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Notary Services Glossary beginning with R

Brosgall Legal's glossary covers useful Apostille and Notary Public terms.
Click one of the letters above to advance the page to terms beginning with that letter.
Ratification

The act, subsequent to a treaty's having been negotiated, by which a government commits itself to adhere to that treaty.

Recognition

Commonly used in connection with the recognition by one state of 1) the existence of another state (for example when a new one is formed), or 2) the existence of a government which is in effective control of a state. The term "de facto recognition" means recognition that a state, or a government of a state, in fact exists - but it also means the withholding of full official recognition of this. When the latter is extended, it is termed "de jure recognition".

Recordable Document

A document that the recording authority (such as B.C. Vital Statistics) is authorized to record. Please see 'Vital Record'.

Red Seal

Seals can be embossed directly onto a document, or over foil that has been applied to the paper first. Usually, the foil is gold or red. All variations are legal, provided they are issued by a person that is licensed to place the seal on the document. If a notary seal is embossed directly onto paper (without foil), it is not visible on a photocopy, so that is why many jurisdications make foil underlays a statutory requirement. 

Brosgall Legal always applies a permanent red foil seal on our notarial certificate face page, which we then emboss 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. 

In general, a seal should be sharp, legible, permanent and photographically reproducible, and must not obscure the signatures or other parts of the document.  

Seals at one point in antiquity were called Golden Bulls. The term Bull comes from the Latin term Bulla, because whether made of wax, lead, or gold, the material making the seal had to be melted to soften it and take on an impression: From the Latin bullire, 'to boil'.

Please see 'Seal' for further information.

Release

A with prejudice concession made by a party to give up all claims in regards to an alleged tort or contract.  A Release will form part of a settlement agreement.

Renunciation

The formal rejection of something. The act of giving up a right, such as a right of inheritance, citizenship, a gift under a will, or abandoning the right to collect a debt on a note. 

Representation Agreement

A Representation Agreement is a planning document that enables you to appoint a Representative to take care of your personal health care decisions if you are unable to do so. Unlike a Power of Attorney which covers your financial and legal affairs, a Representation Agreement covers health and personal care issues. There are two versions:

  • Standard (Section 7) Agreements; which cover routine decisions, and can be prepared for less than fully capable Adults.
  • Enhanced (Section 9) Agreements; which provide broader powers, and allows you to specify who has the right to make both minor and major health care decisions on your behalf.
Representative Capacity

Having the authority to act for and on behalf of a person, corporation, partnership, trust, or other entity as:

  • An authorized officer, agent, or partner
  • A public officer, personal representative, or guardian
  • An attorney-in-fact for a principal
  • An authorized representative
  • Any other capacity recited in the instrument
Resignation

Written statement that one is resigning an office or position.

Reverse

This is a numismatic (study of currency) term, but has wider usage. The 'reverse' is the back of a coin, paper money, flag, seal, medal, or document. It is the opposite of 'obverse' or the front face of these items.

In the notarial world, these terms are sometimes used to label or indicate the reverse (back) and obverse (front) side of a drivers licence or other document when making notarized or certified copies.

The obverse of a coin is commonly called heads, because it often depicts the head of a prominent person, and the reverse tails.

The term 'front' is more commonly used than obverse, while the use of 'reverse' is widespread.

Revoke

To cancel or rescind.

Rider

Riders (or addenda) are special attachments (separate sheets) that become part of a contract in certain situations.