One of the most common questions we receive at our West Palm Beach office is: “Can my document be apostilled?” The answer depends on the document type, its origin, and whether it carries the proper signature or seal required by the Florida Secretary of State. This guide covers every major document category that qualifies for apostille authentication in Florida.
An apostille can only be placed on a public document — meaning a document that has been issued or certified by a government authority, notarized by a commissioned notary public, or authenticated by a state or federal agency. Private documents must first be notarized before they can receive an apostille.
Florida apostilles are issued exclusively by the Florida Secretary of State’s office. If your document was issued by a federal agency — such as the FBI or a federal court — it must be apostilled through the US Department of State in Washington, D.C., not through Florida.
Understanding which office handles your specific document is critical. Submitting a federal document to the Florida Secretary of State — or vice versa — will result in an automatic rejection and wasted processing time. Our West Palm Beach team identifies the correct submission path for every document type before we begin.
Most Commonly Apostilled Documents in Florida:
- Birth certificates issued by the Florida Department of Health
- Death certificates issued by the Florida Department of Health
- Marriage licenses and certificates issued by Florida county clerks
- Divorce decrees and final judgments issued by Florida courts
- Diplomas and academic transcripts notarized by a Florida notary public
- Power of attorney documents notarized by a Florida notary public
- Corporate documents including articles of incorporation and certificates of good standing
- Affidavits and sworn statements notarized by a Florida notary public
- Adoption documents issued or notarized in Florida
- FBI background checks — processed through the US Department of State
The most important thing to remember is that the document must originate in Florida — or be notarized by a Florida-commissioned notary public — to be eligible for a Florida apostille. If your document was issued in another US state, it must be apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State office instead.
If you are unsure whether your specific document qualifies, bring it to our West Palm Beach office or call us at (561) 475-4757. Our specialists will review it and advise you on the correct process — free of charge.