| Increasingly, many Americans are looking to relocate | | | | Apostille is a French word meaning |
| overseas or adopt children from foreign countries. | | | | âcertification.â The pronunciation |
| The number is at an all-time high and we are fast | | | | can be tricky, but most apostille offices in the U.S. |
| becoming a nation of global citizens. Of course, | | | | pronounce it âÄ pÅs |
| moving to a new country requires a little bit of work | | | | tÄÄlâ. The apostille as we know |
| and a lot of paperwork. And there are strict | | | | it today was born in 1961 when several countries |
| requirements most countries maintain in what | | | | agreed to use a common system for certifying |
| paperwork they will accept as valid. | | | | documents so they could be recognized as authentic |
| That is where the apostille stamp or seal comes in. | | | | by foreign nations. This is called the Hague |
| You may have never heard of one until your lawyer | | | | Convention and there are currently dozens of nations |
| or foreign agency told you all your documents need | | | | who are members, and therefore accept the apostille |
| one. In getting one, the first question you may ask is: | | | | as a symbol of authenticity. |
| What the heck is an apostille stamp? | | | | |