I am in the process of selling some property in the US. I am unable to travel there to sign documents so I had a Philippine attorney create a Special Power of Attorney (SPOA) for a friend to act on my behalf. However, the title company in the US requires an authentication (apostille) from the US Embassy or Consulate in the PH. The title company will not accept the notarized document from a Philippine attorney. Has anyone gone through this process and can advise me on how I am to proceed? What government agencies must I contact here in the PH? The local attorney doesn't have a clue how to proceed. Thanks ahead.
You can get documents Apostilled at the US consulate in Cebu. You need to make an appointment online.
I would go for the apostille by the US consulate. If a notarized document from the Philippines isn't acceptable, then there's hardly a reason to expect that a red ribboned one will fare any better.
There is an officer at the U.S. Consulate in Cebu City that will notarize your documents that will be accepted in the U.S. Make an appointment or they won't let you in the door. I used their service for the same type of U.S. transaction, i.e. selling real estate. It's a bit pricey compared to what notaries cost in the U.S., but not outrageously expensive. Of course, that is on top of the costs associated with travel to Cebu. You can do this at the U.S. Embassy in Manila if you happen to be going there, but appointments are required there, too.
