Apostille Services

Our Service Process

Compile THE "request module"

After you compile the “request module” located at the bottom of the page we receive your inquiry and we propose a customized service package.

SEND US YOUR DOCUMENTS

Just mail us your documents through a secure tracked shipping service (FedEx, DHL, or UPS).
In some cases we may not even need the physical copy!

DELIVERY

Once completed, your Apostilled documents will be mailed to you via FedEx or DHL and will arrive at your doorstep.

Documents We Apostille

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

Company invoices

Certificates of incorporation

Certificates of good standing

Power of attorney

Hiring documents

ACADEMIC DOCUMENTS

High School diplomas

College diplomas

School records

Personal documents

Marriage Certificates

Death Certificates

Birth Certificates

Wills

Divorce Decrees

Why the “Apostille”?

In order to enforce abroad an Italian notarial deed and the powers of attorney known to the system, two procedures are provided for: legalization, and the apostille, also called postilla, a simplified procedure adopted by the countries that have adhered to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961.

This procedure is simpler than legalization, and it is sufficient to affix an apostille stamp and transcribe the same text, for all adhering countries; the apostille is issued by the authority of the country in which the notarial act was formed.

Apostille FAQs

What does the APOSTILLE procedure consist of?

The apostille procedure consists of a single step that requires the intervention of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Italian Republic. The Apostille is affixed by means of a stamp on the document previously signed by the Notary and signed by the Public Prosecutor in order to certify the Notary’s status as a Public Official and the authenticity of his signature. The main characteristic is that the apostille stamp is identical in content for all the countries adhering to the convention, in order to make it easily recognizable among authorities.

What’s the difference between “postilla” and “apostille” ?

There is no difference, as “postilla” is the Italian translation of the French term “apostille“. All international treaties, in fact, provide for the practice of using French as the first language: normally the terms used are translated, but for practice, now more than ten years old, even in Italy the “procedure” is identified with the French term. It will therefore be simpler to use the term “Apostille” for every eventuality, so as not to confuse the interlocutor with other types of apostille, known to our system.

Where can I request an APOSTILLE STAMP?

The apostille stamp shall be issued:
a) for the validation of notarial acts drawn up in Italy, by the appropriate office of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court with territorial jurisdiction based on the seat of the Notary;
b) for all other administrative documents, the Prefecture of the place where the authority that issued the administrative act has its headquarters is competent to affix the apostille stamp.

I have lost the original document where the apostille was affixed, can I obtain a copy?

No, it is not possible for the office to release any copy of the document already “apostilled”; rather, it will be necessary to ask the Notary for the release of another certified copy, and only after its release will it be possible to request another stamp, repeating the procedure.

If the document, where the Apostille had been affixed, was a document issued by the Notary as an original, as in the case of a special power of attorney, or a declaration of existence in life, the document must be re-formed, and therefore must be paid for again.

What does the apostille stamp attest to?

The apostille stamp certifies the legal status of the issuing authority, and does not in any way concern the content of the document itself, which, as far as notarial acts are concerned, is of the exclusive competence of the Notary. Therefore, the Apostille Office has no jurisdiction over the content of the document nor does it have any authority to modify it in any way.

Can an apostille stamp be placed on a photocopy of a notarial deed?

No, an apostille stamp can only be affixed to the original document or a certified copy of a deed. Since the stamp attests to the authenticity of the issuing public official’s signature, it cannot be affixed to a document that does not bear the signature of the notary who notarized it. It will therefore be necessary to request the certified copy from the Notary in order to proceed with the stamping.

Is it possible to apostille a self-certification to be used abroad?

No, it is not possible. Since the apostille procedure only concerns documents issued by Public Officials, since, as mentioned above, it consists in an attestation regarding the qualification of the issuing authority.

Can I apostille a true copy of the original, digitally transmitted to me by the Notary Public?

No, the apostille stamp can only be affixed to paper documents and not to digitally signed documents, so that even if a certified copy of the document has been issued in accordance with the law, it is not sufficient in itself, and in any case the certified paper copy must be requested.

Is a translation of the notarial deed necessary?

The translation of the apostille, is necessary, in the language of the foreign country to which it is addressed. It is possible, however, that the document itself is in two languages, because it was drawn up by the notary in this way and only in the cases provided for by law, or because a translator swore an oath to its translation after it was drawn up.

Get your Documents legalized with us!

LDP offers a wide range of services including Apostille & Legalization Legalization, Document Translation, Certificates of Good Standing, Notary Services and many more.

You will be contacted in the next 48 hours!