When a document is to be used in a foreign country, including Guatemala, it may be necessary to have the document authenticated by issuing authority and the local of U.S. Department of State. An authentication means certification of the signature and the capacity of the official (notary, clerk, registrar etc.) who has executed the document. In some USA states, the authentication may also authenticate the affixed seal of the undersigned official.
Guatemala am member to Apostille Treaty
Guatemala is the youngest member to the Apostile Convention. The country has agreed to accept the Apostille on October 07, 2012. On January 19, 2017, the Republic of Guatemala deposited its instrument of joining the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (aka “Apostille Convention“), making it the 113th member to the Convention. Following the usual routine procedures, the Convention entered into force for Guatemala on September 18, 2017.
Before signing the Apostille Convention, Guatemala required all the documents meant for use in the country to undergo a burdensome and time-consuming process of “consular legalization” – the wearisome procedures of obtaining stamps – certifications from the state and federal competent authorities and Guatemala Consulate, of course.
Since now the Republic of Guatemala is a signatory country to the said Hague Convention, there is no need to visit the Embassy or consular office. You can apostille any document and it will be undeniably accepted by the Guatemalan authorities.
Nevertheless, depending of the state where you document is issued and type of the document required legalization the procedures of obtaining an apostille certificate on a document meant for Guatemala, are not the same.
Apostille for Guatemala: documents required authentication
Obtaining a County Clerk Certification and Apostille is not a complicated procedure, and if you have a document needed apostille for Guatemala, you can obtain it on your own, of course. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that each document involves special approach, because different types of documents are processed in different means.
For instance, apostille on a sworn statement, a power of attorney or other notarial document is obtained in few simple steps, entailing verification by one or two competent authorities, depending of the state where they are notarized. While such documents as Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate, Judgments, corporate documents or FBI Background Check report impose more professional knowledge, because up to four local and federal divisions are involved in the process of their legalization.
When it comes to document legalization meant for Guatemala, and obtaining an Apostille for Guatemala, Apoling Solutions takes pride in offering you the talent of our proficient Notaries Public, Apostille Agents and certified translators into Spanish language.
Being a top provider of Apostille and Legalization services in Brooklyn and New York metro area while as long as quality services for clients on a nationwide scale, we back up our clients’ needs by preparing all types of official, business or a legal documents meant to be used in Guatemala and Consulates of the Republic of Guatemala in the USA and other countries.
Pursuant to the Hague Convention, the documents listed below are considered the public documents and require obtaining an Apostille if intended for use in Guatemala.
- Documents issued by organizations or official departments, civil registry offices, town hall and city clerks, local and federal courts and boards, etc. These kinds of documents include:
– Birth Certificate
– Marriage Certificate
– Death Certificate
– Judgment of Divorce or Divorce Decree
– Judgment of Name Change
– Child Custody – related Decisions and Rulings, etc. - Documents delivered by administrative authorities:
– Diploma signed by a Head of the School or School Principal
– Academic Record certified by a Rector or a clerk from students affairs department
– Medical document, references or statements signed by a hospital administrator, etc. - Notarial documents such as:
– Certified and notarized copies of documents (Passports, Driver Licenses, photocopies of academic records, school reports and diplomas)
– Power of Attorney for property sale, management, bank account management, etc.
– Affidavits (including Affidavit of Single Status: DECLARACIÓN DE ESTADO CIVIL DE SOLTERO)
– Consents including Parental Consent for Travel of their Children - Authorized certifying endorsements, placed on documents signed by individuals acting in a personal capacity, such as official certificates of the registration of a document or of its existence on the date indicated, as well as official and Notarial certifications of signatures. Usually, these documents are Corporate documents such as By – Laws, certificate of Incorporation, Business Contract and Agreements.
In view of the above said, it is recommended that the documents intended for use in Guatemala to be handled in accordance with International regulations and official requirements of Guatemala.
Documents retrieving for Guatemala
If you need to obtain an Apostille on Vital Records – Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate or on Divorce Decree, consider that original document cannot be apostilled. It is compulsory to obtain a certified copy of these documents first and then carry on their legalization.
Presently, most of the Apostille agencies do not provide document retrieving services. This means that you must find out what documents to obtain, where and how to order them.
Apoling Solutions full – service agency covering retrieving of the documents. We help our clients in different states to obtain a correct certified copy of the document, authenticate, Apostille it, and translate all certificates that are in English into Spanish Language.
Certified translation of Apostille into Spanish
When presented to the officials in Guatemala or Guatemala Consulate, it is mandatory that your documents to be translated from English into Spanish and that the translation to be certified and notarized.
At the Apoling we carry out all the services at one place – document retrieving – authentication – Apostille – certified translation – notary binding.
With us you do not have to concern about anything! Each document requested by you will be prepared by our experts correctly and on time!
Order Apostille on documents for use in Guatemala
Please, send us a free – quote request via this website, email us an inquiry at: apolingsolutions@gmail.com or bring the documents for Apostille to our office, located in Brooklyn, NY.
Are you concerned because you live out of state? Has your document been originated in the state you do not live any longer in?
We can take care of any document you might need for Guatemala– no matter what county or state it was issued by and deliver Apostille for clients from all 50 states – AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT,VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. (document issued by Federal authorities – IRS (residency certification on Form 6166), FBI, etc. ). the Secretary of the District of Columbia, and select Embassy / Consulate offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New York, Texas, Illinois, Colorado, and Florida.
If we left aside questions you may want to ask us, please feel free to give us a call and speak to a Notary Public or an Apostille Agent.