Do Apostilles Require Original Documents?
One of the first questions clients ask me is: “Can I just email you a scan of my document for an apostille?” It’s a great question — and the answer depends on the type of document you have. Some documents must be certified originals before they can be apostilled, while others can be notarized originals. Let’s break it down so you know what to expect.
Originals vs. Notarized Documents
Vital Records: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, adoption records, and certain court-issued records must always be certified originals. These are issued by the appropriate office (like a county clerk or state vital records office). A scan or photocopy won’t qualify.
Educational Records: Diplomas and transcripts usually require a notarized copy from the school registrar before they can be apostilled.
Legal or Business Documents: Powers of attorney, contracts, affidavits, or corporate records often can be notarized first (either in person or online), and then submitted for apostille.
Why Scans and Photocopies Don’t Work
An apostille is an official international certification. The Secretary of State (or federal agency) must be able to verify the document’s authenticity, and that can only happen with either:
A certified original document, or
A properly notarized original.
A scan or photocopy just doesn’t meet that standard, because it can’t be verified as authentic.
How I Help Clients at Clark Apostille Service
When you submit documents through my intake form, you can upload scans for review so I can check what you have. From there:
If your document requires a certified original, I’ll point you to the right office to order it.
If your document needs notarization, we can take care of that through a secure Remote Online Notary (RON) session.
Once the right version is ready, I’ll facilitate the apostille process for you from start to finish.
Final Thoughts
The key to a smooth apostille process is knowing upfront whether your document needs to be an original or notarized copy. Don’t waste time mailing in the wrong thing — let me guide you through the requirements and save you the hassle.
👉 Ready to get started? Schedule your apostille service here.
