Signing California Documents While Living Abroad

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By the notaries at Mar Vista Cheap Mobile Notary, commissioned by the California Secretary of State · Updated October 26, 2026 · Sources: California Notary Public Handbook (Secretary of State, 2026), Civil Code § 1183, Civil Code § 1189, Government Code § 8232, U.S. Department of State: Notarial services abroad

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Your options

Option	How it works	Watch out for
U.S. embassy or consulate	A consular officer notarizes your signature, usually by appointment	Appointment wait times; a fee per seal; bring the unsigned document and your passport
Local notary + apostille	A notary in that country notarizes; that country’s authority adds an apostille (or legalization in non-Hague countries)	Foreign certificate wording may not match what a California title company or recorder expects; translation may be needed
Online notary from another U.S. state	Signing by video with a notary commissioned in a state that allows remote notarization	Many recipients refuse; some don’t allow signers located abroad; recording in California needs extra steps
Sign when you’re next in California	A California notary, in person	Only works if the timing does

Real estate is the strictest

For deeds and other documents to be recorded in Los Angeles County, ask the title or escrow company first. Many will only accept a U.S. consular notarization, or will send you their own instructions. A foreign notary’s certificate that doesn’t follow California’s acknowledgment form can lead to rejection. Deeds also can’t be proved by a subscribing witness, so someone else can’t sign for you here.

Alternative: give someone a power of attorney

If you’ll have several documents to sign, signing one power of attorney at the consulate (that the title company or bank approves in advance) can let a trusted person in California sign the rest for you. Real estate transactions usually require the POA to be recorded.

Tips

• Ask the recipient which forms of notarization they accept, in writing
• Don’t sign before your notary or consular appointment
• Bring your passport and the complete document; consulates won’t help fill it in
• Use international courier for originals; recorders and banks usually need wet-ink originals
• If the document is in a language the notary doesn’t speak, see foreign-language documents

Going the other way?

If you’re in Los Angeles and the document is going abroad, you need the reverse: a California notarization and a California apostille. See powers of attorney for use abroad.

Common questions

Can a California notary notarize me over video while I’m abroad?

No. California notaries can’t perform remote notarizations yet, and every signer must be physically present before the notary.

Will a California county recorder accept a foreign notarization?

California recognizes acknowledgments taken under the law of the place where they’re made, but recorders and title companies may reject certificates that don’t meet their requirements. A U.S. consular notarization is the safer route; ask your title company.

Do I need an apostille for a document notarized at a U.S. consulate?

Generally no, for use in the U.S. A consular notarization is a U.S. notarial act.