Legalization
Documents intended for use abroad usually undergo comprehensive legalization process required by the receiving country. We can assist you with the legalization of your documents, and do so with professionalism, expertise, confidence, efficiency, and at a reasonable cost.
Apostille means certification in French, and is commonly used to refer to document legalization for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of consular legalization for foreign public documents.
The Hague Apostille is a document that verifies the authenticity of the document it accompanies. Physically, it is an independent sheet that is attached to the public document and shows the signature and seal that guarantees its legality. This simplified method of legalization was introduced by the “Hague Convention” on October 5th, 1961.
Most countries, which subscribe to the 1961 Hague Convention, concur that a document, which has been legalized with an Apostille in its country of origin, shall be accepted by other member-countries without further certification or consular legalization. In fact, having an Apostille affixed to the document removes the need for further evidence of its authenticity.
Documents bearing Apostille are often required abroad as part of a legal or business process. Most involve contractual transactions, inheritance matters, sale and purchase of property, estate management, division of assets, etc.
Some of the most common documents requiring legalization with Apostille are powers of attorney, certified copies of passports, birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates.
The process of affixing Apostille onto the document requires multiple steps and, often, visits to government offices in the state in which the document was issued. The intent of legalization is to deter fraud and unauthorized use by verifying identities and legal capacities of the signers, including the individual (affiant), the notary public, and the county official.
List of countries – members of The Hague Convention can be found here: https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members
Cost of legalization varies depending on the state in which the process takes place and your preference on the delivery time (regular vs. expedited processing). Please contact us at 323-937-1525 or e-mail atsnotary@gmail.com with specific instructions, information or requirements pertaining to your document.
Documents intended for countries that are not members of The Hague Convention must be legalized at the Embassy or Consulate of the country for which the documents are intended.
The process is similar to legalization by Apostille, but requires two more steps – authentication at the U.S. State Department, followed by legalization at the Embassy or Consulate of the intended-use country.
We can assist you in properly legalizing documents in all 50 states to ensure acceptance in the foreign country of intended use.
Our 35+ years of experience in handling legalization of documents, thousands of satisfied customers, and just as many successful transactions which resulted from properly authenticated documents are a testament to our expertise and dedication to customer satisfaction.
In addition to certification on the state level, documents required for use in non-member countries of The Hague Convention must be authenticated by the U.S. State Department before being sent to the Embassy or Consulate of the intended-use country for legalization.
We will be happy to assist you in this endeavor in the most expeditious and cost-effective way. By entrusting your business to us, you can rest assured that your documents will be legalized properly, and accepted in the country for which they are intended.
Cost of legalization varies depending on the state in which the process takes place. Please contact us at 323-937-1525 or email atsnotary@gmail.com with specific instructions, information or requirements pertaining to your documents.