My sister-in-law, who lives in Italy, is sending me a Power of Attorney to sign that is written in Italian and requires notarization. If I provide valid ID and the Notary knows me personally and understands the type of document I am signing, is it necessary for me to translate the document before she can notarize it? - M.M., Newtown Square, PA
You will need to complete and attach a notarial certificate for the Power of Attorney in English. However, the Power of Attorney itself need not be translated into English unless it will be recorded with the local recorder of deeds in a Pennsylvania county’s land records. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 4302 requires all foreign language documents presented for recordation to be accompanied by a full English translation.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
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