Copy of Civil Code 1183 & Probate Code 4122
Civil Code section 1183:
The proof or acknowledgment of an instrument may be made
without the United States, before any of the following:
(a) A minister, commissioner, or charge d'affaires of the United States, resident and accredited in the
country where the proof or acknowledgment is made.
(b) A consul, vice consul, or consular agent of the United States, resident in the country where the proof
or acknowledgment is made.
(c) A judge of a court of record of the country where the proof or acknowledgment is made.
(d) Commissioners appointed by the Governor or Secretary of State for that purpose.
(e) A notary public.
If the proof or acknowledgment is made before a notary public, the signature of the notary public shall
be proved or acknowledged (1) before a judge of a court of record of the country where the proof or
acknowledgment is made, or (2) by any American diplomatic officer, consul general, consul, vice consul,
or consular agent, or (3) by an apostille (certification) affixed to the instrument pursuant to the terms of
The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.
Probate Code section 4122. If the power of attorney is signed by witnesses, as provided in Section
4121, the following requirements shall be satisfied:
(a) The witnesses shall be adults.
(b) The attorney-in-fact may not act as a witness.
(c) Each witness signing the power of attorney shall witness either the signing of the instrument by the
principal or the principal's acknowledgment of the signature or the power of attorney.