In some cases, the authenticating agency or party can accept documents that have been certified as true copies by a notary public. Other document copies, however, must be approved by the Secretary of State. If you have questions about this, our team at Florida Apostille and Filings will be happy to help you. Generally, the following documents must be authenticated by the Secretary of State and not a notary:

• Birth certificates
• Death certificates
• Court documents
• Divorce decrees
• Marriage certificates
• Federal documents

It is important to understand the requirements, so time-consuming denials and resubmissions can be avoided. Ensuring that an original copy or, if allowed, a true certified copy of your document is included in the apostille request is crucial. If this aspect is missing from your submission to the authenticating agency, you can pretty much guarantee that the request will be denied.

If getting it right the first time is at the top of your priority list, let Florida Apostille and Filings take over the submission of your documents. Our experience and knowledge of this process translate to excellent success rates for our clients.