Legal Definitions - certificate of official character

A certificate of official character is a formal document issued by a government official, such as a court clerk or a Secretary of State, that verifies the authenticity of a signature, the official capacity of the person who signed a document, or the genuineness of a public record. It essentially acts as an official endorsement, confirming that the original document or signature is legitimate and comes from a recognized authority. This certificate is often required when a document created or signed by an official in one jurisdiction needs to be recognized and accepted as valid in another jurisdiction or by a different authority.

• Example 1: Interstate Notarization

  Imagine a situation where Maria, a resident of Arizona, needs to submit a sworn affidavit (a written statement made under oath) for a legal proceeding taking place in New Mexico. She has the affidavit notarized by a notary public in Arizona. To ensure the New Mexico court accepts the document as legitimate, Maria might be required to obtain a certificate of official character from the Arizona Secretary of State's office. This certificate would officially confirm that the Arizona notary public who witnessed Maria's signature is indeed a duly commissioned and authorized official in Arizona, thereby validating the notarization for use in New Mexico.

• Example 2: Enforcing a Court Judgment Across State Lines

  Consider a small business in Oregon that wins a monetary judgment against a client in an Oregon state court. However, the client has since moved to Washington State and has assets there. To collect on the judgment, the Oregon business needs to enforce the Oregon court's order in Washington. Before the Washington courts can recognize and enforce the Oregon judgment, the business might need to obtain a certificate of official character from the Oregon court clerk. This certificate would attest to the authenticity of the Oregon court's seal and the signature of the judge or clerk on the judgment, confirming its legitimacy for recognition and enforcement in Washington.

• Example 3: Verifying Professional Credentials for Federal Employment

  Dr. Chen, a dentist licensed in California, applies for a position with a federal health agency that requires her to submit official copies of her dental school transcripts and her state dental license. The federal agency, operating under its own regulations, needs assurance that these documents are authentic and issued by legitimate state authorities. Dr. Chen might be asked to provide a certificate of official character for her California dental license, issued by the California Secretary of State or the state's dental board. This certificate would confirm the authenticity of the license document and the authority of the issuing California state officials, assuring the federal agency that Dr. Chen's credentials are valid and properly issued.