What is a Certified Apostille Agent?
I am a Certified Apostille Agent. As such, I am trained and equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to operate successfully obtain document authentication.
A Certified Apostille Agent is a person trained and certified by the Apostille Agent Training Company to obtain correctly and promptly the required government authentications from the proper county, state, federal and embassy government authorities in the correct order for documents to be presented in foreign countries. The Agent knows what is required, where to go, what to do and how to correctly expedite the process as promptly as possible. As an agent, I am a private contractor and not a government employee. Please note that I am not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice.
The physical application of the required apostille/certification seal is placed by a U.S. Designated Competent Authority. As a Certified Apostille Agent, I perform serves as a professional fee paid agent for individuals, schools, corporations, etc. seeking signature authentications for documents that are destined for use in foreign countries. Apostilles generally are not needed nor approved for use inside the United States.
Who needs Apostilles?
U.S. Citizens or residents:
- who are getting married or seeking employment in foreign countries
- students who are studying abroad
- companies that are conducting international business
- persons who are seeking dual citizenship
- graduates who want to use their U.S. degree or diploma in a foreign country
- anyone who needs to use U.S. documents in a foreign country
- anyone who needs to authenticate signatures on a Power of Attorney for use in a
- foreign country (example: to settle estates, provide dependent care, transact business, etc)
Who can obtain an Apostille?
Anyone who has the time and knowledge to go through the procedures may obtain an Apostille. There are certain rules to follow, agencies to contact, fees to agencies, and receiving the authenticated documents. Since anyone can do it, why hire me? You should hire me because I am trained and certified as an Apostille Agent. I can get the job done quicker and more efficiently. Some Apostilles can be processed within 24 to 48 hours.
How long does it take?
The actual time to complete an apostille depends on the complexity of the assignment, the destination country, the Competent Authority that needs to do the authentication, and whether the destination country is a member to The Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles requiring legalization through an embassy will take longer. Some apostilles can be completed within 24 to 48 hours. Others may take several weeks.
What are the First Steps?
I will need to see a copy of the paper to be apostilled. Usually the document will need to be notarized. Vital Statistics must be certified copies, and must never be notarized. Divorce Decrees must be certified court copies. The divorce decree that your lawyer gave you USUALLY is not a certified court copy. Other documents usually need notarizations. I will perform notarizations at no additional cost to my clients if they are needed as part of the apostille process.