Apostille tips – How To Avoid Apostille & Authentication Pitfalls
The apostille or authentication process has two components. They must be met in order for your paperwork to work successfully. And both parts are out of our control. Following the apostille tips below. And you will improve your chances.
Firstly, the Florida Department of State must approve the notarization of your document. In other words, the notary work must pass their standards.
Secondly, your foreign entity must accept and approve what is generated by the Secretary of State. In the apostille process. On the other hand, what we need to do to get an apostille or authentication completed by the Florida Department of State. Does not meet the expectations of your foreign agency.
Make sure the document you want to authenticate is correct. Before we begin the process with the Apostille Tips below.
Tip #1
Make sure your notary verbiage is correct.
Is the notary portion of your document correct to today’s Florida standards? For example, I can notarize your document. And this won’t be a problem. However, if another notary isn’t current and their paperwork isn’t up-to-date, your document will be rejected by the Department of State.
Tip #2
Most importantly you need to get approval. Certainly for a “loose notary certificate” first.
Above all your document could not have the correct Florida notary verbiage. For instance I will attach a loose certificate to your document. As a result you will get your apostille or authentication completed by the Florida Department of State.
Tip #3
Make sure your foreign agency doesn’t require “Rolling Stamps.” For example some foreign agencies want a notary stamp across all page edges of a multi-page document. However I am not using my stamp in this manner. And I follow the rules by the Department of State. Make sure your agency understands that.
Tip #4
Formatting your document!
Is there a line for all the signers? Are the names correctly spelled? Foreign countries often make mistakes with names. Strike-outs and corrections might not be allowed by your foreign entity.
Check with your receiving entity to confirm that. What we send is what they can use.
