<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79509</law_id><section_number>55.1-617</section_number><catch_line>Proof of authority of person performing notarial act</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Real Estate Settlements and Recordation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6">Recordation of Documents</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If the notarial act is performed by any of the persons described in subdivisions B 1 through 4 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="&quot;Notarial acts&quot; defined; who may perform notarial acts outside the Commonwealth for use in the Commonwealth" href="/55.1-616/">55.1-616</a> other than a person authorized to perform notarial acts by the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or regulations of a foreign country, the signature, rank, or title and serial number, if any, of the person are sufficient proof of the authority of a holder of that rank or title to perform the notarial act. Further proof of his authority is not required. <a id="paragraph-284886" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-617/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If the notarial act is performed by a person authorized by the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or regulations of a foreign country to perform the notarial act, there is sufficient proof of the authority of that person to act if: <a id="paragraph-284887" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-617/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Either a foreign service officer of the United States resident in the country in which the notarial act is performed or a diplomatic or consular officer of the foreign country resident in the United States certifies that a person holding that office is authorized to perform the notarial act; <a id="paragraph-284888" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-617/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The official seal of the person performing the notarial act is affixed to the document; or <a id="paragraph-284889" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-617/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The title and indication of authority to perform notarial acts of the person appears either in a digest of foreign <span class="dictionary">law</span> or in a list customarily used as a source of such information. <a id="paragraph-284890" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-617/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If the notarial act is performed by a person other than one described in subsections A and B, there is sufficient proof of the authority of that person to act if the clerk of a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed certifies to the official character of that person and to his authority to perform the notarial act. <a id="paragraph-284891" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-617/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The signature and title of the person performing the notarial act are prima facie <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that he is a person with the designated title and that the signature is genuine. <a id="paragraph-284892" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-617/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1970, c. 719, &#xA7; 55-118.2; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
