An apostille on a birth certificate is one of the most common requirements for Americans planning to marry, study, or relocate abroad. Because a birth certificate is a state-issued vital record, the process differs slightly from a standard notarized document.
1. Obtain a Certified Copy
You cannot apostille a photocopy or an older, damaged original. Most states require a recently issued, certified copy of your long-form birth certificate from the state's Department of Health or Vital Statistics office.
2. Verify the Signature
The state will only authenticate the signature of the current State Registrar or Health Officer. If your certificate is very old, you must order a new one.
3. Do Not Notarize It!
Unlike personal documents, vital records cannot be notarized by a standard Notary Public. They are already official government documents. Adding a notary stamp to a birth certificate can actually invalidate it for the apostille process.
4. Submit to the Secretary of State
The certified copy must be submitted to the Secretary of State in the same state where the birth occurred. For example, if you were born in New York but live in Florida, you must get the apostille from New York.
Navigating out-of-state apostilles can be incredibly frustrating. Contact us to handle the logistics and ensure your document is perfectly prepared for your international needs.