Justice of the Peace

Back home we have people who can act as a "Justice of the Peace". What that means is that they can certify a copy of a document as being an original copy. People like doctors, police, pharmacists, etc., can all do this.
It's done for free.

I need some documents certified this way and don't want to pay money to a notary. Is there a similar system in Germany?

Thanks for the replies,

Ura

I can't imagine why anyone would do this for free. It's a professional function and implies a level of liability.

When a JP does it the level of liability is very low indeed - all you have to do is compare the copy with the original and you've dispensed your duty AFAIK. Same goes for a notary, except certain inferrences may be made of the certified copy.

Answering the question, no, I don't believe you can do such a thing in Germany - may I ask what the document is and where it's for? If it's for use elsewhere in Europe, particularly for official use, I doubt anything but a notarised copy will do. In other words - no - you have to see a notary.

Priests are allowed to perform this function here in Germany, afik. I had some certificates copied and certified by a priest mate of mine.

Really? Didn't know that. Be curious to know what and where these docs are for - quite a lot will depend on that I should think.

Can you apostille a priest certification?

Everyone knows that a priest wouldn't lie. They have already been certified by a bunch of apostles.

It is called an "Amtliche Beglaubigung" and is allowed to be performed by notaries, civil servants and officers of the church (ie priests).

here is a link:

http://www.zvs.de/Antragstellung/HinweiseA...eglaubigung.htm

At this point I would love to insert the transcript of an affidavit a nun swore before me once. Sadly I can't. Suffice to say that apparently priests don't ALWAYS tell the truth.

I did this in Spain and it was accepted this was in 2000 though. Do not know if it applies in Germany, but would not be surprised. It seems OG did it and it was valid.

btw, getting an "amtliche Beglaubigung" from a Priest will be far cheaper (usually) than from a notary, especially if you know them from your church (or in my case simply go out on the lash with one)

A notary used to charge about €25 for a certified copy - I don't think that fee will have much variation.

Dunno if I'm reading this right, but this wiki link seems to suggest that priests are no longer entitled? Perhaps a better german speaker might cast their eye over this and confirm/deny?

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beglaubigung

Local priest in kinky shocker!

[img]http://www.british-sitcom.co.uk/father_ted/graphics/char_jack.jpg[/img]

Here is the official reading of the law. ==> CLICK
According to that and simply spoken, you may well check with any government agencies and civil services which are entitled to keep an official seal.
There you can inquire to receive an affirmation that the copy matches an original of your documents.
So it is up to you to see either your local priest, savings bank, health insurance company or forest official etc pp.
What fee any of them might charge, I don't know, but it's worth a question, I guess,.

Why would the employee of a health insurance company be a civil servant?
(EDIT: I could imagine that public health insurers like AOK qualify, but why would private health insurers be able to do this? What's so special about health insurance as compared to any other kind of insurance?)

Sorry, I didn't make it clear enough at this point. AOK is exactly what I meant, not private ones.

Topics merged by admin
Hello People,

I have a question: What is a Justice of Peace called in Germany because here exists only "Notar".
I have to sign some papers from a australian court in front of a Justice of Peace. In Australia we can do that in every bank office and it is for free. Where can I do that in Germany? Is it enough to go to a "Notar" and pay him while he is watching me signing or is there a cheaper way to do it?
The embassy in Berlin told me to go to the consulate general in Frankfurt (2 hours drive one way) and sign there, but they couldn't tell if it is possible to sign in front of a "Notar or "Rechtsanwalt" and if the australian court will accept that.
Sounds a little bit weird and it seems difficult to find a comparable profession in Germany

Thanks for your help

Cheers NSW

Wait, wait - you can't ask for a 1-to-1 corresponding function. For certified translations, you go to a sworn translator. For certain health-insurance stuff, the public insurer. For certificates-of-not-being-arrested-too-much (Fuehrungszeugnis) you go to city hall. For every thing, burn burn burn. For Australian requirements, bite it, make it a day trip, and go to the consulate. A Notary here bears responsibility and will charge you - if they're even willing to do things to be certified under Australian law.

I knew people in the U.S. who were notaries, and they were willing to do things for free (e.g. stock tranfer paperwork) but I always gave them a bottle of wine or something. It does imply a measure of liability, and it seems fair to honor their good faith. A bank that does this offers a service to its clients - you'd have to catch them on a good day to get free notarization as a non-customer. But maybe whoever always got it free is from a 'nicer' area.

In Hessen, the certification of signatures and copies is done for a few Euros at an office called "Ortsgericht" in the town hall. In Baden-Württemberg, it's done by the "Amtsschreiber"(probably also at the town hall?), according to the above Wiki link.

Is there some confusion on this thread about the difference between a notary public and a JoP? Or am I the confused one...I saw a guy get put down by a JoP in court, so I always thought they were voluntary magistrates for small claims courts and the like...so a JoP could act as notary, but a notary couldn't always be a JoP (without the training and all that...).

Judiciary of Germany

... Principles of Roman law form the basis of the German judicial system and define a system of justice that differs fundamentally from the common law system ...

You can do it at a Notar (not at a Rechtsanwalt) or as someone else said at the Ortsgericht (Hessen) or Amtschreiber (Baden Würtemberg). You should check with the Aussie court first though as you might need an Apostille or a legalization.