A government office overseas has no independent way to tell whether a Nebraska document is genuine. A Nebraska apostille provides that assurance by confirming the authenticity of the signature and seal on the paperwork, allowing the receiving country to accept it as valid.
For records tied to Nebraska, the Nebraska Secretary of State apostille process is handled through the Notary Division. The office can authenticate documents such as:
- certified Nebraska vital records;
- state and county government records;
- court documents that carry the required official endorsement;
- business records issued or validated in Nebraska;
- academic records prepared for authentication;
- private documents notarized by a Nebraska notary public.
For a destination country that is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the apostille stands on its own. For a country outside the Convention, the Secretary of State issues an authentication certificate instead, after which embassy or consular legalization may be required.
