Sec. 14.09.02.01. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Apostille" means a certificate issued under the Apostille Convention authenticating the origin of a public document.

(2) "Apostille Convention" means the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents.

(3) "Authorization for Disclosure of Health Information" means the executed release authorizing the disclosure of protected health information in accordance with Labor and Employment Article, §§9-709, 9-710, and 9-711, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(4) "Certified copy" means a duplicate of an original document that is certified as a true and accurate copy by the officer having custody of the original.

(5) "Competent authority" means an authority designated by a Contracting State as competent to issue apostilles.

(6) "Foreign State" means a foreign sovereign state or country.

(7) "Notarized" means signed by the person or persons authorized or required to sign the document, the signing of which was witnessed by a notary public, accompanied by the notary's official notary seal.

(8) "State of origin" means the country where the document was created or issued.

(9) "State Party" means a State that has joined the Apostille Convention, for which the Convention is in effect.