Step by Step Guide for Getting a New York Apostille

If you’re unfamiliar with what an apostille is or why you need one, you’re not alone. This procedure helps you create business transactions that are legally binding in other countries, and provides foreign legal approval for documents like birth and death certificates, divorce decrees, and patents, all of which must have an apostille before going into effect in a Hague Convention certified country. This article explores the purpose of an apostille, as well as exactly how to get one in New York State.

Purpose of a New York Apostille

Due to a large, multicultural contingent of businesses and people, apostille services are in high demand in New York. An apostille is simply a legally-binding stamp that states that your document is legally recognized and effective in every country that signed the Hague National Convention in 1961.

Apostilles are especially important for people and businesses that operate in more than one country, such as tax firms, law firms, government agencies, accounting firms, and more.

It is important to note that an apostille does not attest to the correct content of your document. If your document is multi-lingual, it’s important to get a top-notch translation to clearly make your point and effect exactly what you wish to in the target country.

Steps to Obtain a Legally-Binding New York Apostille

1) Notary Public

Before your document can be considered for an apostille, it must be notarized by a notary that is approved in the county you’re aiming to get the apostille done in. A simple way to double-check your notary’s status is to ask them upfront.
You can also save time, money, and energy by hiring a mobile public notary to come to you. Bronx Mobile Notary Service, LLC, is open 24/7 and will respond quickly to make this part of obtaining an apostille as painless as possible.

2) County Clerk

After getting your document notarized, you next head over to the county clerk of the county in New York you’re trying to get an apostille in. The County Clerk will provide an Acknowledgement Certificate. See here to know more about Mobile Fingerprinting Services In Bronx NYC.

Again, this certificate does not attest to the correct translation or legal content of your document, but rather simply states that you have accomplished this part of the process.

3) The Department of State

After you receive the acknowledged document, it’s time to travel to the Department of State. Here, your document will finally receive the apostille stamp from someone processing your documents, which will check both that they have been notarized as well as acknowledged by the county. Click here to know about Traveling Notary Services In Bronx New York.

The Department of State will likely not accept cash, so be sure to check costs beforehand and be sure to have everything ready and in order.

Final Notes for Receiving a New York City Apostille

The two most important ingredients in the apostille process are time and money. The earlier you start, and by having the correct amount of money on-hand at every stage, will help you move through the apostille process as quickly and easily as possible. It’s also important to note that this process changes from state to state, and sometimes even county to county. Check with your Department of State or County Clerk for more information.

Just starting your apostille process? Reach out to Bronx Mobile Notary Services, LLC, for quick, convenient, and considerate notarization of documents. They can be reached at (917) 468-6308, 24/7.