Massachusetts Apostille Requirements
If you are working out how to get an apostille in Massachusetts, first identify the type of document and the form in which it must be submitted. The Commissions Section certifies eligible signatures and seals, but the preparation requirements vary by record.
Certified vital and court records
Birth, death, and marriage certificates must be official certified copies issued by a city or town clerk or the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. A Massachusetts birth certificate apostille or Massachusetts marriage certificate apostille begins with this certified copy. Court documents must carry the required certification from the appropriate court official.
State, city, and town records
Records issued by a state or local government office must bear that authority’s seal and an authorized official’s signature. Because these are official records, they can generally go to the Commissions Section without the notarization required for private documents.
Business documents
Corporate filings and other business records must be issued or certified by the appropriate Massachusetts authority, such as the Corporations Division.
Private documents
Powers of attorney, affidavits, consent forms, and passport copies generally need to be signed and notarized by a Massachusetts notary public. An apostille for documents notarized in Massachusetts requires a complete notarial certificate, the notary’s signature as commissioned, the commission expiration date, and a legible seal.
Academic documents
Diplomas and transcripts typically require an authorized school official’s signature to be notarized by a Massachusetts notary. A school seal or unsigned photocopy alone may not be sufficient. A Massachusetts diploma apostille or Massachusetts transcript apostille follows this notarized route.
Regardless of the document type, a plain photocopy or scan cannot be submitted in place of the required original, certified copy, or notarized document. The receiving country may also impose its own document requirements.
