APOSTILLE SERVICES
What is an Apostille?
- An Apostille is the process documents must go through in order for them to be recognized as valid outside the United States. An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the seals and signatures of public officials on a document for use in another country.
The Apostille Process
In 1961, countries around the globe entered into an agreement known as the Hague Convention. This agreement created a process of establishing apostilles, a method of certifying documents for universal recognition. The United States joined the Hague Convention in 1981, simplifying the required legalization process of foreign documents that are destined for Hague Convention countries. Nonetheless, the process for each country is still diverse and is always subject to change.
Documents designed for public use in a foreign country generally need to be authenticated by a Designated Competent Authority of the jurisdiction in which the documents originated will serve their purpose. All apostilles will receive a seal from the Designated Competent Authority including various mandatory references, and When a document is apostilled, the Designated Competent Authority authenticates the official seals and signatures of the public officer who signed and stamped the document in an official capacity. For instance, the Secretary of State will verify a notarized document, verifying the signature and stamp of the Notary Public, and attach the Apostille Certificate to the Notarial Certificate that the Notary Public notarized. In other words, the apostille is authenticating the notarial act of the Notary Public, to be recognized as valid for foreign use. That is why every document, whether it be a personal, business, court, or government document must be either certified by the proper government agency or notarized before the document can be apostilled. Nonetheless, the process and certification requirements for each type of document can vary by county, state, and federal agency. The Apostille Agents at Ezra Apostille & Notary in California are the local and national experts in this document legalization process.
This process simplifies the international verification of legal documents and streamlines the process to have the documents recognized. An Apostille is the only requirement for documents being used in the current countries that participate in the Hague Convention (always subject to change).
Documents designed for public use in a foreign country generally need to be authenticated by a Designated Competent Authority of the jurisdiction in which the documents originated will serve their purpose. All apostilles will receive a seal from the Designated Competent Authority including various mandatory references, and When a document is apostilled, the Designated Competent Authority authenticates the official seals and signatures of the public officer who signed and stamped the document in an official capacity. For instance, the Secretary of State will verify a notarized document, verifying the signature and stamp of the Notary Public, and attach the Apostille Certificate to the Notarial Certificate that the Notary Public notarized. In other words, the apostille is authenticating the notarial act of the Notary Public, to be recognized as valid for foreign use. That is why every document, whether it be a personal, business, court, or government document must be either certified by the proper government agency or notarized before the document can be apostilled. Nonetheless, the process and certification requirements for each type of document can vary by county, state, and federal agency. The Apostille Agents at Ezra Apostille & Notary in California are the local and national experts in this document legalization process.
This process simplifies the international verification of legal documents and streamlines the process to have the documents recognized. An Apostille is the only requirement for documents being used in the current countries that participate in the Hague Convention (always subject to change).
Ezra Apostille & Notary’s Apostille Agents in Ventura County, California provide document legalization services to all 50 U.S. States, Washington D.C., and all U.S. Territories. Contact us today to assist with your Apostille needs!
Types of Apostilles
Types of Documents
Apostille Services Schedule of Fees
