U.S. Embassy & Consulates
in France

STEP ONE: Determine if we are able to notarize your document.

Don’t see what you are looking for below? Find resources on how to obtain notarizations for documents we do not notarize.

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U.S. legal, real estate, or business documents

We perform the same signature verification service as a U.S. notary public. Common documents include:

• Real estate documents – purchase or rental agreements, closings, financings, deeds, titles, guarantees, etc.
• Estate documents – wills, trusts, healthcare proxies, estate settlements, etc.
• Powers of Attorney
• Litigation documents – affidavits, settlements, notice of service of process, etc.
• Pre-Nuptial or Divorce documents
• Banking documents – account openings, closures, liquidations, or transfers, lost property affidavits, etc.
• Employee benefits or retirement documents – account openings, closures, liquidations or transfers, beneficiary designations, beneficiary/spousal consents or waivers, etc.
• Business documents – contracts, bills of sale, formation documents, merger or acquisition agreements, etc.
• Applications, forms, or letters for governments or professional associations.

 

Certificat de coutume et de célibat (Attestation tenant lieu de) – Affidavits of “single status” (for marriage or PACS in France) 

U.S. citizens may sign an Attestation tenant lieu de certificat de coutume et de célibat  (PDF-388 KB) attesting that they are free to marry or enter a PACS.

This form does not require notarization by the U.S. Embassy.   If you wish to have your signature legalized you may do so at the local city hall – mairie –  with a valid U.S. passport.  You may also show this letter (PDF-551 KB)  explaining this matter.

If the mairie insists that the document must be notarized by the Embassy, you may make an appointment for a notary service at the U.S. Embassy in Paris or the U.S. Consulate General in Marseille or Strasbourg.  The consular fee is $50 per seal.

General Guidelines for Marriage and Civil Partnerships (PACS) in France

Learn about Marriage Abroad

 

Certificat de Concordance (Sworn Statement in place of)

The U.S. government does not issue certificates of concordance / coutumes (these are French documents).  We recommend you find an attorney or a notaire (list of English-speaking notaires in France).  Consult our list of English-speaking attorneys practicing in France, who might be able to assist you in resolving the matter. However, the U.S. Embassy can notarize a sworn statement with the seal of the federal government, which hopefully will help with the French administration.

We recommend you check with the French administrative office you are in contact with to verify if this document is acceptable.

You will complete a sworn statement (but don’t sign), and bring copies of all the supporting documents you have (birth certificate(s), passport(s), and anything else with your name and birthdate).  You can change this document in any way you like – it is your statement. It may be worth adding a few sentences explaining the history of the name change.

 

U.S. Passport Consent Form (DS-3053) – (No fee)

We may notarize signatures on the Form DS-3053 “Statement of Consent.”

You may also have the French translation of this Form DS-3053 form notarized at a French mairie. Please go to this page, step #7 “Show Parental Consent”, and complete Form DS-3053.

The U.S. Embassy and consulates will accept electronic notarization of form DS-3053  (Statement of Consent for the Issuance of a Passport to a Child under the Age of 16), provided the notarization was completed in accordance with the policies of the state that commissioned the notary public.  More information concerning remote notarial and authentication services is available on the Department of State’s website.

Parental permission for child to travel alone or with one parent

• Guidance for travel to and within the United States: CBP article 1 and CBP article 2
• Guidance for French minors leaving France (in French)

 

Certified true copy of U.S. passport

• Each passport holder must schedule an appointment and appear in person.

 

Certified true copy of non-U.S. Passport for an individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) application