What Is an Apostille — And When Might You Need One?
If you’ve ever needed to use a U.S. document in another country—whether for school, work, legal matters, or family affairs—you’ve probably heard the term apostille. But what exactly is an apostille, and when is it required?
At Bossred Notary Solutions, we help clients across the U.S. (and internationally) get their documents certified properly for global use. Whether you’re an attorney working with estate documents, a student studying abroad, or a business expanding internationally, this guide is for you.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate issued by the Secretary of State that authenticates the origin of a public document. It allows documents from one country to be legally recognized in another, as long as both countries are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
It doesn’t certify the content of the document—it confirms the signature, seal, or stamp of the official who signed it.
Common Documents That May Require an Apostille
You might need an apostille for:
Birth, marriage, or death certificates (for dual citizenship, marriage abroad, or inheritance)
Diplomas and academic transcripts (for international study or employment)
Powers of attorney or affidavits (used abroad for legal representation)
Business documents (such as articles of incorporation, bylaws, or good standing certificates)
FBI background checks (often required for international visas or work permits)
Court documents or adoption papers
Wills or estate documents involving international heirs
When Is an Apostille Required?
You’ll need an apostille only if the country where the document is being used is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. If the country is not part of the Convention, the document will need to go through a legalization process, which involves additional steps, including embassy authentication.
For example:
Studying abroad in Spain? Apostille your diploma and transcripts.
Getting married in Italy? Apostille your birth certificate and single status affidavit.
Expanding your business to Mexico? Apostille your incorporation documents.
Filing probate for a U.S. citizen who lived in Argentina? Apostille the will or death certificate.
How Bossred Notary Solutions Can Help
We make the apostille process easy, fast, and secure — whether your document is from Florida or any of the 50 U.S. states.
Our services include:
Apostilles for personal, legal, and business documents
Legalizations for non-Hague Convention countries
Remote or mobile notarizations
Bilingual service in English and Spanish
Clear guidance for both individuals and professionals
Who We Work With
We regularly support:
Attorneys & Law Firms – estate planning, international family law, business
Students & Parents – for study abroad or international school applications
Expats & Dual Citizens – applying for citizenship or international marriage
Corporations – expanding business operations overseas or signing international contracts
Final Thoughts
If you’re preparing documents for use abroad, the last thing you want is to get delayed due to paperwork issues. Getting your apostille done correctly the first time ensures peace of mind—and saves time and money.
Still not sure if you need one? We offer free document reviews.
Contact us today to get started or ask questions:
📍 Based in Miami | Serving Nationwide
📧 info@bossrednotary.com | 🌐 www.bossrednotary.com
Secure Signatures. Seamless Solutions.
