Apostille is an official certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country. This process was made possible by the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. In most cases, business documents require an apostille before they can be used abroad. Resource : https://apostille-usa.com/apostille-documents/

An apostille is different than notarization, although they seem similar in function. A notary public verifies a signature to uphold the legal validity of a signed document, but an apostille goes a step further by guaranteeing international acceptance of a document.

Apostille for Notarized Wills: How to Prepare and Authenticate Properly

The apostille process is simple and quick once the document has been properly notarized. The notary should sign and seal the document, then record it in their journal as a notarial act. Depending on state laws, a notarized will may or may not need an apostille. An apostille confirms that the notary is a commissioned notary public and upholds an internationally recognized standard for document authentication.

In the case of notarized wills, an apostille can be requested by the notary after the documents have been certified as authentic and signed by you. The notary will also need to verify that you are of sound mind and are legally allowed to sign the documents.

You can request an apostille from your state’s Secretary of State office or through an apostille service provider. You should bring the original document and a certified copy for the apostille. The apostille will include the notary’s name, commission date and number, and a special seal that includes a certificate of authenticity from the state of New York.