Apostille for China · Apostille guide

What to do with a power of attorney and apostille: the complete sequence from the request of the Chinese recipient to the notarization in the United States

The power of attorney should first determine the purpose and text, and then complete notarization and necessary pre-certification according to the signing state. You cannot sign a blank template first.

The authorized content is determined by the actual business

Selling a house, purchasing a house, bank account, inheritance, litigation and company registration require different permissions. First let the Chinese receiving institution or lawyer confirm the text, trustee information, validity period, number of signed copies and whether witnesses are required.

Complete the text before signing for notarization

The authorizer should sign the final version under applicable notarization procedures. The notary verifies the identity and signing behavior and is not responsible for ensuring that the authorization terms are sufficient to complete the specific business in China. Significant property or legal matters should be reviewed by qualified counsel.

Determine the subsequent authority according to the notary state

Private power of attorney is usually notarized to form a certifiable signature chain, and then the county certification or state Apostille is processed according to the rules of the state where the notary is located. State requirements vary; county clerk pre-certification is common in New York but cannot be extrapolated to all states.

List of materials before placing an order

• The final version of the power of attorney that has not been signed or has been signed as required;
• The accurate identity information of the authorizer and trustee;
• The written format requirements provided by the Chinese recipient;
• The state and county where the notary is located;
• The number of copies to be used and the deadline.

Avoid three types of rework

Do not sign blank pages first, do not replace attachments after notarization, and do not combine authorizations for different purposes into a vague common text. Any page changes may destroy the original correspondence between signature and certification.