Who Can Verify My Documents

Instructions on acceptable methods of returning documents submitted by mail can be found on the application form. Other documents: Other documents (e.g. power of attorney) must be notarized. The notary`s signature must then be certified by the clerk of the county in which the notary is qualified. The third step in this process is the issuance of the apostille or certificate of attestation by the New York State Department of State. An application form must be completed. The documents in question must be duly certified and accompanied by a fee. The fee is $10.00 per apostille or certificate. To access the application form, obtain information on acceptable payment methods and other information, see section www.dos.state.ny.us. File Certification: Documents to be submitted for apostille or attestation must be certified by the county clerk or a state official. This is the second step in this process.

A birth or death certificate must contain a letter of exemplation. An application for legalization must be made to the District Clerk`s Notary at 60 Centre Street, Room 141B. The application may also be mailed to the New York County Clerk (New York County Clerk, New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, Room 161, New York, NY 10007); If the documents are in good order, the county clerk will authenticate them and return them to the applicant by mail. The mail-in submission must be accompanied by a certified personal check or money order for $3.00, payable to the New York County Clerk. No other method of payment by mail is accepted. Personal payment of the $3.00 fee can be made in cash or by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express). Postal requests must include a stamped envelope addressed for the return of documents by the County Clerk. The County Clerk does not have the ability to return documents by delivery service or mail, so the applicant must plan accordingly and submit appropriate postage to ensure a smooth return.

Documents may be submitted in person to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the following address: Copies of the documents may be certified by one of the following persons: If the document in question is an educational document, the applicant must have the notary`s signature certified (notarized the signature of an education officer) by the county clerk. The certifying county clerk must be the county clerk of the county in which the notary is qualified. Thus, if the notary qualifies in a county other than New York County, the documents must be submitted to the county clerk of that county, not to the clerk of the county of New York. Documents must be submitted as described above. For a variety of purposes (e.g., for U.S. citizens to marry or acquire dual citizenship in certain countries), individuals may be asked to obtain official and certified proof of name, birth, marriage, etc. Certification certifies the signature and capacity of the official who signed the document. The New York Secretary of State certifies public documents for use abroad. This evidence is known as an “apostille” issued under the 1961 Hague Convention on the Exemption of Foreign Public Documents. A “certificate of attestation” is issued to certify public documents intended for use in countries that are not signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention. The documents in question must be public documents issued in New York State and signed by a notary, county clerk or state official.

The need for an apostille or certificate of authentication depends on the foreign country or destination. When you apply for something like a bank account or mortgage, you may be asked to provide certified documents that are true to the original. Documents submitted personally are usually processed while the applicant waits. Documents sent by post are generally processed within four working days of receipt by the competent authority. New York State Department of State Division of Licensing Services 123 William Street, 19th Floor New York, NY 10038 (Hours: 9 AM – 3:30 PM) (Phone: 212-417-5747) Proof of birth: If a person requires official proof of birth in New York with apostille or accreditation, the applicant must first provide a copy of the birth certificate along with a letter of exemplification from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. New York City, Vital Records Division, 125 Worth Street, New York, NY. The letter of exemplification will be issued by this ministry upon request. Applications can be submitted in person at the departmental office, by mail or online. There are restrictions on who can apply (the person named in the certificate or the parents).

Proof of identity is required. Applications currently take approximately 30 days to process by mail. Online applications must be paid by credit or debit card or electronic cheque. Online applications are processed within 24 hours.