Notarization-Documents must be notarized before they receive an apostille certification. Atlanta Mobile Notaries can apostille documents that were not originally notarized by us. We prefer to apostille documents we initially notarized to reduce chance of administrative issues.

Apostille-Certification by the United States government that allows a foreign government to accept a document from this county as an authentic document.

Embassy Certification- A seal placed on the document by the receiving foreign government.

Return of Documents- Documents are couriered back to the initiator of the document or to other location

DHL Courier - Documents are sent directly to the receiving party in a foreign country.  Atlanta Mobile Notaries prefers DHL because DHL packages are not subcontracted to another company once they leave the United States other overnight couriers subcontract delivery in a foreign nation. 

Consulates in Atlanta Georgia Area

There are more than 60 countries that have consulates in the Metro Atlanta Area. A list of these countries is listed below.  More than 25 foreign governments have operations in Georgia to promote trade between their countries and the state. In some cases, the trade promotion work is handled from within the countries’ consular offices.  Atlanta Mobile Notaries can transact business on your behalf for any of these countries generally on the same day.

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali,Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Uzbekistan

Consulates with Additional Travel Fees: El Salvador, Hungary, Liechtenstein,Malta, Romania Uganda


Apostille Frequently Asked Questions


In the USA the Apostille can take on many different styles or themes, however, the Hague Conventions specifies that the Apostille must have the information as shown in the sample below. Your Apostille must have all 10 lines on the Apostille. It is not necessary for the Apostille to have a ribbon, or gold seal to be an official Apostille.The only effect of an Apostille is to certify the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, and where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears. The Apostille does not relate to the content of the underlying document itself (i.e., the apostillised public document). The only effect of an Apostille is to certify the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, and where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears. The Apostille does not relate to the content of the underlying document itself (i.e., the apostillised public document). 


1. What is an apostille?

In 1981, the United States joined the Hague Convention. The Hague Convention (or Apostille Convention) abolished the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. The purpose of the convention is to simplify certification of public documents to be used in other countries that have joined the convention. As a result, when a document is apostilled, no certification is required from an embassy, a consulate, the U.S. Department of State, or the Authentications Office.

An apostille verifies the signature and seal of a document’s issuing public official or notary. It is not valid anywhere in the United States or its territories. It is a one-sheet document bearing the state seal of Georgia that is attached to the document to be verified. It does not verify the actual content of the document.

1a. What is the “Hague Conference on Private International Law”?

As stated in Article 1 of the Statute of the Hague Conference, the Hague Conference on Private International Law is an intergovernmental organization that works to progressively unify the rules of private international law.

1b. What is the difference between the “Hague Conference” and the “Hague Conventions”?

As mentioned in the previous question, the “Hague Conference” is the intergovernmental organization that works to progressively unify the rules of private international law. The Conference achieves this goal by negotiating and drafting the “Hague Conventions”, which are essentially multilateral treaties.

The Hague Conference adopted 7 international Hague Conventions between 1893 and 1904. The Conference adopted 36 more international Conventions between 1951 and 2005.

1c. How does a State become a Member of the Hague Conference?

For States that have participated at least once in an earlier Session of the Hague Conference, they may become Member States of the Conference by simply accepting the Conference’s Statute. For other States, one or more Member States need to submit a proposal for admitting them into the Conference, and then a majority of the Members has to vote to admit them into the Conference.

1d. What are the National or Contact Organs?Apostille & Authentication Facts

The National Organ serves as a liaison between each Member State and the Hague Conference. The Contact Organ serves as a liaison between each Member Organization and the Hague Conference.

1e. When does a Hague Convention enter into force?

After each Member State ratifies, accepts, and approves, or accedes, to a Hague Convention, the Convention will enter into force three months later. Please note that the above is merely a general rule, thus each Convention should be verified separately.

1f. Is it possible to become a Party to a Hague Convention without being a Member of the Hague Conference?

After a Hague Convention has entered into force, a non-Member State can accede to and become a Party to the Convention. In some cases, the States that are already Parties to the Convention must accept the Non-Member State’s accession. Depending on the Convention, the States that are already Parties to the Convention may accept through tacit acceptance or express acceptance. Ratification is generally the exclusive right of the Member States, but there are exceptions depending on the Convention.

1g. Are there fees involved in becoming a Party to a Hague Convention?

There are NO fees involved in becoming a Party to a Hague Convention.

1h. What is the difference between a Contracting State and a State Party to a Convention?

According to Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 23 May 1969, “contracting states” are states that have acceded to be bound by the treaty, whether or not the treaty has entered into force. “State parties” are states that have acceded to be bound by the treaty, under the condition that the treaty is in force.

1i. What is the difference between signing, ratifying and acceding to a Hague Convention?

Signing a Hague Convention signals the State’s intention to become a Party to the Convention. It does not require the State to take any further action.

Ratifying a Hague Convention signals that the State is accepting legal obligation to apply the Convention. As mentioned in a previous question, the act of ratification is the exclusive right of Member States, although there are some exceptions.

Acceding to a Hague Conference is done by Non-Member States. As mentioned in a previous question, acceding is only possible if the Convention has already entered into force. The acceding process sometimes also requires the acceptance, whether tacit or express, by States that are already Parties to the Convention.

 
2. What documents can we apostille?

Vital Records Issued in Georgia, Court Documents, and Corporation Division Documents. These must be official certified copies bearing the seal and signature of the state or county official who issued them. These documents include:

Any Documents filed with the Georgia County Clerk of Superior Court,Any Certified copies of corporate documents on file with the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division, Any documents that were properly notarized in Georgia

Articles Of Amendment, Articles Of Incorporation And Organization, Articles Of Merger And Dissolution, Background Check, Birth Certificates, Business Bank Letters, Certificates Of Incumbency, Certificates Of Status, Corporate Bylaws, Corporate Powers-Of-Attorney, Court Affidavit, Court Judgments, Court Documents, Court Record, Death Certificates, Deed, Degree, Diplomas, Divorce Certificates, Driver License, Educational Documents, Employment Letters, Family Court Record, Free Sale, Marriage Certificates, Medical Records, Non-Impediment To Marriage Letters, Notarized Copies Of Business Documents/Affidavits, Notarized Copies Of Personal Documents, Operating Agreements, Passport, Personal Bank Letters, Personal Business Letter, Personal Letter,  Personal Powers Of Attorney, Police Records, Resolutions And Minutes, School Records, Single Status Letter, Spouse Permission To Travel Form, U.S. Residency Certificates (IRS Form 6166), Vehicle Sale,Vehicle Transfer,Will,


3. What documents can we not apostille?

Out-of-state documents. You should contact that particular state for authentication.
Federal documents signed and sealed by a federal agency or federal court, including consular report of birth abroad. Contact the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office for verification.
Photocopies of documents. Unless a Georgia notary has certified it as a copy of the original document.
Documents issued in a foreign country. You should contact that country.
Documents going to countries that have not joined the Hague Convention. These documents can still be verified using Great Seal certification.
Documents that will be used in the United States or its territories. Documents to be sent to foreign embassies or consulates within the U.S. are considered international documents going to a foreign country.

Trusted with US State Department & Foreign Embassies4. What if my document’s destination country is not listed on your website?

If the country is not listed, it is not a member of the Hague Convention. We can still verify the document by getting a Great Seal certification for you from the appropriate state department.

4. What if my document’s destination country is not listed on your website?

If the country is not listed, it is not a member of the Hague Convention. We can still verify the document by getting a Great Seal certification for you from the appropriate state department.


5. Can you get a Georgia apostille for my out-of-state document?

No, because each state is responsible for authenticating the documents it issues.  However, we have contacts in all 50 states and can obtain the out-of-state apostille or authentication certificate for you.

6. Under what conditions would I need my diploma apostilled or autheticated?

If you will be employed in a foreign country or if you are returning home to a country outside the U.S. in the near future, you may need either apostille or Great Seal authentication for your official transcript or diploma.  Most countries require your diploma, not your transcript, but be sure to verify which one is required.  It is important that you acquire the necessary documentation prior to leaving the state of Georgia, as the process will be challenging if you are not here.  You may, however, have a friend or relative in Georgia assist you with the process if you are not physically in the state.  If this is the case, be sure to provide them with a signed letter from you authorizing them to do so.  We will work with you to accommodate your situation.

7. What do I need to do after acquiring my document for authentication? 

You must have your document notarized by a Georgia notary who will sign, date, and seal the document with an original signature and seal.  You must then obtain a certification letter which we will handle for you–it is best that you consult with us about the notarization of your document ahead of time to avoid a delay and additional costs in retrieving the certification letter.

8. How do I obtain Authentication for a Birth, Death, or Marriage Certificate?

Only birth, death, and marriage certificates issued in the state of Georgia can be authenticated. We cannot accept out-of-state documents (however, we can arrange to have those documents apostilled or authenticated with our out-of-state counterparts) or documents from a county health department.  We can also only accept documents with original handwritten signatures.

Please contact the Vital Record Services of the Georgia Department of Community Health for a death certificate, birth certificate, single status verification letter, or marriage license.  All signatures on each document must be original and handwritten.  The County Probate court, in the county in which the marriage was recorded, can also issue a marriage certificate.  The County Probate Court can also issue birth certificates.  These documents do not need to be notarized.

9. If my document is in a foreign language, do I need to have it translated before getting an apostille?

No, it doesn’t matter what language the document is in.

10. Can you apostille my birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, or divorce decree?

Yes, the apostille process compares the document’s issuing public official’s signature to signatures on file with the state. If the document is old, they may not have the signature on file.   You may need to get a new certified copy of the document if it was issued before 2000.

11. Does an apostille authenticate the contents of the document?

No. It only authenticates the signature and seal of the issuing public official or notary public. The only effect of an Apostille is to certify the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, and where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears. The Apostille does not relate to the content of the underlying document itself (i.e., the apostillised public document). 

12. What does an apostille look like?

It is a single sheet of paper in a specific internationally agreed-upon format which contains ten distinct items. The apostille will be attached to your document.

APOSTILLE

(Convention de La Haye du 5 Octobre 1961)

    1. Country: ______

    This public document

    2. has been signed by ___(name of person)__

    3. acting in the capacity of: ____(title)____

    4. bears the seal/stamp of ______

    Certified    

    5. at  ____(location)______ 6. the __(date)___

    7. by ______________

    8. No. _______

    9. Seal/Stamp    10. Signature_________,


Hague Apostille Treaty Countries


Albania,  Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, China, Hong Kong & Macao, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Yugoslav, Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Apostille Services in Atlanta, GA

Apostille and Consulate


Apostille treaty is an international treaty drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law. It specifies the modalities through which a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory states. Getting an apostille certificate or stamp can be a time-consuming and complicated process—often it requires retrieving documents from several different government departments. We  will get your personal and commercial documents certified by the appropriate government agencies, sparing you the hassle of doing it yourself. We provide apostille and authentication (legalization) services to corporations, law firms, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on all documents that will be used in foreign countries.Document requirements for one country aren’t always the same for another. Their validity can be local to a certain region and differ from country to country. Sometimes records can be required or needed in another country but with so many different standards in effect.

Our job is to provide you a service that can provide you with the correct procedure, save you time, money, gas & the frustration of trying to get it all done. We can provide you with  a safe, affordable price with a fast turn around time for those with expedited Apostille service needs.  We provide Apostille Service to businesses & individuals for your business documents or your personal documents.

If you need to obtain an apostille on a document please complete the contact us page and indicate to what country the document is going to and we will be able to give you an accurate quote.  Each country charges different fees. It is our standard practice to authenticate TWO originals one to stay with the initiator and one that you maintain. (There is no additional charge for this.)

If you are contacting us from another country please also provide the instructions that you were given.  If you need to have the Apostille document returned to a foreign country provide your complete address and phone number.  We will also need the recepient's complete address and phone number..(Including country code).  Atlanta Mobile Notaries uses DHL only for any all packages that are going overseas.  DHL uses their own delivery personnel and does not subcontract and this is more reliable in terms of document delivery.

For an Apostille request provide the following in your inquiry
  
1. What country (Check List at bottom of page to see if it is Hague Convention country.)
2. Complete address of recipient including phone number
3. Copy of instructions you were provided

(404)-403-3133 Phone/Text   |   404-591-5723 FAX   |   info@​AtlantaMobileNotaries.com 

Atlanta Mobile Notaries