The Ministry of Interior has issued new instructions to Community Leaders (Mukhtars) and Certifying Officers, aiming for the correct and uniform application of the signature certification procedure on private documents. The circular reminds the competent officers of their obligations, clarifies what is permitted and what is prohibited during signature certification, and establishes the maximum allowable fees.

Introduction of a Unified Pricing Status

Until today, in most cases, Community Leaders did not collect money for certifying signatures or requested a symbolic amount of €5, without a unified practice existing across all communities. Conversely, Certifying Officers already had a fixed schedule of fees, which was revised in 2024 by the Ministry of Interior. With the new circular, the same maximum allowable fees are now applied to Community Leaders as well, ensuring uniform treatment across all certifying officials.

Strictly Defined Duties and Prohibitions

According to the instructions, the Community Leader certifies exclusively that the signature was placed in their presence and that the person who signed was identified via a valid official document or is personally known to them. It is clarified that they do not certify either the content of the document or the truth of what is stated within it. Furthermore, the certification of already-signed documents is prohibited, as is certification without the physical presence of the signatory. Before any certification, the identity of the person must be checked, and it must be verified that the document is fully completed, without blanks, erasures, or alterations.

Breakdown of the Maximum Allowable Fees

The maximum allowable fees are determined as follows:

• €5 for a document of 1-2 pages with one signatory and/or one stamp.

• €10 for a document of 3-10 pages.

• €25 for a document of 11-100 pages.

• €40 for a document exceeding 101 pages.

• €2 for each additional signatory and/or stamp.

• Up to €10 for traveling to a citizen's location.

• Up to €2 per document for traveling to the District Administration to certify the signature or stamp of the Community Leader (Apostille, etc.).

• Up to €20 for a special, same-day trip to the District Administration, provided it is accepted.

International Document Use and Tax Obligations

The circular further points out that in the event a document is intended for use abroad, an Apostille may be required. In these cases, prior to placing the Apostille stamp, it is mandatory to have the signature and stamp of the Community Leader certified by the District Administration.

At the same time, it is reminded that the amounts collected by Community Leaders for these specific services constitute income and must be declared in accordance with the obligations provided by tax and insurance legislation, including Social Insurance.

Finally, the Ministry underscores that the certification of signatures is an act that entails personal responsibility for the Community Leader, and for this reason, strict adherence to all prescribed procedures is required.

Source: ink.com