Managing international regulations can be challenging and even more confusing when one needs to ensure that essential documents are legal in another country. If you have a divorce certificate in the UK and want to use it in any other part of the world, then you need to authenticate through an apostille. This blog post will help explain the scenarios that may require using an apostille for the divorce certificate in the United Kingdom and how the Helpline Group will assist.
Overview
An apostille ensures that your documents are legal in foreign countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. With this authentication, your divorce certificate may be accepted by the authorities abroad, which may cause a lot of time wastage and problems in legal cases as well as in any matter that may require your divorce certificate. Knowing the system of receiving an apostille for the divorce certificate is important to avoid such problems.
What Is the Meaning of Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate authenticated by an accredited authority in a country member of the Hague Convention of 1961. It also affirms the signature or seal on the document; that is, it provides the attestation of the document by any competent authority. An apostille is a stamp that allows your divorce certificate to be accepted in other countries.
Who Can Issue an Apostille in the UK?
In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth Office (FCO). The FCO also examines the signature, seal, or stamp on the document to confirm its authenticity and the authority of the issuing organization. Once such information is verified, the apostille stamp is affixed to the document to show that it is acceptable in other countries.
How to Apostille a Divorce Decree in the UK?
Obtaining an apostille for your divorce decree in the UK involves several steps:
- Solicitor Verification: A Notary Public or solicitor must notarise your divorce certificate. This step also sources the document and confirms its genuineness and accreditation as required.
- Submit to the FCO: After getting the notarized divorce certificate, it’s time to submit the document to the FCO for the apostille process. This can be done directly through a service provider such as the Helpline Group, which undertakes the process on behalf of their clients, thus helping to avoid mistakes in completing the process.
- Receive Your Apostilled Document: After the FCO has reviewed your document, you will receive it with the apostille attached. With the apostille, this document is now acceptable in any country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention.
What’s the Difference Between Being Apostilled and Notarized in the UK?
Understanding the distinction between notarization and apostille is crucial when dealing with international documents:
Notarization: A notary is a procedure performed by a Notary Public or solicitor to confirm the genuineness of the document as well as the identity of the signee. The notary affixes his/her notarial certificate, which consists of the authenticating notary’s seal, to the document.
Apostille: On the other hand, an apostille is a certification after notarization. It affirms the notary’s stamp or seal on the document or the stamp of FCO, making the document legal for use in other countries participating in the Hague Apostille Convention.
A notary is a domestic certificate, while an apostille is an international certification that guarantees the document’s compliance in a foreign country.
Apostille Divorce Certificate in the UK: Conclusion
Always ensure your documents are authenticated if you are involved with international legal issues. Getting an apostille is necessary for marriage certificates, birth certificates, or any other purpose in another country. Despite this, it is easy to follow and execute but can be a bit exhaustive and tiresome, although one has to be very keen on the process.
Helpline Group will help you get your divorce certificate apostilled as per the requirement of the country where it needs to be produced. This is possible if the country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.