Client Success Stories

Apostilles are commonly issued for personal, educational, and business documents. This includes birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, transcripts, powers of attorney, business agreements, notarized documents, and more. If the document was issued in the U.S. and needs to be used abroad, chances are it can be apostilled.

It depends on the document. Many vital records (like birth or marriage certificates) must be issued as certified originals. Other documents, such as powers of attorney or affidavits, can often be notarized copies. Here is a list of when originals vs copies are accepted:

-Originals required: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, court-issued documents, FBI background checks.

-Notarized copies acceptable: Diplomas, transcripts, powers of attorney, business documents, affidavits.

Countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention accept the apostille certificate as the only required authentication. For non-Hague countries, the process is more complex and usually requires embassy or consulate legalization after the apostille. We handle both processes for you.

If your destination country is not a member of the Hague Convention, your documents must go through embassy or consulate legalization. This involves additional steps with the U.S. State Department and the foreign embassy. We take care of all these details so your documents are valid abroad.

If you’re working, studying, or moving overseas, you may be asked to provide an FBI background check. Once you obtain the background check, it must be authenticated with an apostille so it is recognized internationally. This process takes longer than state-issued apostilles but we manage it from start to finish.

You’ll first need to request your FBI background check directly through the FBI or an approved channeler (the fastest way). Once you receive your background check, you can send it to us, and we’ll handle the apostille process.