Notarising Marriage Certificates

Authenticating a marriage certificate involves the notary process with additional legal requirements beyond those utilised for other types of documents.

If you require a notarised birth certificate contact us at notary cape town a division of Le Roux Attorneys.

When do you need to legalise a South African marriage certificate?

A marriage certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs is a South African public document and therefore it must be legalised before it can be used abroad.

How to apostille a South African marriage certificate?

Birth certificates, marriage and/or death certificates, letters of no impediment and other documents signed and stamped by an authorised Department of Home Affairs official are verified by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (“DIRCO”). After verification, DIRCO will issue an apostille certificate (where countries are party to The Hague Convention) or a certificate of authentication (where countries are not party to The Hague Convention).

The process to be followed when legalising a South African marriage certificate?

• The marriage certificate must be signed and stamped by an authorised Department of Home Affairs official;
• The original marriage certificate must be available to submit to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO);
• The marriage certificate must not be too old as the official who originally issued and signed the certificate might not be employed at the specific Department anymore, which will make it impossible for DIRCO to legalise the “old” document at such a late stage.

Can a notary public authenticate a marriage certificate?

Copies of original marriage certificates can be authenticated by a Notary Public to prove that it is a true copy of the original by endorsing the document with a Notary Public stamp or seal.

Who can certify marriage certificates?

Copies of original marriage certificates can be certified by any Commissioner of Oaths in South Africa by endorsing the document with a Commissioner of Oaths stamp. This indicates that the document itself is a true copy of the original.