If you have a contract that needs to be notarized for international use, the process can seem daunting. An apostille for notarized contracts can streamline the authentication process so that your document will be recognized internationally. If you are not familiar with this process, here are a few things to know.

Notary Seals

The first step in the process is to get the document notarized by a notary public. This will ensure that the signatures on the document are authentic and that it is valid according to state laws. The notary will also apply their own stamp and seal, which renders the document legally binding. The notary will also track this in their journal as a transaction record.

After the notarization is complete, the next step is to have the document apostilled by the Secretary of State in your country. This will confirm that the notarization is legal per your state’s guidelines and will allow it to be recognized internationally. The apostille will contain details such as the Secretary of State’s name and seal, the date of certification, the type of document, and the registration number.

If your document is going to a country that is not a party to the Apostille Convention of 1961, then you will need to have it certified directly by the foreign country. You should contact that country’s consulate for further information about this process. In some cases, a copy of the signatory’s passport will be sufficient to prove that they have been duly authorised.