Appointment-System of the German Foreign Office — Chicago

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Further information about signature certifications (including an explanation how it differs from a full notarization) are available on or webpage here. For a full notarization (e.g. application for a certificate of inheritance; acknowledgement of paternity for a child born outside of a marriage; formal affidavits) please schedule an appointment through our contact form.

The following service will be available with the present appointment category, if

1. you need to have your signature certified for the use in Germany. Basic examples are:

-      Confirmation of power of attorney (“Vollmachtsbestätigungen“) or declaration of consent (“Genehmigungserklärungen“)

-      renouncement of inheritance

-      approval of release (e.g. mortgage)

-      other power of attorneys (please send the draft in advance via email to rk-10@chic.diplo.de for pre-assessment)

2. you need one or more notarized copies of documents for the use in Germany.

3. you want to make a name declaration or apply for the registration of a child’s birth or a marriage. more information 

4. you wish to make a declaration to change your gender entry and first name. more information 

Honorary Consuls

The above named services can also be provided by an Honorary Consul. If you prefer to visit one of the Honorary Consul in our district please contact them directly. Contact information for Honorary Consuls can be found here.

US Notary Public

Signature certifications will in some cases also be recognized under German law if done by a US notary public. Please make sure in advance that the German authority, to which the document shall be presented, does accept this procedure. Authorities in Germany may request an "apostille" in addition to the signature certification done by a US notary public.

If copies are notarized by a US notary public, please make sure that the notary public certifies on the copy that it is a true copy of the original (i.e. for example "This is a true copy of the original").

Please note that written dates for appointments are given in German format DD/MM/YY.

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