Designation of the Secretary of the Commonwealth as the Officer Charged with the Duty of Authenticating All Official Documents and Records Under .....
Designation of the Secretary of the Commonwealth as the Officer Charged with the Duty of Authenticating All Official Documents and Records Under Provisions Adopted by the 1961 Hague Convention
By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and under the laws of the Commonwealth, including but not limited to Sections 2.2-103, 2.2-135 of the Code of Virginia, and subject to my continuing and ultimate authority and responsibility to act in such matters, I hereby rescind Executive Order Number Fifty-two (1981) and redesignate the Secretary of the Commonwealth as the Officer charged with the duty of authenticating all official documents to be used by attorneys, private individuals and other interested parties in foreign countries subject to the provisions of the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961.
1. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall employ in the authentication of official records the form designated by the Hague Convention. The certificate shall meet all the requirements of Articles 3, 4 and 5 of the Convention.
2. The Secretary shall keep a record for verification purposes of all authentications made by the office pursuant to Article 7 of the Convention.
3. The Secretary shall charge the fee established for testimonials, including seal tax, by Section 2.2-409 of the Code of Virginia, amended.
This Order is to be liberally construed to carry out the purposes of the aforementioned Convention.
This Executive Order shall be effective immediately upon its signing and shall remain in full force and effect unless amended or rescinded by further executive order.
Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia this 14th day of July 2005.
/S/ Mark R. Warner, Governor
Attest: /S/ Secretary of the Commonwealth
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Executive_Orders/html/EO_95.html