Signatures and hand signatures can in principle be officially authenticated by the authorities of the state, the municipalities and associations of municipalities, and by legal persons under public law subject to the supervision of the state, if

• the signed document is to be submitted to a public authority or
• to be submitted to any other body on the basis of a legal

to be submitted to another body.

The signature or the acknowledgement of a signature already executed by the person making the request shall be made in the presence of the official.

Signatures and hand signs may not be officially certified if they:

• require official certification (for example, contracts under private law)
• are presented without accompanying text (blank signatures)