Does your online digital notarized documents also need to be apostilled?
During the past year, we have noticed a proliferation of online digital notary publics within the US who will notarize signatures on documents virtually. What this means is that you can physically be in Costa Rica and have a notary public in the state of Virginia notarize your signature and obtain the Virginia state apostille.
Please note that National Apostille, Inc., DOES NOT process digitally notarized documents. All notarized documents that arrive at our apostille office must be original and include the following:
- The original signature of the signer(s)
- The original signature of the notary public
- The original stamp of the notary and/or raised seal
- Proper notarial wording for the state
Note: The signer of the document must physically appear before a notary public. For example, if you are physically in the state of Virginia, you must physically meet with the notary public in Virginia.
We have seen over the past year online digital notary publics notarize vital record documents (birth, death, marriage, etc…) and process them from the state they do not originate from. Please note that this type of behavior is fraud and only seeks to cheat and misinform the customer into believe all documents can be processed through one Secretary of State’s office. Furthermore, we have also seen employees at the Secretary of State’s office be complicit in this illegal behavior.
All vital record documents including documents issued by the County Clerk, Court, State, and US Federal Government must be certified with an apostille in which the signature of the official who is attesting to the document is authenticated with an apostille. For example, an FBI background check can only be processed through the US Department of State and receive the US Department of State apostille. A California birth certificate can only be processed through the California Secretary of State’s office and only receive a California apostille.
Obtaining an apostille can be complicated and time-consuming. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!
Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 8am to 7pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-903-2470 or email: support@nationalapostille.com
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