A Mississippi document headed abroad may need official Mississippi document authentication before a foreign authority will accept it. The Mississippi Secretary of State issues apostilles and Certificates of Authority for eligible records, confirming the signature and seal of the public official or notary rather than the document’s content.
The office authenticates certified vital records, properly prepared county and court records, business documents, academic records, and private papers notarized by a Mississippi notary public.
Which certificate you receive depends on the destination. A country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention requires an apostille. A non-Hague country requires a Certificate of Authority, which may be followed by federal, embassy, or consular authentication.
