All of the following conditions must be met before a document can be authenticated:

(1) All seals and signatures must be originals.

Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 66-273

  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • United States: shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3

(2) All dates must follow in chronological order on all certifications.

(3) All acknowledgments to be authenticated by the Secretary shall be in English and must comply with Chapter 10B of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

(4) Whenever a copy is used, it must include a statement that it is a true and accurate copy.

(5) Whenever a document is to be authenticated by the United States Department of State, it must comply with all applicable statutes, rules, and regulations of that office. (1998-228, s. 14; 2000-140, s. 57; 2005-391, s. 7.)