Certifying That a Document Is a True Copy of the Original – Notary Services in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
One of the main services provided by notaries public in Israel is certifying that a document is a true copy of the original (which makes it a certified copy). The need for certified copies is very common, and various official bodies in Israel and around the world require them. It may seem that certifying a copy of a document is simple; however, there are legal rules that must be followed, and it is important to know what type of copy certification is required in your case, as well as the costs involved. All this is explained below by a lawyer and notary public from our firm.
The lawyers at our firm in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv provide clients in Israel and abroad with comprehensive notarial services, as well as a variety of legal services related to immigration law and civil law. Our firm has extensive experience in a variety of procedures that require notarial services. We provide, inter alia, notarized signature authentication, copy certification, translation of official documents, authentication of foreign documents, and apostilation.
Why Are Certified Copies Required for So Many Types of Procedures?
We live in an age where forging documents has become simple and common. The advanced technology that enables this is available to almost anyone. In this state of affairs, the authorities work to ensure the authenticity of document copies submitted to them. In some cases, government authorities in Israel and overseas request a high level of authentication, and this is done through notarized signature authentication. In other cases, the authorities are satisfied with document copies that have been authenticated by a lawyer or notary public as being identical to the original document.
Copy certification is, therefore, the main way for authorities to know that documents submitted to them are true copies of the original. This is why certified copies are required in so many types of procedures. They may be required in various proceedings in Israeli courts, including bankruptcy proceedings, tort claims, commercial claims, and family and inheritance proceedings (such as alimony and child support claims or inheritance litigation). Similarly, there are many proceedings before government authorities that require certified copies of documents, such as proceedings before the Real Estate Registrar, or immigration proceedings before the Israeli Ministry of Interior or authorities in foreign countries.
What Are the Costs of Copy Certification?
The cost of certifying a photocopy of a document is set out in the Notary Regulations regarding the costs of notarial services. As of 2021, the cost is ILS 66 + VAT for a one-page document. For every additional page, the cost rises by 5 ILS + VAT. If additional copies are needed, the cost for a one-page document is ILS 21 + VAT, which rises by ILS 5 + VAT for each additional page. Other changes and costs may also apply, depending on the specific services required in each case.
What Is It Important to Know When Ordering Copy Certification Services?
First, check what type of copy certification is required in your case. For example, the authorities often require notarized signature authentication for documents. In such cases, copy certification is irrelevant. In other cases (such as birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates), it is necessary to submit an original document, apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issuing a duplicate through the Israeli government website for this purpose. Since this is not a photocopied or scanned copy, it does not require notarial authentication (unless the document duplicate requires notarized translation, in which case the translation requires both notarial authentication and apostilation by a magistrate court).
Another important difference between these types of copy certification is the procedure for obtaining them. While notarized signature authentication requires the physical presence of the signer before the notary public, authentication of a photocopy of a document may usually be done remotely, without physically arriving at the notary’s office. In view of the multitude of possible services, our recommendation is to always get professional advice before going through with the requested service. One of the services that our firm offers is initial consultation to help clients make sure that they know what type of copy certification they need.
Certifying That a Document Is a True Copy of the Original – Contact a Certified Notary Public
For any assistance or questions regarding notarial services, such as copy certification, you can contact a certified notary public from our offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The lawyers at our firm offer all types of notarial services, including notarized signature authentication, certifying of translations, and apostilation. You can contact us via the phone numbers or e-mail address listed below.
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