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Documents Americans Should Have When Living in Mexico
When one intends to live (full or part time) in a different country from where he has lived one should always prepare himself to have with him the necessary documents to identify himself and copies in a safe place. Before leaving one should scan and print to copies of his passport’s picture page, driver’s license, social security or citizenship card and copy of his birth certificate, one set stays behind and the other are put is in a safe pace in his travelling bag or vehicle. Passport should always be with the holder never leave it in a vehicle or other place.
When one decides to not only live in a different country but also to buy property or work he will have to present certain required documents that must be recognized as legal documents in the new country. To be able to have legally recognized documents is easy to do, Two process exist, “Legalization” in countries that did not sign the International Convention or “APOSTILLE” for the ones which did,
In the case where the country of origin did not sign the convention one must present the document, in its original form, to the consulate of the country were they will be used; in the case where the country did sign the Convention one can go to either the consulate or to a government Dept. or Sec., of the country where the documents originated. In the USA one can go to any Secretary State Dept., office and ask that they be “Apostille”.
Documents that are signed by the holder, letter, contract, power of attorneys etc. one must first sign in front of an authority that will recognize the signature, in the USA and Canada a person who has been recognized by the government as a notary will do this, in the province of Québec, Canada these persons are called “Commisaire à l’asermentation”.
September
Most resident know the month as one that brings big storms...but September is in Mexico is also about three important events, first it is the month of the flag (la bandera mexicana), recognized as the THIRD best looking flag in the world, the complete month is dedicated to said red white and green colored "drapeau".
The second event is independence day "El dia de la indepedencia " (16th) celebrated by ringing the bell of independence, at midnight of the 15th., which is done by the president of th Country at government house, in front of the biggest public place in the world, (El Zocalo also called the La Plaza de la Constitucion) in Mexico city and in each of the 31 states by the governor at midnight local time. Said tradicion started in Puebla where the last battle with the french army occured.
The last and third item is that September is known as the month of the Will and Testament and Notario Publico NORMALLY give a 50% discount. This year we at CAN-AM-MEX will follow suit, we will provide 50% discount to SINGLE PERSON and 5% more to a MARRIED COUPLE, with the same family name, who would like to render his last Will and Testament and this is including the translation by a certified translator.
Contrary to other offices we emit a complete Will and Testament in Spanish with its oficial translation in French or Inglish or Italian or German.
Each Will and testament normally cost 130.00 US$ including the official translation, this month our fees will be 65.00 US$ plus the reduced Notario Publico's fees.
Every Will and Testament is registered in a central registry in Mexico city thus garanteed to exist at any time it is required.
An original plus two copies are given to the client.
Remember that a Will and Testament reduces problems when one departs this world for the surviving ones.
To be able to do a Will and Testament one needs to present: IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT or CARTA DE NATURALIZATION along with BIRTH CERTIFICATE and PASSPORT.
For any one outside of La Paz we will be in Los Barriles on Saturday 6th and 12th between 10 AM and 4 PM in our new offices at the small shopping strip between the two big arroyos on the road that goes to El Cardonal o as to take your information. Once the Will and Testament is done a meeting will be set up so as to receive the signature(S) at the Notario Publico office
Once the documents have received the seal making them legal documents in the new country one must have them, along with the other generated documents, translated in the official language of the country where they will be used, in countries where two or more languages are recognized as official one can choose. The translation must be done by an official translator in other words a translator who passed exams and received a license form the government to translate. At this time one must ask the translator if he is authorize to translate from the foreign language to the local one or reverse. To make sure the translation will be recognized one should have the document(s) translated by an official translator in the country where they will be used.
Finally when one presents in their original form the translated documents along with the translations one must always do so with copies and never leave the originals unless one presents, at the same time, a letter requesting that the copies be certified and the originals returned. The best way is to ask the person receiving them to acknowledge at the time of reception that he has seen the originals and certifies the copies as valid as the originals and that the originals are keep by the one who presents them.
Contact Information for Can-Am-Mex Law:
LIC. JACQUES-EDOUARD BEAULNE,
Abogado, Avocat, Lawyer,
Miembro del Colegiado de Abogados en B.C.S.
Member of the Lawyer's college in B.C.S.
Senior member of the Firm,
Notaria 8, Planta Alta, suite 4 & 6,
Esq., Allende y Serdan,
La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
24/7:
From outside Mexico: 011 52 (612) 348-9793;
From outside 612 area using hard line phone: 045 + area + number;
From inside 612 area using hard line phone: 044 + area + number;
From outside or inside 612 area using cell phone: area + number.