For birth, marriage and death certificates,
it must be a certified original copy. The
document must have the raised seal and
original signature of an authorized registrar
or city clerk.
For other state or local government issued documents,
such as corporate records, or court records, request a certified copy.
Some agencies now issue certified documents electronically, and these documents can receive an apostille.
For other personal or business documents notarized by a Notary Public, check the following:
1. That the Notary Public has signed his/her name exactly as he/she was commissioned.
2. Be sure the notarial certificate has been completed
by the Notary Public. It should look something like this:
On this __________ day of ________,20_____,
before me, the undersigned Notary Public, personally
appeared_______________(name of document signer),
proved to me through satisfactory evidence of
identification, which were_____________________, to be the
person whose name is signed on the preceding or attached
document in my presence.
__________________________(official signature and seal of Notary)
3. That the Notary Public’s expiration date is on the document correctly, clearly and completely.
4. The Notary Public has affixed the notary seal on the document and the imprint is legible