Illinois Apostille FAQs

Illinois Apostilles can be obtained for certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates obtained from Illinois Court Clerks, local registrar or Illinois Department of Public Health .

Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the circuit clerk of the court.
See Illinois Court Clerks

For further information about obtaining apostille stamps on Illinois vital records, see:
Apostille Illinois Vital Records

Criminal Record Certificates issued by the Illinois State Police, county sheriffs or local police departments must be signed by a police official and notarized.

Note, however, that many countries will require an FBI background check as evidence of a lack of criminal record for immigration or visa purposes.
See: FBI Background Checks

Illinois university transcripts and diplomas should be certified by the School Registrar or Principal in the presence of the Notary Public who will add a statutory notarial certificate.
See Illinois notarial certification (PDF)

Illinois university degree certificates, course transcripts and high school diplomas can also be authenticated as notarized copies. A true copy is certified by a notary (this can often be done from a scan without having to submit the original) and then authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Washington DC Secretary of State. Authenticated documents can also be attested by the embassies of Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.

For further information, see:
University Degrees and School Records

We normally obtain Illinois Apostilles from the Secretary of State in 1 - 2 business days

Documents signed by an Illinois government official or notarized by an Illinois Notary Public can be certified by and Apostille from the Illinois Secretary of State, including:

• Certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates issued by the county clerk, local registrar or Illinois Department of Public Health .
• Divorce decrees certified by the circuit clerk of the court where the divorce was granted.
  See Illinois Court Clerks
• University diplomas, transcripts and school records certified by an Illinois notary public.
• Notarized criminal record certificates issued by Illinois State Police.
• Certified copies of business organization documents on file with the Illinois Secretary of State, including certificates of good standing for Illinois corporations of LLCs, articles of incorporation or organization, certificates of existence.
• Other documents and true copies certified by an Illinois notary public (requires a statutory notarial certificate).

If documents are required for submission to the authorities or consulate of a signatory country of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille stamp affixed by the Secretary of State of Illinois will generally be recognized directly as confirming authenticity, although a certified translation may also be required if presenting to a country that does not have English as an official language.

If documents are required for presentation in a country that is not a signatory to the apostille convention (e.g. United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Taiwan, Vietnam), then an apostille stamp is not valid. Documents will need to be authenticated at State level in Illinois, then by the State Department Authentication Division, and finally by the embassy or consulate of the destination country in the United States. A Certified Translation may also be required.

For further information about Illinois apostilles and authentications or to obtain a quote for assistance submitting your documents, with free eligibility pre-check, international collection and delivery by courier, please contact us or send us your documents using our Online Quotation Form.

A Power of Attorney can be apostilled when notarized by an Illinois notary public (#TL128). A statutory notarial certificate is required.

A Certificate of Good Standing for an Illinois Corporation or LLC is available from the Illinois Secretary of State.
See: Illinois Certificate of Good Standing

Illinois Birth and death certificates may be ordered online from VitalChek, by mail from the Illinois Division Of Vital Records (Department of Public Health) or from the County Clerk's Office in the country where the birth or death or took place.

Illinois marriage certificates may be ordered online from VitalChek or from the County Clerk's Office in the country where the marriage took place.

• VitalChek (Order Illinois vital records online)
• Cook County Clerk (Chicago)
• Illinois County Clerks
• Illinois Department of Public Health

Apostille Illinois Vital Records

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• ISAREY reviews on Trustpilot
• ISAREY reviews on Google