5 Things You Should Know About the Apostille Services Before Getting Your Documents Authenticated

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Are you looking for the authentication of your documents? Don’t know where to go and whom to contact? Or you might have a mere idea about the apostille but don’t know how you can help authenticate your documents? Then, you’re at the right place.

We understand that getting the apostilles for your documents could be a nuisance for many. To be honest, it’s a troublesome process. However, A to Z documents make the process extremely convenient for our customers. We don’t want our customers to get in the hassle of spending hours and hours getting apostilles for their documents. And, if you’re someone looking to have a streamlined process of getting the apostille, we’ve got you covered.

We’ll talk in detail about the apostille, which is the authentication of your important documents like the birth certificate, degree certificate, diploma certificate, court orders, or any other document. Moreover, you’ll understand all the essential detail about how you can benefit from the apostille services.

Before you go an agent for the apostille services, you have to understand all the nitty-gritty about the apostille. Some of the topics we’ll look at are what is an apostille, an apostille agent, how much does the apostille agent charge for the apostille services, etc.

So, without further ado. Let’s get started!

What Is an Apostille?

 

In today’s times, people travel from country to country frequently. They may require the documents to be signed either by the home country or the country they are staying in. These documents could range from a birth certificate to a death certificate. Many of these documents require a signature from an authorized public official or be notarized. One of the major issues that people face is that they can not identify the legitimacy of the notary’s signature. That’s the reason why apostille is essential.

The word apostille comes from a french word that means “certification.” Apostille is a government-issued certificate. It confirms the legitimacy of a notary public’s or any other public official’s signature.

In simple words, the apostille helps validate the signature on the documents so that there is no trouble in accepting the notarization. The apostille can facilitate those countries part of the Hague Apostille Convention. And, if the country is not from the 156 countries mentioned in the Hague convention, they may have to get some more documents from the U.S Department of State.

What Is an Apostille Agent? 

 

An apostille agent is someone who helps the people in getting the apostilles or the authentications. But, if you go to the notary for the apostille services, let us tell you that they’re not authorized to issue the apostilles. Only the state agency who are authorized can issue the apostille.

And, most of the time, it is the secretary of state’s office. The secretary of state’s office is the authorized person who can attach the apostille certificate to the document. However, the agent would guide people about whether they have the correct papers or not, the apostille stamp, etc.

Are you looking for a specialized Apostille Agent? A to Z Documents apostille agents know how to streamline the process of apostille services.

What Does an Apostille Agent Do?

 

The apostille agent doesn’t only help in notarizing the signature, but they also provide a range of different services. For instance, one of the services of the apostille agent could be providing the courier services in which they will send the documents which has needs the apostilles to the desired agency.

The apostille must include a few more copies, like the notarized document, check to pay the processing fee, and apostille request form. The apostille agent must be keen on doing that as it doesn’t only include one single document. And, at A to Z documents, we ensure that the apostille agents don’t miss any of the papers, which could cause problems later on for the customers.

On the other hand, A to Z documents would coordinate with the issuing agency to get the information regarding getting the apostille. We’ll help you by gathering all the data from the issuing authority and guiding you accordingly.

Sometimes the issuing authority might ask for a certified copy of the document, and sometimes they just need the notarized document. So, it’s always a good idea to ask the issuing authority about it.

Contact A to Z documents to get world-class Apostille services if you’re looking for document validation. 

As an apostille agent, we’ll ensure whether the agency requires the translation of the documents, a cover page, or if the receiving country is looking for some other documents as well or not.

What Does an Apostille Look Like?

 

You might be wondering how does the apostille look like. It’s nothing but a 15cms paper which is the certificate. It should be attached with the desired document, and then a seal is placed on it or an apostille stamp. The government crest is used to secure it. Usually, the certificate is pasted on the backside of the document. But, when the paper doesn’t have space on both sides, the certificate is pasted somewhere on the front, which is the most suitable location.

What Should the Apostille Agent Charge for the Services?

 

Knowing about the charges is necessary before considering getting the apostille services. Most people are unaware of the apostille agents, and they are under the impression that a notary is responsible for the apostille services. Well, that’s not wrong. The notary provides the apostille services.

However, they are not obliged, or their primary purpose is not just providing apostille services. Therefore the charges might differ from agent to agent. At A to Z documents, you’d get the most affordable notary and apostille services.

There are a few factors that determine apostille service charges, and they are :

  • Count the documents you have to send for processing and the state fees to perform that task.
  • To which issuing agency do you’ve to send the documents
  • Is there any kind of shipping costs for that?
  • Is the customer looking for an urgent service?

Not to forget, when you get the apostille services, the charges vary, and they have to be recorded separately because apostille services are not related to the notarial acts and aren’t governed by the notary laws.

Get affordable Apostille services at A to Z documents, and we’ll manage it for you.

Conclusion

 

Now, you must be familiar with the apostille, what does the apostille look like, the services the apostille agent offers, and much more. However, you must be confused between the apostille and notary and searching “apostille vs. notary” on google. Let us break it down for you.

Apostille is about validating the legitimacy of the documents, while Notary is regarding the notarization of the documents. That’s the basic difference between the two. The notaries don’t have the authority to issue apostilles. But, they can help the people guide them about all the documents required by the agencies responsible for issuing the apostille and ensure they don’t mess up any of the documents.

And, if you’re looking for either notary or apostille services, we’ll help you have a seamless experience in both of the services.

Want to know more about Apostille services? Get in touch with A to Z Documents.

Dr. Terrance Cleveland

Dr. Terrance Cleveland

Dr. Terrance Cleveland practices General Dentistry in Honolulu, Hawaii. Besides Dentistry, Dr. Cleveland loves to share stories of the special people and places that make Hawaii so amazing. If you have a story that needs to be told please contact us follow him on Instagram and on Facebook.