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Apostille for State of Illinois Records

Many civil documents need to be authenticated to be accepted for use in other countries. A seal is affixed to the official document and that seal is referred to as an "apostille". The governmental organization affixing the seal certifies the validity of the document generated by an Illinois notary public, county clerk, circuit clerk or local registrar. The United States of American and the Republic of Slovenia have both agreed to recognize Apostille Certificates. The Illinois Secretary of State's Office issues and Apostille seal for the following types of documents:

Documents notarized by an Illinois Notary Public.

Certified copies of Birth Certificates, and Death Certificates certified by the County Clerk, Local Registrar, or State of Illinois Department of Public Health.

Certified copies of Marriage Certificates certified by the County Clerk or State of Illinois Department of Public Health.

Certified copies of Divorce Records certified by the Circuit Clerk.

Certified copies of corporation documents: Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Amendment, Articles of Merger, Articles of Dissolution, Certificate of Status issued by Illinois Secretary of State.

Authentication process

1. Obtain an original copy of the document that needs certification from the appropriate agency
2. Complete the application form which can be downloaded from the Secretary of State's web page:
3. www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publication/i213.pdf
4. the Clerk's office verifies or authenticates the notary public's signature on the document.
5. The Clerk's office issues a Certificate of Authenticity ($2 per document) verifying that the notary public is in good standing. .

The local Chicago area office for the Index Department of the Illinois Secretary of State's office:

Illinois Secretary of State's Office
Index Department
17 N. State St.
Suite 1030
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 814-2067

This application can also be sent to the Springfield office which is:

Illinois Secretary of State's Office

Index Department

111 E. Monroe

Springfield, IL 62756

217-782-7017

For documents generated by Federal Executive and Administrative agencies, contact

Authentications Office

Department of State

518 23rd St., N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20520

(202) 647-5002

The fee is $5.00. Additional information is available by calling the Federal Information Centre: 1-800-688-9889. Select option 6 after you press 1 for touch tone phones.

For documents generated by US Federal courts, contact the Clerks and Deputy Clerks of the Federal Court System. The fee for processing US Federal court documents is $5.00.

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