Safe and Secure Notarizations by Vancouver Notary Public

Notarizations and international Apostilles usually involve important documentation, such as BC birth certificates, powers of attorney, real estate transfers, and academic records and diplomas. When you need a document notarized, or if you need to get an Apostille to be sent overseas, concerns about safety and security are paramount. The procedure is complex, and so you really want to make sure everything is done properly. If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email, or call 604-685-2326 to book an appointment.

Avoidance of fraud and tampering is one of the primary concerns when important documentation exchanges hands, especially for overseas use. At Brosgall Legal | Notary Services, we take this issue very seriously. Our notarization protocol absolutely ensures the safety and continuity of your documents. This article will explain how we ensure all our notarizations are completed to the highest standards. Brosgall Legal achieves this on two fronts, each of which are discussed below in greater detail:

• secure document preparation
• online delivery tracking

SECURE DOCUMENT PREPARATION 

Brosgall Legal uses state of the art document security procedures:

1. Heavy Stock Bond Paper - We start by using FSC certified heavy stock bond paper. Not only is this good for the environment, but it's also the foundation for all our other security practices.
2. Reinforced Document Corners - We use blue legal corners to reinforce our paperwork. Document corners are made with 100 lb. card stock. They protect your valuable documents, prevent curling and tearing, and provide a durable setting for eyelet binding.
3. Eyelet Binding Method - We permanently attach your documents to our notarial certificate with a solid brass eyelet when required. So instead of using an ordinary staple, which can easily be removed, we punch a small 3/16" hole through the reinforced blue legal corner and the documentation. We then insert the brass eyelet through the hole with and a special eyeletter machine. This machine clenches the eyelet to a matching washer on the other side. Once set, eyelets are impossible to remove, and your papers become 100% secure. Most lawyers and notaries only use staples, but we believe that eyeletting is a far more secure binding method which guards against tampering and fraud. In addition, it is a requirement at certain consulates and embassies.
4. Gold Seals - We apply a permanent gold seal on our notarial certificate face page, and emboss it with our notary seal. Not only does this increase the visability of our notary seal on the notarial certificate, but it also makes the seal impression photographically reproducible, which is a requirement in many jurisdictions.
5. Embossing - We emboss every page of attached documentation with our notary seal. Our notary seal is engraved with our name and BC jursidiction, and because we keep strict custody of the seal, this confirms that we personally handled every page making up the document. Embossing with our seal also ensures that pages cannot be added or replaced. 
6. Citations - We cite each of your attached documents on our notarial certificate. We identify each of your documents, indicate the number of pages, and specify front and reverse if necessary. Again, this confirms exactly what we notarized, and guards against tampering and fraud. 
7. Indelible Ink - Whenever we notarize a document or signature, we use permanent ink. Permanent ink bonds to paper fiber, and is superior to regular ink in two significant ways: (a) it is tamper proof due to it's insolubility in water, alcohol, detergent, bleach and solvents; and (b) it is waterproof, lightfast and acid free, so signatures do not fade over time. Brosgall Legal uses DIN ISO 14145-2 Certified Document Ink.
8. Sharpie Film Marker - Finally, whenever we write on the back of photographs (usually for passport applications), to avoid smudges, we use a special quick-drying 'Smear-Guard' Sharpie marker.

These eight security measures are the 'best practices', and guard against tampering and fraud. But perhaps most importantly, our finished products look impressive. In our experience, this makes foreign officials far more agreeable, so you get what you need done. We feel the extra effort is definitely worthwhile.

ONLINE DELIVERY TRACKING

Fast, Tracked, and Guaranteed... After all the security measures we take, we want to ensure that your document doesn't get lost or delayed in transit. To ensure continuity, Brosgall Legal utilizes postal and courier tracking. It's the safest and fastest way to check the status of shipments. Online results provide real-time, detailed shipment progress from pick-up to delivery, including notification of pickups and deliveries via email. In addition, documented confirmation of delivery lets us know when our job has been completed successfully, so we can notify you immediately. 

Actual tracking documentation can be viewed by clicking on the attachments at the bottom of this article. Personal details have been redacted for privacy concerns. 

1. Tracking Report - This document is the DHL online tracking report for a delivery of an authenticated and legalized birth certificate from Vancouver BC to our client in Villahermosa in southern Mexico. As you will see, DHL tracked 20 steps detailing the times and dates of each step. The entire journey from our office on Howe Street in Vancouver BC to our client's home in southern Mexico took less than two days!
2. Proof of Delivery - This document is the Proof of Delivery for that same document. A Proof of Delivery can be used as an attachment in an Affidavit of Service if required. More often however, it is just there for peace of mind.

SECURITY FOR ALL YOUR NOTARIZATION & APOSTILLE NEEDS

Taken together, Brosgall Legal's secure document preparation procedures, and our use of online delivery tracking means you can be confident that your documents are as safe and secure as possible. Our experience and best practices ensures the security of your documents - and that's important when it comes to notarizing and Apostilling your valuable documentation. 

VANCOUVER NOTARY PUBLIC, COMMISSIONER OF OATHS, AND LAWYER 

Brosgall Legal's owner and principal, Adam Brosgall, is an experienced Vancouver Notary Public, BC Commissioner of Oaths, and Lawyer. He is fully qualified, licenced, and insured to do notarizations and Apostilles for international use. If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email, or call 604-685-2326 to book an appointment. Same day service and walk-ins are welcome. Please see our home page for our other services, and we look forward to seeing you.