Apostille or Authentication?

The Office of the Texas Secretary of State (the Office) is the only agency in the state that can issue certificates and apostilles to authenticate Texas public records for use outside the United States. These certificates are often called authentications or apostilles. The Office provides a universal Apostille certificate, which acts as both an authentication and an apostille and is accepted in every country. However, for countries not part of the Apostille Convention, you will need additional authentication from the Office of Authentications at the U.S. State Department.

Public records fall into two main categories: recordable and non-recordable documents.

• Recordable documents are officially recorded and issued by state, or county officials and cannot be notarized or turned into certified copies by a notary public. (must be less than five (5) years old)

• Non-recordable documents are not recorded with a state, or county official and can be notarized by a Texas Notary Public.