legalisasi
Also called: legalisir
Certification of a signature or copy of a document by an authorized official.
What it means
Legalisasi is the certification of a signature by an authorized official, usually a notary, confirming that the signature was genuinely made by the person concerned. Legalisasi does not validate the content of the document; it only confirms the identity of the signer. In everyday usage it is often called legalisir. In Indonesia, notaries are authorized to perform legalisasi on private documents.
Why it matters for families
Legalisasi helps families prove that the signatures on inheritance documents or family agreements are genuine. Without legalisasi, other parties can dispute the signature and prolong a dispute. However, legalisasi is not a guarantee that the document's content is correct, so families should still read and understand it before signing.
Example
For example, three children agree to divide a house grant amicably in a statement letter. They ask a notary to legalisasi each of their signatures. If one party later disputes it, the legalisasi helps show that the signature was indeed made by that person.
Common misunderstanding
Many assume legalisasi is the same as validating the content of a deed. The correction: legalisasi only certifies the signature and the signer's identity, not the truth of the document's content.