As accredited and commissioned Notary Public in California since 1981 and founder of Mobile Signing Services (MSS) and member of the National Notary Association (NNA), I just received an informative article “Do Notaries issue ‘apostilles?”from the NNA Weekly Bulletin.

For the information and guidance of our readers and the general public, I would like to share excerpts of the informative article, as follows:

“An apostille is a certificate authenticating  the signature and seal of the officer performing the notarization on a document being sent between countries that have ratified  The HCCH Apostille Convention.

Basically, apostille confirms to the document’s  recipient that the individual  who notarized the document had a valid commission at the time of notarization. Without an apostille attached, a document sent between countries  must go through a much lengthier  authentication process  by several different agencies in order to be accepted.

Many people mistakenly believe that apostilles  are issued directly by Notaries. Only an authorized “competent authority” under the  HCCH Apostille Convention (also known as “The Hague Convention”) – typically the Secretary of State’s Office or other  Notary-regulating agency – is authorized to issue apostilles.

If a signer asks for an apostille, they will have to submit the document to the appropriate competent authority, which will typically process and attach an apostille to the notarized document for a fee.

Some signers may ask if you can courier  their document to the Secretary of State or appropriate government office to obtain  the apostille/certificate of authority for them.

Notaries who live in areas with access  to the appropriate office  sometimes offer this service for an additional fee.

We at the Mobile Signing Services (MSS) are committed and dedicated to assist and help old and new clients in the signing and notarization of documents as well as the submission of notarized documents for apostille at the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, California Here are some advantages and benefits with MSS:

1.    AVOID TAKE OFF FROM WORK – -You don’t have to take off from work and drive to Sacramento, California just to submit notarized documents for apostille at the Secretar of State, Notary Public Section;

2.    VERY FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS – We offer very flexible appointments  in the signing and notarization of documents for old and new clients during regular office hours, after office hours and weekends except on Sundays;

3.    FLEXIBLE LOCATION OF APPOINTMENTS –   For those who can’t come to our home-office in San Francisco, California, we can do the signing and notarization of documents for old and new clients in the privacy of homes, offices, schools, restaurants, hospitals, BART lobby, USPS Post Office Station lobby and other locations;

4.    FREE PARKING – When we had our office at the Philippine Center near the Philippine Consulate Office, our old clients were complaining for the expensive parking fees. With our Home-Office in San Francisco, California, old and new clients NOW have FREE parking in our driveway and in the available street parking spaces nearby completely FREE;

5.    DISCOUNTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS – We offer special discounts for the elderly and veterans;

6.    MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND MULTIPLE SIGNATURES DISCOUNT – We offer 5% to 10% discounts on multiple documents and multiple signatures with old and new clients;

7.    SAVINGS ON GAS AND MILEAGE FEES — We encourage our old and new clients to come to our Home-Office in San Francisco, California for savings on gas and mileage fees ($60 to $130);

8.    DOCUMENTS PREPARATION DISCOUNTS ––  Through our para legal and lawyer-friends, we offer discount  in the drafting, preparation and copying of documents with old and new clients;

9.    CONVENIENCE AND PEACE OF MIND —– With our efficient, prompt and complete services, old and new clients can have total convenience and peace of mind. Most of time it is more convenient and economical for you to avail yourself with the professional and unique services at MSS.

For assistance and immediate help in the signing, notarization and apostille submission and follow up of  Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney (SPA), Last Will and Testament, DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Proof of Life, Parental Travel Permit (PTP), Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Partition, Waiver of Rights and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of The Hague 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 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.)