Detailed description
Each authority can officially certify copies / photocopies of documents that it has issued itself or that are intended for its own use.
In addition, the registration authority responsible for the person concerned is authorized to officially certify documents that have been issued by a German authority or copies of which are required for submission to an authority.
Official notarizations are not possible for private documents that are to be used privately. Signature authentication for other purposes or public authentication (§ 129 BGB), as well as signatures without associated text can be requested from a notary.
Civil status documents or copies from civil status books may only be certified by the registry office that issued the civil status certificate (duplicate or certified copy).