Before you can use a Montana document in another country, you usually need to have it certified for international use. A Montana apostille confirms the signature and seal on your paperwork so a foreign authority can recognize it.
Before you can use a Montana document in another country, you usually need to have it certified for international use. A Montana apostille confirms the signature and seal on your paperwork so a foreign authority can recognize it.
In Montana, apostilles and document authentications are issued by the Montana Secretary of State apostille office through its Notary & Certifications Division. That office can process a range of eligible Montana documents, including:
- certified Montana vital records;
- state, county, and local government records;
- court documents carrying the required certification;
- business documents issued or certified in Montana;
- academic records prepared for authentication;
- private documents properly notarized by a Montana notary public.
Which certificate you need depends on the destination. Countries in the Hague Apostille Convention accept an apostille on its own. For a country outside the Convention, the same office issues an authentication document instead, which must then be followed by embassy or consular legalization.
