Rules for Power of Attorney

• Conditions for a Power of Attorney in Alaska

  Before a Power of Attorney can be authenticated for international use, it must meet Alaska’s legal execution standards. Alaska POA Execution Requirements Must be signed by the principal. Must be notarized by a commissioned Alaska Notary Public. Witnesses are not required, unless a specific destination country requests them. Signatures must be original wet signatures; photocopies or scans cannot be authenticated. Alaska allows remote/online notarization, but many foreign embassies do not accept e-notarized POAs, so traditional in-person notarization is recommended.

• Notarization Requirements

  A Power of Attorney in Alaska must be properly notarized according to Alaska’s statutory requirements. The Lieutenant Governor will only authenticate notarizations that contain all required elements: A properly notarized Alaska POA must include: The principal’s signature A notarial certificate Alaska law requires this on every notarization The certificate may be on the document or attached The notary’s signature The notary’s commission expiration date The notary’s seal (ink-stamp or embossed, but embossing must be shaded to show on photocopies) If any of these elements are missing, the Alaska Lieutenant Governor will reject the document. You must return it to the notary for correction before authentication.

• Original Signatures & Certified Copies

  Your Alaska POA must have original signatures, and the notarization must be reproducible. For official state-issued documents (not POAs but relevant to your content): Certified copies of vital records and court documents must be issued recently, or their signatures may not match Alaska’s authentication records. If multiple authenticated copies are needed, you must provide duplicate originals (each notarized separately).

• Alaska Authentication Process

  Apostille (Hague Countries) The Alaska Lieutenant Governor will issue an Apostille on a POA if it: Is properly notarized by a commissioned Alaska Notary Public, or Is an official state-issued document with a recognizable signature on file Certification (Non-Hague Countries) For non-Hague countries, the Alaska Lieutenant Governor will issue a Certification instead of an Apostille. After Certification, the usual steps apply: U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications Embassy/Consulate of the destination country

• Document Screening Service

  Alaska provides a helpful optional screening service to avoid rejections. Screening Steps You may scan or photograph only the notarized pages of your POA and email them to: Apostille@Alaska.gov Include: Your name Your contact number The country where the POA will be used The Notary Administrator will: Verify that the notary is actively commissioned Ensure the notarization meets statutory requirements Confirm whether the signature can be authenticated Notify you if corrections are needed before mailing This prevents delays and speeds up processing once mailed.