An apostille document is a type of document that has been authenticated by the Secretary of State or Consul General of the United States. This process certifies that the signature on the document is genuine and that the person signing is who they claim to be. It is required for most official documents to be used outside of the United States. This includes birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees and death certificates.
What Does an Apostille Do?
An apostille makes your document legal enough to use in another country, but it doesn’t give you any special rights. It simply verifies that your signature is real and that you have permission from whoever you represent to sign on their behalf.
For example, let’s say you have a contract with a new client in France and they want you to sign it using an official stamp from your state government. You can probably find one online, but if they want something more official-looking, they might ask for an apostille instead.
The reason this matters is because without an apostille, many countries don’t accept documents from other countries unless they’ve been translated into the local language. An apostille makes it easier for countries to accept documents from other countries because it indicates that the document has been verified and signed by a government official who has legal authority over the document in question.
Getting A Document Apostilled in Houston, Texas
The best way to get a document apostilled is to take it to your local Secretary of State’s office and have them do it. They’ll charge you a fee for the service, but at least you know that it will be done correctly. There are also professional apostille document Houston Texas agencies you can hire to make the process easier and more convenient for you. It’s important to note that not all documents need an apostille, nor does every country require them. The best way to know if your document needs one is to contact the country in question and ask them directly.
