When you need an apostille

If a bank, court, or pension office outside the United States asks for an apostille, they want the certified death certificate plus a second paper that says the certificate is genuine. That second paper is not issued by the vital records counter. It is not the same as having the copy notarized.

Get the certified copy first

Order a certified copy from the official vital records office in the jurisdiction of death. Banks here at home want that copy. The apostille is attached to it later. Order at least one extra if you know a foreign office will keep the packet.

Then the Secretary of State, not the funeral home

• For a state or county death certificate, the apostille usually comes from that state's Secretary of State authentications office. Confirm the current process on that state's site.
• The U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications explains apostilles (Hague Convention countries) versus authentication certificates (other countries). Start at travel.state.gov.
• A notary acknowledges a signature. An apostille authenticates a public document for use abroad. Do not treat them as interchangeable.
• This desk does not run the apostille counter and takes no cut from any courier.

Confirm fees and mailing addresses on the Secretary of State site for the state that issued the certificate, and on travel.state.gov, before you send the only certified copy you have.