How apostilles work in North Carolina
What an apostille is, who issues it in North Carolina, and the usual steps to get one for a document you'll use abroad.
If you need to use a North Carolina document in another country, such as a birth certificate, a diploma, or a notarized letter, that country may ask for an apostille.
What an apostille is
An apostille is a certificate attached to a public document. It confirms that the signature and seal on the document are genuine, so the document can be accepted in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It doesn't say anything about what the document itself says.
Who issues it
For documents from North Carolina, apostilles are issued by the North Carolina Secretary of State. Federal documents (for example, some FBI records) are handled by the U.S. Department of State instead.
The usual steps
- Get the right version of the document. Vital records like birth or marriage certificates usually need to be a certified copy from the office that keeps them.
- If the document is one you sign, such as a letter or a power of attorney, it is notarized first.
- The document is sent to the Secretary of State with the request and the state's fee.
- The Secretary of State attaches the apostille and returns the document.
Countries outside the Hague Convention
Some countries don't accept apostilles and use a longer process called authentication, which can include a step with the country's embassy or consulate. Ask the office that will receive your document which one it needs.
How we help
We help you get the document ready, notarize it when that's needed, and submit and return it for you. We can't tell you which document a foreign office requires; the office receiving it decides that.
These articles are general information, not legal advice.