Recording of certified and legalised deeds executed outside Commonwealth countries

(1) Where any deed is made and executed, or purports to be made and executed, either before or after the commencement of this Act, in any place outside a Commonwealth country in the presence of a witness or witnesses, before or with one or more notaries public, the deed and every notarial grosse, or authentic copy thereof purporting to be a notarial grosse, or authentic copy of the original deed, certified and legalised, or purporting to be certified and legalised, either before or after the commencement of this Act, under the hand and seal of any officer of state, judge or magistrate of that place, or of any ambassador, minister, consul-general, consul, vice- consul or consular officer appointed by the Government of Belize for that place, may be recorded in the General Registry, and shall, without any proof, be as valid and effectual as any original power or letter of attorney, contract or agreement, or other instrument in writing coming from a Commonwealth country, and proved and attested in the manner prescribed in section 18 of this Act. (2) In sub-section (1), “certified and legalised” means– (a) that the deed is attested by the signature of the notary public before whom it is, or purports to be, executed; and 18 (b) that the fact that he holds that office in the place where the deed is, or purports to be, executed is certified, in the same manner as an affidavit or declaration, of the due execution of a deed is required to be attested. (3) An office copy of every recorded procuration, power or letter of attorney, contract or agreement, or other instrument in writing mentioned in sub-section (1), duly certified by the Registrar General or his Deputy shall, without any proof, be received in evidence in any civil cause or matter.