How do I get copies of documents certified in France?

Question

I am working on getting documents together for accreditation with an Australian organisation, and they require that all copies of documents be certified as true representations of the original document.

Where would I go in Paris to have copies of documents certified and what is involved with this process? Specifically, who in France has the legal authority to certify documents in this way?

If you could please provide a link that supports your answer, it would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Ask the French consul before you leave your home country. The French consul may be able to do a lot of the work for you. http://www.consulfrance-newyork.org/

If I were in Paris, I would make arrangements through a notary. Most of the internet articles on notaries deal with things like wills and purchase of real estate, but they are involved with a lot of other things.

For copies of official French documents, this link from the United States Embassy will tell you where to go: http://paris.usembassy.gov/rennes/amcit/fdocuments.pdf

Answer 2

Laws vary between different countries and for different purposes. You havnt' told us what the purpose is. Your best bet is to ask the person who asked you for it. They will probably say its fine, but they could ask for a certified translation into English, if the document is in French. There is also a seal called an apostile that is recognized by treaty.for all documents. Otherwise, I'd just give a notarized photocopy a shot.