Posted by FlaNotary2 on 4/11/11 2:24pm
Msg #379448

Apostille vs. Exemplified

Not talking about notarizations here - or the actual apostille certificate itself, but I haven't found the answer anywhere else and thought maybe PAW or someone else could answer it for me.

I know that whether a document is apostilled or exemplified depends on the country, and a different type of certificate is attached to the document depending on whether an apostille or exemplification is required.

What I wanted to know is specifically in regard to vital records, in Florida in particular. When one orders a birth certificate from Florida intended to be used in another country, the applicant has to specify what country the document is intented to be used in. The country will affect how the certificate is issued. But in relation to the actual birth certificate itself, what is the difference between a certificate intended to be apostilled and a certificate intended to be exemplified? I am not talking about the apostille that gets attached, but the original document itself.

If this makes sense to anyone.

Reply by PAW on 4/11/11 3:56pm
Msg #379456

It is similar to the Certificate of Notarial Authority issued for notarized documents, which I'm sure you're already familiar. An Exemplified certification covers those countries who did not sign the Hague Treaty, as opposed to an Apostille where the certification is provided under the Hague convention of 1961 for authenticating documents for use in foreign countries.. The sole function of the Apostille or Exemplified certificate is to certify the authenticity of the signature of the document. In Florida, the Apostille or Exemplified certificate contains the original signature of the State Registrar and the Secretary of State plus other required information, but in very different formats. That is why it is imperative to specify the purpose of the request and designate the country in which the document will be used.

Reply by PAW on 4/11/11 4:16pm
Msg #379459

Re: Apostille vs. Exemplified (cont'd)

I don't know if there is a difference in the birth certificate issued in FL whether it be Apostilled or Exemplified, but in some jurisdictions, there are different underlying documents. Most recently I ran into this with a birth certificate for a client who was born in New York City. What a nightmare it was getting everything straightened out. With city documents, there is a whole added steps to have the document properly generated (short form for the Apostille or long form for the Exemplified) and then getting the city signatures authenticated before moving on to the county and then to the State. Follow that by authentication by the US Dept. of State and finally legalized by a Consular of an embassy or consulate. (Even then, there is no guarantee that the correct format was used. It is up to the receiving country to determine what it will and won't accept. And sometimes they aren't sure themselves.)

Reply by Les_CO on 4/11/11 3:57pm
Msg #379457

I wonder if the State of Hawaii, down to the county level has the same requirements? That could explain why it is so difficult for someone born there to get certified copies of a birth certificate?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 4/11/11 7:29pm
Msg #379469

ROFL Les...:) n/m

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 4/11/11 9:52pm
Msg #379479

Re: ROFL Les...:)

Thats a good one Les..