TYPES OF APOSTILLES
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The State Apostilles
Several states issue:
- A "Legalization" under the name "Apostille" only for documents to be presented in Hague Convention Countries.
- A "Certification" or "Authentication" for Non-Hague Covention Countries.
- In the majority of cases, the document presented to the State requires notarization and sometimes a Certification by either the County or City. Federal documents are never processed at the State level.
State Apostilles
The California Apostille
California issues an "Apostille" for both Hague and Non-Hague Convention Countries.
This is legalization issued by the California Secretary of State for non-federal documents, certifying the signature(s) of documents destined for any foreign country.
Only the following signatures may be Apostilled in the State of California:*
- California Notary Public
- County Clerk
- Recorder
- Court Administrator of the Superior Court
- Officers whose authority is not limited to any particular county
- Executive Clerks of the Superior Court
- Executive Officers of the Superior Court
* The Apostille Process for other states follow similar guidelines.
California Apostille
The U.S. Department of Apostille
This is a legalization issued by the United States Department of State for federal documents signed by a federal official with the proper elements that are destined for a Hague Convention Country. State issued documents cannot receive this type of legailiszation.
The U.S. Department of Authentication
This is legalization certifies the signature of the Secretary of State (or Lieutenant Governor) in which the document was executed or the signatures of federal agency documents and court documents executed by the District of Columbia which contains the proper elements. This type of legalization is usually required for documents destined for Non-Hague Convention Countries.
The Clerk of the Court Apostille
This legalization certifies documents of a Federal Court of the United States as authentic for presentation in foreign countries. It is issued by the respective federal Clerk of the Court. This Type of Apostille is applicable only to Federal Court Documents.
United States Apostilles
The Embassy / Consulate Legalization
These legalizations (attestations) that are usually required by Non-Hague Convention Countries. In most cases the respective Embassy or Consulate attaches their own legalization to the document after the document has been legalized by the United States Department of State. (However, there are Non-Hague Convention Countries that require only the state legalization as a mandate for issuing their respective Embassy / Consulate Legalization).
Embassy Legalizations
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What is an Apostille?
Types of Documents
Apostille Services Schedule of Fees
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