Information Sheet:

Acquiring an "Apostille" in Florida, Puerto Rico
and US Virgin Islands
(July 2002 - please read disclaimer)            deutscheVersion

The United States of America and The Federal Republic of Germany
both ratified the Hague Convention dated October 5, 1961,
which exempts foreign public documents from legalization
(German Law Gazette - BGBl 1965, Part II, page 875ff).

As a result of this convention this Consulate General does not
authenticate documents. Legalization is thus replaced by the so
called "apostille." This leaflet explains how to obtain an apostille
from the competent authorities, if you need one. The purpose of
this legal mechanism is to turn an American public document into
a public document acceptable by German law.

1. Florida

Central office:

The following authority is responsible for issuing an apostille in Florida:

Florida Department of State
Department of State Division of Corporations
Apostille Certification
P.O. Box 6327
Tallahassee, FL 32314
Tel.: (850) 245-6945

The original document must be sent to the above mentioned
authority accompanied by the following documentation:

• a letter requesting the apostille giving the reasons for which it will
  be used in the Federal Republic of Germany.
  
• fee
  
  • 20 $ for documents where the signature of a clerk of court
    must be certified (e.g. marriage certificates, deeds etc.) and
  • 10 $ for other documents (i.e. where only the signature of
    the notary public must be certified)
• a prepaid self-addressed envelope
  For express mail (flat rate) include 13.65 $. The envelope should be
  marked "Please return by overnight express mail"
  Otherwise postage in the amount of 60 ¢ is usually sufficient.

An apostille consists of two pages with a weight of 0.6 oz.

Please do not send cash; money should be included in form of personal
check or money order issued to "State of Florida/Secretary of State."

The procedure might take up to one month.

2. Puerto Rico

The following authority is responsible for issuing an apostille in Puerto Rico:

Departamento de Estado
División de Certificacoines y Reclamentos
P.O.Box 9023271
(Old) San Juan, P.R. 00902-3271
Tel.: (787) 722-2150 ext. 6336

The fee is 3 $.

3. US Virgin Islands

An apostille for documents from the US Virgin Islands will be issued
by the following authorities:

The fee is 25 $.

Please read the disclaimer as to the validity of this information.

Other consular and legal information

Please check our information sheets regarding your specific question.
Bitte prüfen Sie, ob unsere Merkblätter Ihre Frage beantworten können.

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