Is the Embassy mandated to extend legal services to its nationals in Japan?
As a general rule, Consular officers are prohibited to draw up wills, power of attorney,, contracts, deed or perform other legal services of similar nature. Also, the officers are prohibited from intervening in the collection of a private claim by the Japanese Government or private person.However, because of the difficulty of securing the services of lawyers in Japan which are prohibitively expensive, the Embassy has been rendering certain legal services to assist the Filipinos in Japan, namely: notarizing powers of attorney, contracts, deeds, certificates of citizenship, certificates of specimen of signature, letters of guarantee and support, affidavits and other certificates. Foreign individuals or companies cannot avail of these services. Their documents must be notarized by a Japanese Notary Public whose signature and authenticity will have to be certified by the Japanese ministry of Foreign Affairs (Gaimusho) signatures and seal but will assume no responsibility as to the content
