Notary Tea With Li — Apostille Education
Here's the tea... an apostille isn't the same as notarization, even though the two often go hand in hand.
An apostille is a certification that helps certain public documents get recognized in another country — but only in countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention. If your document is headed somewhere that isn't part of that convention, you'll need a different process (called authentication) instead.
Here in Louisiana, apostilles are issued by the Louisiana Secretary of State, not by your notary. What your notary can do is properly notarize your document first, since many documents need to be notarized before they're eligible for an apostille at all.
Common documents people apostille include:
- Powers of attorney
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Corporate documents
- Vital records like birth or marriage certificates
Not every document needs one — it depends entirely on where the document is going and what that country or institution requires. When in doubt, ask the receiving party (the school, government, or business abroad) exactly what they need before you start the process.
The Tea to Remember
Notarization and apostille are two different steps, often done in sequence. Your notary handles the first one; the Secretary of State's office handles the second.
Official Sources:
Louisiana Secretary of State — sos.la.gov
U.S. Department of State — travel.state.gov
Bonton Notary Express Solutions, LLC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Individuals needing legal advice should consult a licensed attorney.
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