Can I issue an “apostille” for a document? — N.M., San Francisco, CA
No, you may not. Under The Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, a treaty of 100 nations including the United States, apostilles may be issued only by a competent specialist authorized to issue an apostille, such as the Secretary of State’s office. Apostilles are certificates used to verify notarial acts and other important records sent to another country. These documents certify the authenticity of the signature of the official who signed the document, the capacity in which that official acted, and (when appropriate) the identity of the person who was issued the seal or stamp. Under the Hague treaty, Notaries are not authorized to certify their own signatures and seals.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.