Arranging the legalisation of your documents need not be a daunting process. We aim to make the ordering process as simple as possible. We have prepared a handy guide to answer the most commonly asked questions relating to the order form below.   

Does your Document need Solicitor Certification?

The apostille is issued to a document to verify the signature of a legal official or the seal of a legal authority. For example, the apostille may be issued to a birth certificate to verify the signature of a registrar.

If your document has already been signed by a person of a recognised legal standing; i.e. a solicitor, notary public, government official or registrar; then solicitor certification would not be required. Likewise, the same applies if your document has been stamped by a legal authority such as the probate office or the family court.

Not all documents are certified as standard. As an example, academic documents will need to be certified by a solicitor or a notary to be eligible for legalisation.

If your document has already been signed by a legal official then this will require the apostille only which can be requested in section 1 of the form. If your document has not yet been signed by a legal official then this will require the solicitor certification and apostille service which can be requested in section 2 of the form.

Does your Document need Embassy Attestation?

The Apostille is recognised within all countries that are members of the Apostille Convention. If you intend to use your documents in a country that has not yet signed up to the Apostille Convention then you may also require embassy legalisation. We work with the vast majority of embassies in the UK to ensure your documents are correctly legalised for the intended country.

If your document is to be used in a country that is a member of the Apostille Convention then embassy legalisation will not be needed.

If the document is to be used in a country outside of the Apostille Convention then embassy legalisation may be required.

Do you want us to Legalise the Original Document or a Copy of the Document?

Specific documents must always be legalised as originals or copies. Police checks, for example, can only be legalised as originals and passports can only be legalised as copies. Certain documents can be legalised as originals or copies. This is the case with academic documents and we can process copies of educational qualifications to prevent the originals being defaced in any way. It is advisable to check if certified copies are suitable for the requirements of the authority requesting your documents.

Have you included Payment?

We offer several methods of payment for your convenience. One of which is to send us a UK cheque or postal order. An alternative is to provide card information on your order form. If you opt for one of these methods we can begin processing as soon as your document arrives to ensure your documents are returned as quickly as possible. We can contact you to provide instructions to pay online via card or bank transfer if preferred.

Have you provided your Contact Details?

When sending your documents to us it is essential that you include some method of contact to prevent any unnecessary delays. If we do have any queries with the order we will contact you by phone or email to discuss this with you. Your contact information can be provided on our order form or on a covering letter.

Once you have taken the above points into consideration you simply need to send your documents with your completed order form to us. If you need any further guidance please get in touch.