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HOW TO APOSTILLE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE

A document is notarized by a notary, a state official. The purpose is to prevent fraud by the document signer. The notary verifies ID of the signer.

Notaries are regulated by a regulator, such as the Secretary of State, Attorney General or Governor's Office. An apostille is a certificate attached by the notary regulator that authenticates the notary stamp and signature. The purpose is to prevent fraud by someone using a fake notary stamp or signature.

Countries that have signed the Hague Treaty have agreed to accept an apostille certificate as evidence of notary authentication. Other countries use a Certificate of Magistracy and require documents to also be approved by an embassy or consulate for authentication, which is a slower process.

An Apostille (pronounced “ah-po-steel”) is a certificate issued by the Secretary of State that proves the authenticity of a notary’s signature and seal. Typically, Apostilles are required for documents destined for use in a foreign country which abides by the Hague Convention. The document is the proof that the notary or public official who witnessed the signer’s signature is legitimate and is in good standing with the state government.

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