Frequently Asked Questions
Apostilles
Listed below are some of our most frequent questions regarding our Apostille Services:
.jpeg)
What is an Apostille?
An Apostille is a a French word meaning "certification." An Apostille is simply the name for a specialized certificate, issued by the Secretary of State. The Apostille is attached to the original document to verify it is legitimate and authentic so it will be accepted in of the countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
An Apostille is a term that is commonly used to refer to the legalization of a document for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.
An Apostille is required for legal transactions where a document from one country must be presented in another country as part of a legal process. A document is handled dependent on what signatures or seals of authority it contains, country of intended use, etc. Many documents require addiitional certification prior to the issue of the Apostille Certificate.
An Apostille Certication on a document does not confirm the validty of the document itself. It only verifies that a document was singed by the appropriate official, his or her capacity in which they acted, and the identity of the seal placed on the document. An Apostille has everything to do with the authentication of the signatures that are written on the document and the necessary legalization process for acceptajce in the Country of Destination.
What is an Apostille Agent?
An Apostille Agent is trained and certified to act on behelf of individuals and/or companies in obtasining the requried government or various embassy/consulate authentication(s) for all types of documents destined to be presented in foreign countries. As a Certified Apostille Agents, we are independent business persons, not government employees.
Why would I need an Apostille?
You may need an Apostille if you plan to use your documents in a foreign country that is a member of the Apostille Hague Convention. The Apostille's purpose is to provide additional certification of the signatures to know the documents are authentic in case a foreign country requires it.Foreign countries require additional certification for some documents to verify authenticity. By issuing the Apostille, the Secretary of State certifies the authenticity of the Notary Public.
How does Apostille process work?
We have a simple 4 step process that includes:
- Obtain an Apostille Quote
- Download & Complete our Form(s).
- Send us your original Documents.
- Receive your Legalized Documents.
What types of Documents do you Apostille?
We can help you a wide range of personal documents, academic documents, coporate documents, court documents, state documents, and federal documents. However, we can only assist with documents that originate from the United States.
What is the Hague Convention?
The Hague Convention that is referenced to the Apostille Process is the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. This particular convention basically outlined the necessary process and certifications required for a document generated and Authenticated in one member country (sometimes referred to as states) to be accepted by another member country (state) without further process.
This process is usually referred to as Legalization. The Apostille (sometimes referred to as Authentication) simplifies and speeds up the process for the acceptance of a qualifying document from one member country (state) to another.
To reiterate, the Hague Convention of 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization of Foreign Public Documents is an international agreement which simplified the Authentication process of public documents to be used in nations that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention. The United States signed this agreement on October 15, 1981. Only those nations who are party to the Hague Apostille Convention recognize Apostille Certifications.
This process is usually referred to as Legalization. The Apostille (sometimes referred to as Authentication) simplifies and speeds up the process for the acceptance of a qualifying document from one member country (state) to another.
To reiterate, the Hague Convention of 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization of Foreign Public Documents is an international agreement which simplified the Authentication process of public documents to be used in nations that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention. The United States signed this agreement on October 15, 1981. Only those nations who are party to the Hague Apostille Convention recognize Apostille Certifications.
.jpg)
What about Non-Hague Countries?
Generally documents from the United States that are to be presented to countries (sometimes referred to as states) that do not belong and adhere to the Hague Convention usually require different forms of certifications which depending on the country and the type of document being legalized, can include:
- Secretary of State Apostille
- United States Department of State Apostille
- Embassy Legalization
How do foreign countries verify my Apostille?
Every Compentent Authority is required to maintain a register of every Apostille it issues (i.e. date, Apostille Number, including the documentation about the person of authority who sealed and issued the Apostille). Many of the these Competent Authorities have made these registeries available online. The corresponding website address is usually found beneath the main Apostille Certificate. Apostille verifications can also be done by calling the Compentent Authority to verify the Apostille Number on the Certification.
When does an Apostille need an United States Department of State Certification?
The United States Department of State (USDOS) cannot and will not issue an Apostille for any state-issued documents. The following are cases where an Apostille must be Certified or Apostilled by the USDOS:
- Documents signed by a federal official and sealed with the Federal Agency's seal.
- Documents signed by an American Consular Officer, Military Notary or a Foreign Consular.
- If your document is intended to be used in a Non-Hague Convention Country. Always check with the person or country requesting the Apostille document.
- Documents issued and signed by a Federal Court. Additional steps and fees are required.
Can you obtain Vital Records?
No. We are not permitted to obtain Vital Documents (birth, death, marriage certificates, etc.). You can contact the County Clerk or Vital Chek (recommended). We also recommend that you mail us your original or certified colored copies that you currently have. If the State rejects your Documents, we will contact you with instructions.
Can I drop off my Documents?
Yes - per appointment only. The majority of our clients mail in their documents. Please mail in your documents via FedEx, UPS, DHL, or USPS Priority Mail and please obtain a tracking number.
How much do you charge?
Our Schedule of Fees can vary depending on which country is receiving the document and what government agency(ies) is/are providing the Apostille. Some documents must be Apostilled by the State from where the documented originated (each state varies in price), some documents need to Apostilled by the United States Department of State (USDOS), and other documents need to be Apostilled by both the State, USDOS, and the country's Embassy.
What are your Terms and Conditions?
.jpg)
Do Apostilles expire?
No. Apostilles do not have an expiration date. However, the country requesting the Documents may set a time limit on how old the Document and Apostille can be. Before sending us your Documents, make sure that you check with the person who is requesting the Documents, to make sure they will accept you Documents once the Apostille is attached.
How do I check on my order status?
Yes. Please complete the following Order Status Request Form. We will respond to your request as soon as possible. Our average resonse time is 1-2 business days. Due to COVID-19 the average response time can be 3 business days.