What Is An Apostille?
Originally posted 8/19/22
Have you ever heard the word Apostille? Do you have any clue what it is or what it means? Most people don’t, and there are very specific reasons why you would need one. Today I will talk you through what an Apostille is, who performs it, and why you need it. Not a long one today but one that will expand your knowledge and prepare you for whatever your future may hold.
Let's start with the name: Apostille; here is a definition directly from the California Secretary of State:
An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document for use in another country. An Apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature of the public official who signed the document, the capacity in which that public official acted, and….
There you go. An Apostille isn’t a person; it's a certificate. The only person who can issue such certificates is the Secretary of State.
What documents require an Apostille?
If you read the definition, you will see that it allows you to use certain documents outside the US. Many documents could require an Apostille to be used in foreign countries. I’ve listed some of them below;
Birth Certificate
Death Certificate
Marriage Licenses & Divorce Decrees
Powers of Attorney
Federal Background Checks
Why would I need my documents Apostilled?
Great question, and there are about a hundred or more answers. But let's just list the common ones.
You're getting married overseas
Taking a job like teaching overseas
A loved one's assets are in another country, but they die in the US
Buying real estate in a foreign country
Starting a business in a foreign country
Minor travel consent forms and there are so many more.
How do I get an Apostille?
Getting an apostille can be simple or complicated, depending on the country to which your document is going. It may need to be translated or certified. Someone can do it on their own, but I would encourage you to use a trained apostille agent.
What is an Apostille Agent?
An apostille agent is an intermediary who has trained and understands how to get a document or documents apostilled and how to get it done right the first time. Hiring an Apostille Agent will help make the entire complicated process even easier.
How long does it take to get a document Apostilled?
With Covid and the mass work from home over the last two years, getting an Apostilled document back took nearly 30-45 days. However, people are returning to work, so that time frame has shrunk. I can’t tell you the exact wait time. There are a good number of things to consider. Such as how close you are to your Secretary Of State's office. Whether or not your document must go through some other hoops because of your destination country, many things can affect the timeline. I always advise my clients not to buy plane tickets until the document(s) have come back.
I Need a Document Apostilled. What do I do now?
Simple- Contact Me. Jennifer Cooper at JKC Mobile Notary to help you through the entire process. You can get more info here.
I hope you found this info helpful. There is so much more involved in getting documents Apostilled, but I hope you left today understanding what an Apostille is.
Until Next Time-
Jennifer Cooper- JKC Mobile Notary