Job Discussion Forums

ssjup81 · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 6:22 am Post subject: Where do I go?

Crazy...here I am again starting another thread. This has to be a record for me, who usually lurks. lol

Anyway, I received some papers from back home that has to be signed by me, but along with my signing them, I have to get it notarized. Where can I go to get a notary here in Japan? I'm not even certain how notaries are done here. Back home, it was very easy to do.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Your own embassy will do it for a fee. Fairly expensive, I think.

ssjup81 · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 6:50 am Post subject:

Well, that kinda sucks given where I am. From what I'm seeing, the only areas with an American consulate are: Kobe, Fukuoaka, Sapporo, Okinawa, Nagoya, Osaka, and of course Tokyo. I'm not particularly close to either of these places...but, I am going down to Roppongi from May 3 - May 6 meaning the Tokyo consulate will be closest. I'll be busy May 4 (will be at the hair salon getting my hair unbraided and braided, so that's an all-day process, more than likely), and I doubt the consulate/embassy is open on Saturdays.

Edit: Never mind. I have to make an appointment in order to go there. That's way too much of an inconvenience, given that they only do notary stuff between 8:45 and 12:00.

Do you know of any other places?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

This might help a little.
http://www.koshonin.gr.jp/pdf/en.pdf

The above link came from here: http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7126a.html

If you are closer to a US military base, perhaps it would be easier to visit their legal services office.

Here's a notary office in Niigata, if that's close.
http://www.niigata-ia.or.jp/en/ct/003_zaiken_sup/002_shien_madoguti/001_sien.html

Cool Teacher · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 12:37 am Post subject:

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

They are closed on May 3 & 4 for Golden Week. They are typically closed on weekends.
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-holidays.html

ssjup81 · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject:

Yep. I kinda figured after thinking about it, that it might be closed anyway...but either way, I'd have to wait until after this week.

That aside, thanks for the advice, Glenski. Niigata is a bit closer, to my knowledge. I'll look into it once I return back to Nagai.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Where do I go?

Any town or ward office should be able to direct you to the municipal duty lawyer. They're able to notarize documents, although trying to explain in Japanese that's what you want is sometimes entertaining.

Failing that, if you're prepared to go the "fake but no one will know" route then just get someone with a family hanko (as opposed to personal) to slap that on the documents and sign next to it. Most people outside Japan wouldn't know the difference.

ssjup81 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 3:33 pm Post subject:

I think this would matter given what the papers are for. Before leaving, we had a house on the market. It finally sold. It'd been on the market for over a year. To continue with the procedure, I have to get the papers signed by me (and two witnesses, which I have) and also have it notarized. I even got info through the lawyer handling the case and the realtor company as to what is allowed and what isn't as far as notarizing it goes. Main thing that was pretty much reiterated was that they do have to have a special notary seal.

Anyway, on Monday, I was planning on going to Nagai City Hall to ask them where I can go to get a notarization done since I was already informed that they don't do it.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 3:26 am Post subject: