Apostille services explained

An Apostille (pronounced “ah-po-steel”) is a French word meaning certification. Apostille is attached to a document so that will be accepted when used overseas. Every country has designated authorities to issue apostille certificates. In the United States, all 50 states and the Federal Government (US Department of State – Office of Authentication) can issue an Apostille. Usually apostille services are provided either by the Secretary of State or Division of Revenue and Enterprise. In urgent cases the authentication can be completed within a 24-hour period. 
If you want to get an important document from a foreign country or are sending an important document overseas you need to make sure it has been through the apostille process. 
Documents that need to be apostilled:

• birth certificates
•  divorce certificates
•  adoption documents
•  notarial acts
•  marriage licenses
•  university diplomas 

The Hague Conference on Private International Law, the international organization that created the Apostille Convention, provides more information on its website. On their website you can find links to competent authorities for every country, including the United States, where the Convention is in force.
If you have a document that needs to be authenticated for use in a country where the Apostille Convention is not in force, the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office has useful information on its website about the process.

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