China-Appointed Attesting Officers (“CAAO”) are qualified Hong Kong lawyers appointed by the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China to attest, certify and authenticate acts, matters and documents deriving from Hong Kong for use in Mainland China for further authentication.
Documents attested by CAAO are broadly divided into the following types:
- Declarations
- Certification and witnessing of execution of legal documents
- Certification of original and duplicate documents
- Certification of legal facts
Common examples of CAAO works we undertake:
- Preparing and witnessing Power of Attorney for PRC litigation/arbitration or property transaction
- Authenticating documents of a Hong Kong company/registered non-Hong Kong company for set-up of Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (“WFOE)
- Certifying Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate or Death Certificate
- Administrating declaration of inheritance/giving up inheritance of estate
- Administrating declaration of family relationship and marital status
- Administrating declaration of same person statement
