If you need to authenticate a document for official use, you might wonder: Do I need a notarization or an apostille? While both serve as forms of validation, they are not the same and serve different legal purposes. What Is a Notarization? A notarization is performed by a commissioned notary public who verifies the identity of the signer and ensures that they are signing willingly. Notarization does not authenticate the content of the document—it only confirms that the signature is legitimate. Commonly notarized documents include affidavits, powers of attorney, real estate transactions, and sworn statements . What Is an Apostille? An apostille is an official certificate issued by the state or federal government that verifies the authenticity of a document for international use . It confirms that the notary or issuing authority is legitimate. Apostilles are required for documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, academic records, and legal agreements when used...
If you need to authenticate a document for official use, you might wonder: Do I need a notarization or an apostille? While both serve as forms of validation, they are not the same and serve different legal purposes. What Is a Notarization? A notarization is performed by a commissioned notary public who verifies the identity of the signer and ensures that they are signing willingly. Notarization does not authenticate the content of the document—it only confirms that the signature is legitimate. Commonly notarized documents include affidavits, powers of attorney, real estate transactions, and sworn statements . What Is an Apostille? An apostille is an official certificate issued by the state or federal government that verifies the authenticity of a document for international use . It confirms that the notary or issuing authority is legitimate. Apostilles are required for documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, academic records, and legal agreements when used...