Process for Obtaining Authentication and Authority Certificates

Document Needs to be in English

Obtain a certified or notarized English translation of the document if the document is in a language other than English.

Notarization of Document

1. Appear before a North Carolina Notary Public to sign the document;
   
2. Obtain a certified copy which is notarized by the issuing entity (i.e., diploma, etc.);
   
3. If necessary, you may use a "True Copy" affidavit for North Carolina documents and obtain a notary acknowledgment of your signature;
   
4. Documents from the following entities will not need to be notarized:.
   
   
   • Register of Deeds
   • Clerk of Superior Courts
   • North Carolina Department of Agriculture
   • North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
   • North Carolina Vital Records
   • North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (Raleigh, North Carolina office only)
   • North Carolina Attorney General's Office
   • North Carolina Legislative Services

School Diploma or Transcripts

Documents (transcripts, report cards, diplomas, etc.) issued by a North Carolina university, college, community college or high school must be notarized by a North Carolina Notary Public. A school seal applied to the document by the school registrar is not acceptable.

True Copy Affidavit

Requesting an apostille using a "copy" of a document will require a notarized Affidavit saying that the document is a "true copy" of the original. A "true copy" affidavit sample can be found under the "Cover Letters & Templates" link on the right.

Time Requirement

Note: All North Carolina agency documents must be certified since April 1, 2000.

Submission of Documents

• Cover Letter
• Payment in form of money order or check
• The original document(s) with all certifications attached
• A return pre-paid envelope or carrier label (see Delivery Policy on Authentications Home Page).
• Documents may be directed on to a third party as a convenience. Include that information on the cover letter and address the pre-paid envelope to the third party.
• Any documents received without a pre-paid return envelope will be delivered by regular mail to a United States address. Note: A pre-paid courier label is not a handwritten or typed label with account information. A pre-paid courier label is obtained online and paid for at the time you print the bar-coded label.
• Courier packages (i.e., UPS, FedEx, DHL) will not be delivered to an address outside of the United States. Provide a return address within the United States.

Processing Fee

• $10.00 (US currency) per document.
• Adoptions only processing fee for a duplicate original is $5.00 (US currency) when requested at the same time.
• As an exception to the NC Secretary of State Refund Policy, Authentications in the amount of $10 may be refunded, if the document is rejected, not processed, and a request is made for a refund.

Payment

Payment is made to the "North Carolina Secretary of State. "

Getting Documents To and From Us

Mail or deliver the documents in person to the address at the bottom of the main Authentication webpage. A detailed schedule is available on the “Getting Documents to and from Us” page.

Emergencies

Emergencies can happen. Review the "Turn Around Times." page. There is an option for same or next day documents if you can bring them into the office in Raleigh.

US State Department

Submit the Certificates of Authentication/Authority to the US State Department Authentication Office for further legalization.

Certified North Carolina Statutes

You may obtain a certified copy of a North Carolina General Statute from the Reviser of Statutes. The Reviser does not issue any other type of certification. The Reviser is located in the Legislative Drafting Division of the North Carolina General Assembly.

Vital Records

Contact Vital Records to obtain marriage, birth or death certificates. Vital Records telephone number is 919-733-3526. They will accept credit/charge cards. You may also be able to order the document online at North Carolina Vital Records Expedited Online Orders.