Most apostille problems begin before anyone applies for one. The apostille authority is authenticating a signature and the official capacity of the person who signed — so if the document was not issued properly, or the signature is not from a recognised official, no amount of processing rescues it. These are the documents that most often turn out to be the wrong ones.
Why Your Birth Certificate May Not Qualify
The authority authenticates the signature and official capacity of a recognised official. If the record was not issued properly — or is a photocopy — the process fails regardless of how urgent it is.
Why School Records and Diplomas Cause Problems
A foreign university asking for a “notarized transcript” may mean a transcript signed by the registrar, an authenticated transcript, or a legalised educational document. Three different jobs behind one phrase.
Why Clients Bring the Wrong Document
Some bring a diploma when the institution wants a transcript. Others bring a transcript that was never properly signed or certified. Educational documents are the most frequent casualty.
Why Some Documents Should NOT Be Notarized First
If the Secretary of State can authenticate the government signature on a certified record directly, that is stronger than authenticating a third party’s statement about it. Notarising first can weaken the document.