An Apostille is a government-issued certificate that verifies the authenticity of a document signed or issued in a particular country. It serves as an official authentication of a document, and it's necessary when public documents need to be used in another country.
The purpose of an Apostille is to verify the seals and signatures of officials on public documents, including birth certificates, notarial certificates, court orders, and other documents issued by public authorities. With an Apostille, these documents can be recognized by foreign authorities without question.
The Apostille Certificate is a full-page document that is permanently attached to the notarized or certified document. It's essential to note that removing the staple or clasp is legally forbidden.
However, it's worth mentioning that an Apostille only certifies the origin of the underlying public record and doesn't provide any further authentication beyond that.
There are many situations where an Apostille is needed. Some of the most common examples include international marriages, applications for studies, residency or citizenship in a foreign state, international relocation, inter-country adoption procedures, international business transactions, and foreign investment procedures, enforcement of intellectual property rights abroad, foreign legal proceedings, and more.
As a result, several million Apostilles are issued around the world every year.
Step – 1) Notarization
Your official document should first be taken to a certified notary public. Notarization of your document reduces the chance of fraud. It also let’s the receiver of your document know that it is valid and can be trusted.
Step – 2) County Clerk Authentication
After your document is notarized by a notary public, it must be authenticated in the same county the notary is registered to notarize documents in.
Step – 3) Department of State Apostille
The third step in the process is the issuance of the Apostille or certificate of authentication by the Texas Department of State. An application form must be completed. The documents in question, properly authenticated, must be attached and a fee paid.
Leveled Assist Notary Services
DISCLAIMER: I am not an attorney and therefore by law, I cannot interpret the contents of any document for you, instruct you on how to complete a document, or direct you on the advisability of signing a particular document. By doing so I would be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and could face legal penalties that include the possibility of incarceration. Any questions about your documents should be addressed to the lender, title company, or an attorney.
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