An apostille is an official certificate issued by a state government that verifies the authenticity of a public document for use in foreign countries. It is required by all nations that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention. This specialized authentication ensures that documents like birth certificates, powers of attorney, and corporate records are legally recognized outside the United States without needing further embassy legalization.

Yes, in most cases. Unless it is a vital record issued by the state (like a birth or death certificate) or a court-certified document, it must be properly notarized by a commissioned Florida notary public before it can receive an apostille. Our mobile and remote online notaries can handle this prerequisite for you seamlessly.

Absolutely. However, birth certificates cannot be notarized; the apostille is attached directly to a certified copy issued by the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or the county health department. If your copy is too old or damaged, you may need to order a new certified copy before authentication.

A Power of Attorney must first be signed and properly notarized with a standard jurat or acknowledgment before it is eligible for an apostille. Once notarized, we submit the original document to the Florida Secretary of State, where the notary's signature and commission are verified and the apostille certificate is attached.

Apostilles are accepted by over 120 countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, including Mexico, Spain, Italy, France, and Colombia. If your destination country is not a member, the document will require a different, more complex legalization process through the U.S. Department of State and the destination country's embassy or consulate. See complete list here: https://www.gsccca.org/notary-and-apostilles/apostilles/hague-apostille-country-list

Yes. While standard state processing times can vary, we offer expedited handling for time-sensitive legal, real estate, and business transactions. We hand-deliver and monitor your documents to ensure the fastest possible turnaround without compromising the integrity of the authentication.

Yes. Florida birth certificates can be apostilled for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles are commonly requested for dual citizenship applications, international marriage, immigration matters, and foreign residency requirements. We can help verify that your birth certificate meets Florida apostille requirements before submission.

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