A South Dakota apostille may be required when a document issued or notarized in the state will be used abroad and the receiving authority needs the signature, seal, or official capacity on it verified.
Document authentication in South Dakota is handled by the Secretary of State, which can issue the appropriate certificate for eligible records such as:
- certified vital records, covering birth, death, and marriage certificates.
- state, county, and local government records;
- certified court documents;
- business documents;
- academic records prepared for authentication;
- private documents, like powers of attorney and affidavits, that have been notarized by a notary public in South Dakota.
If the document is headed to a Hague Apostille Convention member, a South Dakota Secretary of State apostille is generally the only step required. For other countries, the Secretary of State provides a different form of certification, which may then need further legalization through the destination country’s embassy or consulate.
If you are unsure what an apostille is or which certificate applies to your document, One Source Process can help determine the correct path based on the record and destination country. Our apostille services also include document review and coordination with the offices involved.
