Documents International, LLC specializes in Apostille services for United States documents to be used abroad.
BUT WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?
An Apostille is the simplified certification of public documents (including notarized), for their international use in all nations that have joined the Apostille Section of the Hague Convention. Signatory countries have agreed under the Apostille Section of the Hague Convention to recognize public documents certified by an “Apostille”.
This certification ensures that public documents are valid within the country where the document was originally issued or notarized. The main function of the Apostille is to certify the authenticity of the signature on the document (ie: State Registrar, County Clerk, Judge, Vital Records Officer or Notary Public).
The Apostille also certifies the capacity in which the person signing the document acted and the identity of any stamp or seal affixed to the document. The apostille must be issued in the State where the document was issued, or was notarized. The Apostille is a one page document embossed with the Great Seal of a State (see sample image) and includes includes the facsimile signature of the individual issuing the Apostille. There are currently over 60 member states of the Hague convention, and in the future, many other countries will join the Apostille Section of the Hague Convention to be able to recognize the Apostille for the international legalization of documents. The Apostille is applied only to public documents, signed by an authority or official connected with a court or tribunal of the State (including documents issued by an administrative, constitutional or ecclesiastical court or tribunal, a public prosecutor, a clerk or a process-server); administrative documents; notarial acts; and official certificates which are placed on documents signed by persons in their private capacity, such as official certificates recording the registration of a document or the fact that it was in existence on a certain date and official and notarial authentications of signatures.
Almost every kind of document including: Birth Certificates, Adoption papers, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Records, Death Certificates, Single Status Affidavits, Powers of Attorney, School Diploma and/or Transcripts, College degrees, Corporate Documents, Affidavits, Identity documents and/or Notarized Passport copies, Deeds and Wills, Agreements, Bills of Sale, Proofs of Ownership, and Private Documents.
If the country where you intend to use your documents is a member of the Apostille Section of the Hague Convention, you will need an Apostille. Don’t know if you need an Apostille? It’s easy to find out. Just fill out the form (download it from the tab above) or call us and we’ll walk you through it.
WHO ARE THE MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE APOSTILLE SECTION OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION?
The following countries exchange documents legalized through an Apostille:
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, China (Macau), China (Hong Kong), Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Namibia , Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania , Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia , Slovenia, South Africa , South Korea, St. Marteen, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden , Switzerland , The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga , Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine ,United Kingdom of Great Britain (U.K) and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, and Venezuela.
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