Should You Apostille Death Certificates?
Death certificates are official documents issued by governments declaring the cause, location, and time of death. In the U.S., these documents are suitable for official use as they are, seeing as they bear official signatures and stamps. But outside the U.S., you must prove the authenticity of these documents. How? – By getting them apostilled by the Secretary of State.
What is a Death Certificate Apostille?
Apostilles authenticate the death certificates by verifying their signatures. These are acceptable in countries party to the Hague Convention, which are more than 100. But countries that do not participate in the Hague Convention require legalized documents through the U.S Department of State and the Embassy/ Consulate Office. We offer both apostille and legalization services under one roof! So, let us know what you need and when and we will get right on it!
Why Would You Need To Apostille A Death Certificate?
You will need to apostille death certificate issued in the U.S. if you want to use it outside the country. And the reasons for doing so include:
- To get a payout from an insurance agency: When a loved one dies, you may be privy to some benefits if they had insurance. But insurance companies will not allow you to access the benefits until you have proven that the person listed under the insurance is deceased.
- To transfer assets: If someone will be taking over the assets of the deceased, e.g., cars and houses, you must provide an apostilled document that shows that the original owner has passed away.
- To file the final tax returns: If the deceased was filing taxes in another country, you will need to use the apostilled death certificate to deal with the accountancy obligations. It will enable the receiving authority to know that the deceased will no longer be filing these returns and can help you avoid fiscal issues moving forward.
- To transfer the remains of the deceased: If you want to bury the deceased in a foreign land, you will need to apostille their death certificate. That is because governments do not allow the transit of human remains across jurisdictions without the right paperwork.
Many other reasons could necessitate this document and you can talk to our agents to know if you will need an apostille.
How Can You Get a Death Certificate Apostilled?
We ensure that the ordering process is as simple as possible to take the bulk of work off your hands. Thanks to our vast network of offices, we offer apostille services across the 50 states, including the regions below:
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Washington DC
- Los Angeles
- Long Beach
- Sacramento
- Austin
- Miami
- Denver
- Dallas
If you cannot find a link to your state or city, go through our simple ordering process and select your state. We will be sure to connect you with the nearest office, so you won’t need to travel to get your apostille!
Step 1: Place an Order
With our easy ordering process, you can place an order dictating where you live, where you want the apostille delivered, and how fast you want it done. We offer both standard (<6 days) and rush (3-4 days) processing for all our clients. Choose the method you prefer and include this in your order.
Step 2: Receive Instructions
Our team will immediately go through your order and inform you how much you will pay and how soon you can expect your apostille. For the apostille to go through, you must submit a certified death certificate copy issued by the government.
Please note that the secretary of state can only apostille death certificate issued in their state. For example, if the death certificate was issued in Alabama, you cannot get it authenticated in California. If the death certificate is from another state other than the one you reside in, we will process the apostille in the other state. We will then let you know the death certificate requirements by state so you can submit one that matches the state’s stipulations.
Step 3: Submit The Death Certificate
You can then facilitate the processing fee and submit the death certificate. Our team will once again review the document based on the state requirements before physically submitting it. In just a few days, you should have your apostille ready! We will send it to the registered address in your order.
See how fast that was? You can also use our ordering process to process legalizations and notarizations!
FAQ
How to apostille a death certificate?
Apostilling a death certificate makes it possible for you to use the document abroad for official reasons. We have an online ordering system through which you can initiate the apostille process by placing an order. Our team then reverts to you with instructions on the way forward and processes the order within the chosen timeframe.
Where can I apostille a death certificate?
TVP has countrywide offices where you can hand in the death certificate copy you want to be apostilled. If none of these locations are convenient or you would rather avoid visiting our offices, we offer an efficient online ordering system where you can place your order. We then apostille it in the state of issue.