With official certification, the authority confirms that the copy matches the original. The competent authority certifies the copy with a certification note.

Please make an appointment at your local government office or citizen service center. You can also be represented by an authorized person at this appointment.

It is possible to certify a copy that has already been certified if the first certification was carried out by a public authority.
If the first certification was issued by a notary, the citizens' service office may not certify the copy.

The following can be certified:

• Transcripts
• Photocopies
• Reproductions
• Negatives

Type of certification

• Was the document issued by a German authority?
  • Civil status documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates) are issued by the relevant registry office.
  • For all other official certifications, please contact the citizens' office.

• Do you need a certification for submission to a German authority?
  • Official certifications are issued by the Citizens' Office.
  • Please contact a notary's office for public certifications.  

The Citizens' Office is not responsible for certifying the following documents:

• Civil status documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates from Germany)
  Certification is carried out by the relevant registry office.
• Real estate
  matters Certification is carried out by a notary.
• Wills and inheritance matters
  Certification is carried out by a notary.
• Bidding powers of attorney (in foreclosure proceedings)
  Certification is carried out by a notary's office.

Institutions located in Rhineland-Palatinate that serve charitable or benevolent purposes (non-profit associations, social welfare organizations, etc.) are exempt from fees.

• State law on certification authority dated July 21, 1978, as amended on October 12, 1999 (GVBl. p. 325)
• General Schedule of Fees of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate
• Tax Code (AO), Section 52 Charitable purposes (opens in a new tab)

The exhibition will take place immediately.

If a foreign document uses different characters, the copy is always issued by the Citizen Service.

We can certify documents (transcripts, copies, negatives, electronic documents, and printouts of electronic documents) as well as signatures and initials. First, a distinction must be made between official and public certification.

Official certification is governed by the State Administrative Procedure Act in conjunction with the Federal Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG) and only applies to documents whose original was issued by a public authority or whose copy you need to submit to a public authority. The condition is that the issuance of certified copies from official registers and archives is not exclusively reserved for other authorities. We can also officially certify a signature or initials if you are legally obliged to submit the signed document to an authority or other body.

The legal basis for the public certification of signatures is the Civil Code. The public certification of a signature is only permitted in cases prescribed by law.

• Certifications/signatures official: 5 euros (per certification note)
• Public certifications/signatures: €15 (per certification note)
• Certifications for non-profit associations are free of charge.

There are no fees for students, pupils, and trainees if they need the document for their studies or training. This rule applies to a maximum of 3 certifications.

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