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Florida apostille requests start with the Secretary of State

A Florida apostille or notarial certification is a Secretary of State request, not a normal county copy errand.

An apostille can sound like a fancy stamp. Start with one simple question: who made the paper?

Florida’s Secretary of State handles the final state stamp for Florida public papers. The Division of Corporations handles the request. That is separate from getting a certified copy from a clerk, health office, school, or court.

The paper type matters. A birth record, marriage record, notarized form, school record, court copy, or company paper may need a first stop before it can go to the state. A copy can look official and still be missing the right seal or notary words.

Before mailing anything, read the accepted-documents page. Check the country, name, fee, return envelope, and wait time. If the paper is for travel, school, adoption, work, or property in another country, give yourself extra time.

If you are unsure, call the office that made the paper. Ask what kind of certified copy you need before you mail the request.

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Last checked against these sources: July 5, 2026.

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