. I believe it is reciprical. Since notary requirements and
licensing are different in different countries, the process of apostille ensures the government of one country that the notary of the other country is
in good standing, properly licensed, and that their notary service can be accepted by the other government as true.
For our situation, hubby went to the local notary in WA state, signed papers and had them notarized. He then had to send the notarized papers to a
Washington state agency (I'll find out more and post that later) who checked out the notary and the state signed off on the documents which were then
UPS'd down to La Paz. The documents from WA state ensured that the Notario in La Paz could accept them as legal documents.
When we sent the papers to the WA state agency, we had to list the country that they were to be approved for. It was our understanding that it should
work the other way also. Somehow there should be a way for a Mexican notario to get an apostille for USA or whichever particular state you are
dealing with.bajaguy - 3-2-2009 at 05:47 PM
the agency is the Secretary of State for whatever state you are inBajaNuts - 3-2-2009 at 05:55 PM
each state offers the apostille service for documents signed in that state, it's usually the secretary of state office that does the service.
AND CHECK THIS ONE OUT!
this is kind of long, but if you scroll down the page it lists the countries and for Mexico, it has several authorities including one in La Paz! http://www.shirleytrust.com/Resources/apostille.htm
You may still have some time crunch due to shipping the documents, but you should be able to get them up to the US in a couple days.
hope this helps, good luck.....
Notary, apostille, etc.
bajajazz - 3-2-2009 at 08:50 PM
Thanks for the input, guys and gals. My situation is that I'm selling real property in the U.S. and the buyer suddenly wants an accelerated close of
escrow. I had planned on using the Consulate in Cabo and thought I had until the end of the month to handle this.
The apostille thing might work if time is not a consideration. John Glaab at Linda Neil's Settlement Company kindly emailed me an artilcle describing
how it works. It's good knowledge to have even if it doesn't fit my particular situation.
It looks like I'll have to use Volaris to fly up to Tijuana and sign the closing papers at the Consulate there. Bummer! I hate the Tijuana airport
and don't care much for Volaris, either.
Thank you all for your interest and willingness to help me out. Best regards to you all. Bajajazz
! PANIC OVER !
bajajazz - 3-3-2009 at 02:56 PM
Just got word from my title company that an Apostille will work and in that state at least an approval by the Secretary of State is not necessary.
Big relief for us, as we were not looking forward to a 2,000 mile roundtrip to TJ to accomplish a five minute thing. I have a copy of the Apostille
and will save it in case any of you have a need for it. Thanks, bajajazz
