Consider the following question. If you were presented with a document from another country how would you know that it was genuine? This problem is made even more difficult if the document is not written in your own language. Unfortunately we live in a world where documents can be forged, recreated, adjusted and ultimately misused. The Hague Convention introduced the apostille service to assist member countries in the certification of documents that are required in an official capacity.
There are many examples of when an apostille may be required. If you were to marry overseas you may need to get an apostille certificate on your birth certificate or a sworn affidavit stating that you are single and legally allowed to marry. People purchasing properties abroad often need to legalize a power of attorney that allows an individual to act on your behalf during the transaction. If seeking employment overseas you may need an apostille certificate on a criminal record check or on your educational documents.
The requests for apostille certificates are increasing. More than 60 countries now recognize the apostille certificate and its use is becoming more widespread. If you need an apostille certificate then you will need to find a service provider in the country that the document originates from. For example, it is not normally possible to legalize documents within the Unoted States that were created in India.
Before a document can be processed with the legalization office it must be officially certified and signed by a notary public or solicitor, be an official government document, or it should bear the seal or stamp of a relevant authority. Common examples of documents include general registry documents, court papers and academic results.
Over 60 countries have agreed to this specific convention on Apostille Certificates, including the USA, most of Europe and the UK. The list of countries continues to grow and the apostille is increasingly being requested by more governments and organizations within each country.
While the legalization of documents may be seen as bureaucratic by some, it has been welcomed by many countries that need to check the paperwork of another member state. The apostille is not a foolproof way of checking documents, but it provides some assurance and helps to reduce the burden on local courts and embassies certifying documents.
If you need an apostille certificate on your document contact Notarized247.com at https:///www.notarized247.com<https://www.notarized247.com> or call them nationwide at 800-807-1260 Ext – 1.
