Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents such as birth certificates, court orders, or any other document issued by a federal agency or certified by a U.S. or foreign consul. An apostille certifies the document(s), so the document can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. We only issue apostilles for federal documents to use in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention.
Before submitting documents to us, you much
1) Notarize each document in front of a notary public:
Using a notary commissioned by the county? Certify your document at the clerk of court then the secretary of state.
Using a notary commissioned by the state? Certify your document at the secretary of state.
If you do not have the correct notarization(s) before you submit your documents, we will not be able to process your request.
2) All seals and signatures must be originals
We cannot accept copies unless they are “true certified copies” from a notary public. Birth, marriage, and death certificates, divorce decrees, court documents, and federally-issued documents cannot be certified by a notary public as “true copies.” These documents must be certified by the secretary of state.
3) All documents in a foreign language must be translated into English by a certified translator and notarized as a true translation.