An apostille is a form of authentication or legalization that is used to verify the authenticity of a death certificate. It is a certification that is recognized internationally, and it is often required for official documents that are being used in a foreign country who is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
There are a few reasons why you might need to apostille a death certificate. For example:
- Inheritance or estate matters: If you need to settle an estate or claim an inheritance in a foreign country, you may need to provide a death certificate as proof of your loved one’s passing. In some cases, the foreign government or court may require an apostille on the death certificate to verify its authenticity.
- Immigration purposes: If you are a foreign national who needs to provide proof of a family member’s death in order to obtain a visa or other immigration benefit, an apostilled death certificate may be required.
We can apostille death certificates issued from all 50 States and the District of Columbia. We cannot apostille death certificates issues outside of the United States. For countries who are non-members of the Hague Apostille Convention, we can also process the death certificate through the U.S. Department of State (Federal) and the Embassy or Consulate office (Embassy or Consulate Legalization).
In order to apostille a death certificate, you must mail in the original or a certified copy issued by the County Clerk or State Registrar to our office for processing. Death certificates can only be authenticated from the State of origin. The Secretary of State does not have the authority to authenticate death certificates issued from another state. For example, a California death certificate cannot be processed in New York.
Note: Vital record documents cannot be color copied, emailed, notarized, or uploaded to any website. Beware of sites that ask you to upload your documents!
Obtaining an apostille on a death certificate can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!
Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-850-3441.
Click on the download image to your left to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.
