APOSTILLE
What is an Apostille ?
How to obtain an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication
What is an Apostille ?
An apostille is a simplified certification issued by the Florida Secretary of State which can be attached to public documents that are to be used in any country that has signed the 1961 Hague Convention. With the apostille, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no further authentication or legalization by the embassy or consulate of the foreign country where the document is to be used is required. Apostilles are not issued by county clerks in the State of Florida, as many are led to believe. Apostilles and Certificates of Notarial Authority must be obtained from the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille/Certification Section.
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How to obtain an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication
What is an Apostille ?
We Offer More
Upon receiving your documents, we do a complete review of all information, verifying all is correct and notifying you of any errors; doing this eliminates the possibility of the apostille being delayed or even rejected.
Did You Know…
We can expedite your apostille process when needed
Plus, we also offer translation services. At the time of obtaining the apostille, we can have your documents translated into the need language. This will save you time and money from having to translate the documents separately. Our Florida apostille process is simple, stress-free, and will exceed your expectations; we guarantee it. We are dedicated to 100% customer service.
We look forward to working with you.
How to obtain an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication
How to obtain an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication
Florida apostilles are issued by the Office of Florida Secretary of Stat
An "apostille" is a form of authentication issued to documents for use in countries that participate in the Hague Convention of 1961. If the country of intended use does not participate in the Hague Convention , documents being sent to that country can obtain a Certificate of Authentication.
The Office of the Secretary of State provides apostille and authentication service to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on documents that will be used overseas. Types of documents include corporate documents such as company bylaws and articles of incorporation, power of attorney, diplomas, transcripts, letters relating to degrees, marital status, references and job certifications, home studies, deeds of assignments, distributorship agreements, papers for adoption purposes, etc. The U.S. State Department provides general information about document authentications and apostilles under the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 .
Florida apostilles are issued by the Office of Florida Secretary of Stat
Florida apostilles are issued by the Office of Florida Secretary of Stat
Florida apostilles are issued by the Office of Florida Secretary of Stat
In Florida, an apostille is a separate page attached to the document. It is attached by a staple in the upper left corner. As required by the Hague convention, each apostille has the title "Apostille", the reference to the Hague Convention, and the following ten items: (1) country where the apostille is being issued ("United States of America"); (2) name of the official whose signature is being certified by an apostille, in the image above it is the name of the Secretary of State Laurel Lee; (3) the position or capacity of this official ("Secretary of State"); (4) name of of the seal on the attached document ("Great Seal of the State of Florida", (5) name of the city where the apostille is being issued ("Tallahassee, Florida"); (6) the date when the apostille is being issued; (7) position of the official person who signed the apostille ("Secretary of State, State of Florida"; (8) consecutive number of the apostille (in the image above it is "2019-42755."; (9) the seal of the apostille issuing agency (the Great Seal of the State of Florida, this seal is yellow); (10) signature. There is additional language on the bottom of Florida apostilles which reads: "This document contains a true watermark. Hold up to light to see "SAFE" and "VERIFY FIRST"
Acceptable Types of Documents
Florida apostilles are issued by the Office of Florida Secretary of Stat
Procedure for Notarial or Apostille Certification
Personal or Family Documents
- Marriage certificates
- Death certificates
- Birth certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Single status affidavits
- Power of attorney
- Wills
- Car titles
- Adoption dossier
- FBI records
- Criminal history reports
- Any notarized documen
Corporate Documents
- Certificates of good standing
- Certificates of incorporation
- Certificates of origin
- Power of attorney
- Hiring documents
- Company invoices
- Other business documents
Academic Documents
- High school
- GED
- College diplomas
- Report cards
- Other various school records
Procedure for Notarial or Apostille Certification
Florida apostilles are issued by the Office of Florida Secretary of Stat
Procedure for Notarial or Apostille Certification
The Secretary of State will Apostille or recognize the commission of a Florida notary or a Florida elected official for the following documents:
- Original notarized documents that have been correctly notarized in English, or have been certified as true copies by a Florida Notary Public. ** Please refer to Chapter 117, Florida Statutes, for questions regarding documents that may or may not be notarized.
- School transcripts from FLORIDA public schools and universities that have had the SIGNATURE OF THE SCHOOL REGISTRAR or ISSUING OFFICIAL NOTARIZED AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE. These documents MAY NOT BE printed and notarized by an individual.
- Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates bearing the signature of the State Registrar, who is currently Ken Jones, obtained from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville Florida. For their contact information, fees and procedures, or to determine whether your document is an original, you will need to visit the Bureau of Vital Statistics website at: www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval/vital_statistics/birth_death.htm
- ****Please note that records obtained from local health departments are NOT ACCEPTABLE****
- Vehicle Titles certified by the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles. For their phone number and fee information, please go to the following website: www.hsmv.state.fl.us
- Original certified copies of documents filed with the Division of Corporations or original Certificates of Status bearing the signature of the Secretary of State. **Fees for corporate certification and apostille/notarial certification, when requested at the same time, will need to be paid separately and not all together in one check or money order. WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH**
- Documents certified by a Clerk of Circuit Court from a county within Florida, such as a marriage license or a divorce document bearing the stamp and seal of the Clerk.
**NOTE:
- Documents must be submitted with original signatures; a photocopy of an original cannot be authenticated.<
- The Florida Department of State cannot apostille or issue notarial certification for any document(s) that is/are issued by anyone other than a Florida notary or elected or appointed official. Federal documents must be processed by the United States Department of State.