
This is a question that should be directed to the authorities in the country in which the documents will be deposited. If overnight mail service is required, a pre-addressed, prepaid airbill and envelope must be included. This office also accepts American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards (PDF).Ī self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of the document(s) and Apostille must be included with the request. Checks and money orders should be in favor of the 'Secretary of State of Texas'. If the Apostille is requested for use in proceedings related to an adoption, the fee is $10.00 per Apostille, and the total fees may not exceed $100.00 for the adoption of each child. There is a statutory fee of $15.00 per Apostille being requested unless the Apostille is requested for use in adoption proceedings.
Requests for Apostille on documents executed before a Texas notary public, documents issued by statewide officials (such as the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, district judges, motor vehicle custodian of records, etc.), and certified copies issued within the past five years by county officials and local registrars should be submitted to the Authentications Unit.Īlong with the document(s), please provide us with the name of the country to which the document(s) will be transmitted. Requests for corporate documents requiring an Apostille should be directed to the Corporations Section. The document(s) will be handled by the appropriate division within this agency. These types of 'public documents' would include birth/death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, school transcripts and diplomas/degrees, among others.Ī request for an Apostille may be made in person or through the mail.
official certificates placed on documents. those originating in a court, clerk of a court, public prosecutor or process server,. The Hague Convention defines 'public documents' as: The Apostille may be obtained to transmit public documents executed in one subscribing country to another subscribing country wherein the documents need to be produced. The competent authority for issuance of Apostilles on documents issued by the federal government are the clerks of the federal courts. Recently issued birth/death certificates issued by locals registrars must have been issued within the past three (3) years in order for the Secretary of State to issue an Apostille. The Secretary of State of Texas may issue an Apostille on documents issued by persons on file with this agency, including county clerks, notaries public, statewide officials. The Secretary of State of Texas has expanded this authorization to include the Deputy Secretary of State and the division directors. The United States has appointed the Secretary of State (or their counterpart) of the various states as said authority. The completed Apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, and identifies the seal/stamp which the document bears.Įach subscribing nation may designate those authorities which may issue Apostilles for their jurisdiction. The object of the Apostille is to "abolish the requirement of diplomatic or consular legalization for foreign public documents". It is a form of numbered fields, which allows the data to be understood by the receiving country regardless of the official language of the issuing country. Where can I obtain more information about Apostilles?Īn Apostille is a form of certification set out in the 1961 Hague Convention, to which the United States became a subscriber in 1981. What if my school records need to be authenticated?. Will you issue a Apostille on a document where the stamp of office is not affixed?. What if my documents need to be translated?. My receipt for mail delivered to the Secretary of State shows TPASS/CPA signed for it, is this correct?. What is the guidance about the propriety of authenticating or legalizing certain notarized documents as provided by the U.S. If I have two documents issued by the same authority, do I need two Apostilles?.
What kind of documents do I need an Apostille for?.If you have specific legal questions, consult your attorney. The answers to our Frequently Asked Questions are provided for informational purposes and are not intended to provide legal advice or to substitute for the advice of an attorney. SOSDirect: Business Searches & Formations.