Mikhail Bogomolny is a California notary public in Los Angeles. He notarizes signatures on documents in English and in other languages, including Russian, prepares bilingual powers of attorney from text received from abroad, and arranges apostilles so documents can be used in countries that accept them.
Notary services
- Acknowledgments for powers of attorney, deeds, consents and affidavits
- Jurats: you swear to the truth of a statement and sign in front of the notary
- Certified copies of powers of attorney, as California law permits
- Copy certification by document custodian: you sign a declaration that a copy is true and complete, and the notary notarizes your signature
- Documents in Russian or other languages: the notarial certificate is in English, as California requires
Powers of attorney for use abroad
A power of attorney for Russia, Ukraine or Israel is often prepared in two columns, English and Russian (or Ukrainian or Hebrew). The text you received from a lawyer, notary or bank abroad is translated, your signature is notarized, and the apostille is arranged. Mikhail doesn't draft the substance of legal documents; what a power of attorney should say is a question for a lawyer in the country where it will be used.
Apostille
An apostille certifies the signature of a public official, including a notary, so a document is recognized in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention. The California Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents notarized in California and for California public records. Federal documents, such as an FBI background check, are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. The notarization, request and submission can all be handled for you.
Notice required by California law. I am not an attorney and, therefore, cannot give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matters.
Maximum notary fees set by state law: acknowledgment, $15 per signature; oath or affirmation with jurat, $15 per person; certified copy of a power of attorney, $15. Translation, travel and apostille handling are separate services, quoted in advance.
Frequently asked questions
What is needed for a notarization?
The unsigned document and a current government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or driver's license. Don't sign beforehand; you sign in front of the notary.
Can a document written in Russian be notarized?
Yes. The notarial certificate is in English, and the notary needs to identify the document for the journal. A notary who reads Russian makes that straightforward.
Can a copy of my passport or diploma be certified?
California notaries can't certify copies of most documents; powers of attorney are the main exception. The usual alternative is a copy certification by document custodian: you declare that the copy is true, and the notary notarizes your signature.
How long does an apostille take?
It depends on the California Secretary of State's current processing times and on whether the document is state or federal. You'll get a realistic timeline when the work starts.