United States — Maine Act or statute

United States — Maine legislation

Maine Revised Statutes, Title 4, § 1914: Foreign notarial act, 2021

Foreign notarial acts, apostilles, and certain consular authentications are given legal effect in Maine, and some foreign authority proofs are conclusive or prima facie evidence.

apostillesconsular authenticationforeign notarial acts

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“Foreign notarial acts, apostilles, and certain consular authentications are given legal effect in Maine, and some foreign authority proofs are conclusive or prima facie evidence.”

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    Enacted 2021 · Source version 1 Oct 2025. The date shown identifies this source expression and should not be treated as proof that no later change exists.

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Foreign notarial act

Foreign notarial acts, apostilles, and certain consular authentications are given legal effect in Maine, and some foreign authority proofs are conclusive or prima facie evidence.

Section 1914

04

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Source record from legislature.maine.gov · Enacted 2021 · Source version 1 Oct 2025

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§ 1914Foreign notarial actProvision

Foreign notarial acts, apostilles, and certain consular authentications are given legal effect in Maine, and some foreign authority proofs are conclusive or prima facie evidence.

1. Foreign state. As used in this section, "foreign state" means a government other than the United States, a state or a federally recognized Indian tribe. [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] 2. Foreign notarial acts recognized. If a notarial act is performed under authority and in the jurisdiction of a foreign state or constituent unit of a foreign state or is performed under the authority of a multinational or international governmental organization, the act has the same effect under the laws of this State as if performed by a notarial officer of this State. [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] 3. Digest or list conclusive. If the title of office and indication of authority to perform notarial acts in a foreign state appears in a digest of foreign law or in a list customarily used as a source for that information, the authority of an officer with that title to perform notarial acts is conclusively established. [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] 4. Prima facie evidence. The signature and official stamp of an individual holding an office described in subsection 3 are prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine and the individual holds the designated title. [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] 5. Hague Convention. An apostille in the form prescribed by the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 and issued by a foreign state party to the Convention conclusively establishes that the signature of the notarial officer is genuine and that the officer holds the indicated office. [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] 6. Consular authentication. A consular authentication issued by an individual designated by the United States Department of State as a notarizing officer for performing notarial acts overseas and attached to the record with respect to which the notarial act is performed conclusively establishes that the signature of the notarial officer is genuine and that the officer holds the indicated office. [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).]
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  • 1 Oct 2025 · currentEnglish

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