Acquiring a Florida Apostille
Updated: 20 hours ago
The Florida Department of State's Division of Corporations issues apostilles for Florida public documents and Florida notarizations. The extra step for clerk-certified documents trips people up. This guide covers the rules as the Department states them.
Florida apostilles come from the Department of State. Photocopies are not accepted, and documents certified by a clerk need an extra step first.
What Florida will apostille
Original certified copies or certificates of status of Florida public documents
Florida birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
Notarized documents with the full notarial statement and the original notary's signature, stamp, and seal
A photocopy is not acceptable. If your document came from another state, see getting an apostille for a document issued in another state.
Notarized documents
The notarial certificate must be complete and show the original notary signature, stamp, and seal. See do you need a notary before an apostille.
Frequently asked questions
Is a photocopy acceptable?
No. An original certified copy or certificate of status is required.
Does my apostille expire?
The apostille has no expiration date, but the receiving country may require a recent document. See does an apostille expire.
Need a Florida apostille handled for you?
American Apostille handles Florida apostilles along with those from every other state and the federal government, for clients across the United States and abroad. Contact us with your document and destination country, and we will confirm the route before we start. Pay after it's done. No upfront payment.
Sources
Last reviewed October 2026. Confirm with the state before you send anything. This article is general information, not legal advice.
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