USA Notary Service in Thailand besides Embassy?

[BobTH]

I will likely need to have up to 10 documents notarized in the near future on a property I will purchase in the USA. Knowing the US Embassy charges $50 per document it could get expensive very fast. Does anyone know of any other options for simple notary services that would be valid in the USA  at a more reasonable price? I was thinking maybe someone would know a lawyer or tax filing person that still holds notary credentials for the USA. Thanks in advance.

 

 

Edited December 23, 2018 by BobTH

[4MyEgo]

I recently required a document to be certified by a Justice of the Peace here in Thailand and found out that they do not have any JP's in Thailand.

 

The Notary market here has been rounded up by the law society, so the majority of Notary's here are lawyers and from my experience charge 1,700 baht per document, however it gets cheaper for more documents, so they might work out to be cheaper than your embassy if you can negotiate a discount, just got to make sure they are who they say they are.

 

As for me sorting my document out, I went back to Sydney a few months later and had a JP sign it for free, I also had the option of travelling to the embassy to get it done for $50US.

 

[BobTH]

8 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I recently required a document to be certified by a Justice of the Peace here in Thailand and found out that they do not have any JP's in Thailand.

 

The Notary market here has been rounded up by the law society, so the majority of Notary's here are lawyers and from my experience charge 1,700 baht per document, however it gets cheaper for more documents, so they might work out to be cheaper than your embassy if you can negotiate a discount, just got to make sure they are who they say they are.

 

As for me sorting my document out, I went back to Sydney a few months later and had a JP sign it for free, I also had the option of travelling to the embassy to get it done for $50US.

 

Thanks for your input and good information for me to know. I am not 100% sure yet of what I will need, a US lawyer is going to be contacting me and I am just looking for options when it happens. 1,700 just seems like highway robbery to me but it is what it is. Thanks again.

 

[Jingthing]

This may be another option but cost is even more, 79 USD for each signature done outside the U.S. --

https://www.notarycam.com/

 

[BobTH]

42 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

This may be another option but cost is even more, 79 USD for each signature done outside the U.S. --

https://www.notarycam.com/

 

Thanks, another option. 

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, BobTH said:

Thanks for your input and good information for me to know. I am not 100% sure yet of what I will need, a US lawyer is going to be contacting me and I am just looking for options when it happens. 1,700 just seems like highway robbery to me but it is what it is. Thanks again.

 

Highway robbery it is ????

 

 

[dabhand]

I note you are based in Bangkok.

 

However, I have used a Thai 'Notarial Services Attorney' (with a Thai registration number / expiry date) in Pattaya to certify documents that I needed in connection with a Tax case in the Supreme Court of India. These were accepted in India but no Idea if this would also apply to the US. The cost was a quite reasonable Bt500/document.

 

This was done via Thai Euro Law near to Big C just off South Pattaya Road. The contact person is Ms Rena. They may have a Bangkok contact that you can look at, if Pattaya is not an option for you. I can pass on their contact number if needed.

[BobTH]

1 hour ago, dabhand said:

I note you are based in Bangkok.

 

However, I have used a Thai 'Notarial Services Attorney' (with a Thai registration number / expiry date) in Pattaya to certify documents that I needed in connection with a Tax case in the Supreme Court of India. These were accepted in India but no Idea if this would also apply to the US. The cost was a quite reasonable Bt500/document.

 

This was done via Thai Euro Law near to Big C just off South Pattaya Road. The contact person is Ms Rena. They may have a Bangkok contact that you can look at, if Pattaya is not an option for you. I can pass on their contact number if needed.

Thanks for this info. That price would be very reasonable for me and I could almost travel to Pattaya for that kind of savings. I will be contacted by an attorney soon and I will find out exactly what I need, at this point I am not sure. I would very much like their contact number either here or feel free to private message it to me. And like you said, they may have a Bangkok connection that I could use here. I really appreciate your help, thanks. 

[Monomial]

Keep in mind that the Thai notary credential is provided by the Thai Lawyers Council. This is a private, professional organization in Thailand, and has no genuine government or treaty status. This usually is not a problem unless you are deceased and somebody challenges your signature. Your estate may have difficulty proving your signature is genuine in a US court without actually tracking down the original notary and getting a sworn statement.

Without knowing what documents you are signing it is hard to know if this is a consideration for you, just be careful. Any person can always agree to accept anything. Even a document that is not notarized at all. But a Thai notary carries no more weight outside Thailand than any other professional signature. Check with your legal council to determine what will be acceptable, and make sure you disclose that Thai notaries are a professional organization, not a government licensed service.

If there is any doubt, use the embassy. That is why the service is offered.

[mogandave]

Might try to get your attorney to minimize the number of docs and go with the embassy. 

 

If you're buying a property it likely not that much in the scheme of things.

 

[TonyClifton]

A better question, is a USA notary able to notarize documents outside of the USA?  

 

If not, I'll bet you could both set up appointments at the US Embassy to meet and have it notarized there.  It is, after all, the USA when you step inside.

[BobTH]

1 hour ago, Monomial said:

Keep in mind that the Thai notary credential is provided by the Thai Lawyers Council. This is a private, professional organization in Thailand, and has no genuine government or treaty status. This usually is not a problem unless you are deceased and somebody challenges your signature. Your estate may have difficulty proving your signature is genuine in a US court without actually tracking down the original notary and getting a sworn statement.

Without knowing what documents you are signing it is hard to know if this is a consideration for you, just be careful. Any person can always agree to accept anything. Even a document that is not notarized at all. But a Thai notary carries no more weight outside Thailand than any other professional signature. Check with your legal council to determine what will be acceptable, and make sure you disclose that Thai notaries are a professional organization, not a government licensed service.

If there is any doubt, use the embassy. That is why the service is offered.

Thanks for your input. I am buying a house and lot from the estate trust of a deceased friend of my family in the state of Alabama. I am not worried about the seller at all. I do however want the title deed to be valid after the purchase. Curious to know your opinion on this scenario now that you are aware they are house property closing documents in my home country.

 

[gk10002000]

2 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

A better question, is a USA notary able to notarize documents outside of the USA?  

 

If not, I'll bet you could both set up appointments at the US Embassy to meet and have it notarized there.  It is, after all, the USA when you step inside.

In general, no, they are not legally authorized to notarize outside of the State, never mind the USA.  Notaries are licensed by the State they reside in, and most of the notary requirements state they can only notarize while physically in the state.  This topic has come up before.  Reading that notarycam website, they claim they can do it anywhere and they mention two states.  I defer to the legal beagles.

Edited December 23, 2018 by gk10002000
add

[TonyClifton]

1 minute ago, gk10002000 said:

In general, no, they are not legally authorized to notarize outside of the State, never mind the USA.  Notaries are licensed by the State they reside in, and most of the notary requirements state they can only notarize while physically in the state.  This topic has come up before.

I'd be willing to bet, that a DC notary could notarize documents in the Embassy.  This brings up a good question if what you say is accurate, how is the notary in the embassy lawfully providing notary services?

[BTempleman]

I have purchased several properties in the US (Maryland) through my realtor using Docusign. This eliminated the purchase documents having to be notarized. You may still need to have financial documents notarized if you are taking out a mortgage. You may be able to have all of that negated by giving your attorney a single page power of attorney specifying that he is authorized to sign documents for purchasing the specific property.

[BobTH]

2 hours ago, BTempleman said:

I have purchased several properties in the US (Maryland) through my realtor using Docusign. This eliminated the purchase documents having to be notarized. You may still need to have financial documents notarized if you are taking out a mortgage. You may be able to have all of that negated by giving your attorney a single page power of attorney specifying that he is authorized to sign documents for purchasing the specific property.

Thanks for this information. I will note the use of Docusign I will be paying cash, no mortgage involved. Also my father lives near the selling parties lawyer and I was thinking maybe he could act as my power of attorney or even the selling estate lawyer I would trust also to do it if he can. Thanks very good information.

[lopburi3]

12 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

how is the notary in the embassy lawfully providing notary services?

Below web site provides legal background.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/internl-judicial-asst/authentications-and-apostilles/Notarial-Authentication-Services-Consular.html

[Suradit69]

20 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

A better question, is a USA notary able to notarize documents outside of the USA

There used to be a US lawyer working out of an office in Pattaya who provided notary services and stamp issued by Illinois. As far as I know he is gone.

I think all non-embassy notaries are granted their status by individual states and technically their services are valid only within that state.

 

If all the documents are going to the same person/institution the embassy might bundle them into to one. When I wanted two things notarized the consular officer offered to combine them into a single item. I didn't take him up on it, but in the past I've had a multi-paged document notarized this way. Of course if each page requires a separate signature this may not work.

 

 

 

Edited December 24, 2018 by Suradit69

[TonyClifton]

Below web site provides legal background.
 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/internl-judicial-asst/authentications-and-apostilles/Notarial-Authentication-Services-Consular.html

There's mention of some kind of apostille agreement which is part of the Hague but I looked through the document on my phone and I don't see an agreement with Thailand which would allow for documents to be notarized locally but still be accepted in the United States. Does anybody know differently?

Sent from my Star Trek Communicator.

[CMBob]

As someone suggested, find out which documents (if any) that you, as purchaser, need to have notarized.  If you're not getting a mortgage associated with the transaction, I'm doubtful that a notarization of your signature is needed at all (the deed is only signed by the seller and that does need to be notarized in most if not all states).  

[lopburi3]

18 minutes ago, TonyClifton said:

There's mention of some kind of apostille agreement which is part of the Hague but I looked through the document on my phone and I don't see an agreement with Thailand which would allow for documents to be notarized locally but still be accepted in the United States. Does anybody know differently?

Sent from my Star Trek Communicator.
 

That is the notary agreement which Thailand has not signed - the US has and Embassy officers are allowed to notarize if you appear at Embassy in person.  

[Jeffkp]

I was in a similar situation several years ago. I spoke with the closing attorney and he was able to combine it all to 2 documents needing to be notarized. Still cost me $100 at the consulate, but less than 7 would have.

[yankee99]

22 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

A better question, is a USA notary able to notarize documents outside of the USA?  

 

If not, I'll bet you could both set up appointments at the US Embassy to meet and have it notarized there.  It is, after all, the USA when you step inside.

Think they have to be in the state they are bonded in to legally notarize something 

[Wake Up]

I am a USA lawyer. Give the closing agent a power of attorney to sign closing documents for you after you give written email approval for them to sign the specific documents. You will need to notarize the power of attorney so you only spend 50 dollars at USA embassy instead of 500. I do not believe title companies in USA accept Thai notaries but I am not 100 percent sure. All large USA title companies are familiar with this process and will email you a POA. 

[lopburi3]

12 minutes ago, Wake Up said:

I am a USA lawyer. Give the closing agent a power of attorney to sign closing documents for you after you give written email approval for them to sign the specific documents. You will need to notarize the power of attorney so you only spend 50 dollars at USA embassy instead of 500. I do not believe title companies in USA accept Thai notaries but I am not 100 percent sure. All large USA title companies are familiar with this process and will email you a POA. 

Actually when I sold my home in Florida 20 years ago also had to have document from town signed/notarized that I was not the person who had not paid local tax with only same (common) last name and different address.  Done at Embassy. 

[fittobethaied]

OP, when I retired to Thailand 8 years ago I left my house behind with plans to sell at a future date. I went to my favorite title company and got their standard POA form, then appointed my sister to represent me with all matters related to selling the home. That would only mean one notarization for you at perhaps the US Embassy.

[BobTH]

3 hours ago, CMBob said:

As someone suggested, find out which documents (if any) that you, as purchaser, need to have notarized.  If you're not getting a mortgage associated with the transaction, I'm doubtful that a notarization of your signature is needed at all (the deed is only signed by the seller and that does need to be notarized in most if not all states).  

Wow, that is good news if your correct. Until the lawyer contacts me I am in the dark and do not have a clue what they have in mind. I am paying cash so maybe I will luck out. Thanks much for your input, and thinking about it, all of my past home/property purchases have been financed, so maybe that why I was thinking of all the notary stuff would be needed in this case also.

[BobTH]

2 hours ago, fittobethaied said:

OP, when I retired to Thailand 8 years ago I left my house behind with plans to sell at a future date. I went to my favorite title company and got their standard POA form, then appointed my sister to represent me with all matters related to selling the home. That would only mean one notarization for you at perhaps the US Embassy.

Thanks and my Father actually lives in the same city as the Law Firm that was hired by the estate to sell the property to me. I am hoping maybe he can to the same if needed.

[BigSkip]

For the U.S.A. a Power of Attorney are only authorized to sign in the state they are licensed except for the Embassy or a authorized active duty Military Lawyer.

[ThaiWai]

Give power of attorney to someone in the States.  Far easier than doing it all from here.  I had a family member sell a property for me that way. True, you will need to notarize the POA but thats it.