01/18/2022
What is an Apostille?
As a licensed Notary and Certified Apostille Agent I am able to assist clients who are in need of sending documents to their home countries. Many countries are a part of the 1961 Hague Convention; what this means is that these agreeing countries will not look for further proof or will need to legalize documentation on their end. These agreeing countries have left all of the legalizing and authenticating of document signatures to the client’s new home country, which is the United States of America. Apostilles’ are also able to help clients whose originating home countries are not a part of the 1961 Hague Convention. For those countries, the client will receive what is called an Authentication Certificate and not an Apostille Certificate. This is solely due do the clients home country not being an active member of the 1961 Hague Convention. Lastly, once the clients’ documents have been authenticated by the United States these same documents will now have to be legalized at the embassy or consulate for further attestation from the clients originating home country. Since the client is not able to go back to their home country for this step, we have embassies and consulates to help us complete the authentication apostille process here.
