DOCUMENT APOSTILLE GUIDE
Alabama Business & Corporate Documents Apostille Requirements
Learn how to prepare your document for apostille processing, including applicable notarization requirements, required certifications, and important submission guidelines.
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Preparation Requirements
Identify the Business Document
Determine which Alabama business or corporate document requires an apostille. Common examples include articles of incorporation, certificates of formation, certificates of existence, certificates of merger, corporate bylaws, board resolutions, and company authorization documents.
State-Issued Corporate Records
For business formation records, registered company filings, and certificates of existence, obtain the appropriate official document or certified copy from the Alabama Secretary of State.
Ordinary photocopies and uncertified printouts should not be used as substitutes for officially certified records.
Articles of Incorporation and Formation
Request a certified copy of the company's articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, or other applicable formation document from the Alabama Secretary of State.
Certificates of Existence
Obtain an official Alabama Certificate of Existence when the receiving country requires proof of the company's registered status.
Corporate Bylaws and Resolutions
Internally prepared company documents, such as corporate bylaws, board resolutions, and authorization letters, may require proper execution and Alabama notarization.
Confirm that the document is signed by an authorized company representative.
Notarization of Private Business Documents
When notarization is required, use a currently commissioned Alabama notary public. The notarial certificate must be complete and include the notary's original signature and official seal.
Confirm the Required Certification
State-issued records and privately executed corporate documents may follow different certification procedures. The document must contain a signature and seal that the Alabama Secretary of State can authenticate.
Foreign-Language Documents
Documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a notarized English translation when presented for Alabama authentication.
Important Information
Some business documents require additional preparation depending on the issuing authority, document type, and destination country. National Apostille Center can review your documents to help determine the appropriate certification requirements before processing.
Required Certification
Alabama Secretary of State Business Records
Business entity filings, including articles of incorporation, certificates of formation, and other registered corporate documents, should be obtained as official certified records when a certified copy is required.
Certificate of Existence
An official Certificate of Existence may be obtained from the Alabama Secretary of State. The required apostille certification route must be confirmed based on the signature and seal appearing on the certificate.
Privately Executed Corporate Documents
Corporate bylaws, board resolutions, authorization letters, and similar privately prepared business documents may require notarization by a currently commissioned Alabama notary public.
Original Notarial Signature and Seal
Documents using the Alabama notarial apostille route must contain the original signature and official embossed or ink-stamped seal of the Alabama notary.
Acceptance of Official Signatures
The Alabama Secretary of State publishes specific signature and seal requirements for apostilles. State-certified business records must be reviewed to determine whether the issuing official's certification is directly acceptable or whether additional preparation is necessary.
County Authentication
Additional county authentication is generally not required for properly notarized documents receiving an Alabama apostille.
Notarized documents requiring certification for non-Hague countries generally require county authentication of the notary's commission.
Apostille Issuing Authority
Alabama Secretary of State — Authentication Division.
Important Notice
An apostille authenticates the signature, seal, and official capacity of the relevant public official. It does not verify a company's financial standing, ownership, or the legal validity of a business transaction.