Apostille

The Apostille is a special certificate with the stamp established by the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961. The stamp gets placed on documents by a competent authority of the country in

which the document was originated. In the United States, the Apostille is issued by a local Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State (depending on a type of document to be obtained).

When it comes to Apostille for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries-members of the Hague Convention, our office takes pride in offering you the expertise of our competent Notaries Public, Apostille Agents and certified translators. We will prepare any kind of official, business or a legal document meant to be used in countries which are members of the Hague Convention.

The Hague Convention established a list of specific requirements regarding document legalization if the documents are meant to be used abroad.

To be recognized and accepted by official authorities in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other qualifying countries, documents originated in the USA or notarized by an American Notary should be finalized by obtaining an Apostille Certificate (Apostille Stamp). Apostilled documents are exempt from further legalization by the consular establishments of qualifying countries.

The following documents are considered official documents in accordance with the Hague Convention (documents for public use), and Apostille is required for them to be recognized in Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus, and other qualifying countries:

1. Documents issued by organizations or officials associated with courts or state tribunals, including documents issued by a public prosecutor, court secretary. They include:

– Birth Certificate

– Marriage Certificate

– Death Certificate

– Judgment of Divorce or Divorce Decree

– Judgment of Name Change

– Custody – related Decisions and Judgments, etc.

2. Documents of administrative authorities such as

– Diploma signed by a School Principal

– Transcript certified by a Rector

– Hospital Reference signed by a hospital administrator, etc.

3. Documents certified by a notary public:

– Certified and notarized copies of documents (passports, Driver Licenses, copies of school records and diplomas)

– Power of Attorney

– Affidavits (including Affidavit of Single Status)

– Consents including Parental Consent for Travel of their Children (Согласие на вывоз ребенка)

– Свидетельство/Справка о Нахождении в Живых

– Заявления на регистрацию по месту жительства или снятие с регистрации по месту жительства; вступление в наследство или отказ от наследства), согласия etc.

3. Official validating endorsements, placed on documents signed by individuals acting in a personal capacity, such as official certificates of the registration of a document or of its existence on the date indicated, as well as official and Notarial verifications of signatures:  Business and Corporate documents such as Bylaws, certificate of Incorporation, Business Contract and Agreements.

If you need an Apostille on your Vital Records – Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate or on Divorce Decree, be aware that the originals of these documents cannot be apostilled. You must obtain a certified copy of these documents first, and then proceed with their legalization.

When presented to the officials abroad, it is required that your documents be translated into the official language of that country  and that the translation be certified.

At the Law Office of Maryana Yavdyk, we understand that the process of obtaining document certifications can be time-consuming and frustrating. Depending on the kind of documents, the procedures to get them certified can be complicated and lengthy. We offer our highly professional and competent assistance with document retrieving, authentication, Apostille,  translation, notary binding.