Great Seal Certification
Authentication of Public Documents for Foreign Use: Non-Hague Countries

To obtain authentication, the following criteria is used to establish that your document(s) are correct:

• Your document(s) are notarized and the notary’s signature must be certified by the clerk of the superior court in the county where the notary is commissioned. Note: The signature from the county clerk’s office must be an original pen in hand signature. The county certification must be attached to each document prior to authentication.

• For birth certificate, death certificate, marriage license and single status verification letter, contact the State Department of Vital Records Services at (404) 679-4701. We cannot certify documents obtained from the county health department. Note: The signature must be an original pen in hand signature of the person certifying each document. Some county Probate Courts will issue birth and marriage certificates which also needs an original pen in hand signature.

• For university and college transcripts/diplomas; these must be certified by the registrar with an original pen in hand signature or must be notarized in Georgia and certified by the clerk of the superior court in the county where the notary is commissioned.

• The fee is $10.00 per document. Acceptable forms of payment are check or money order made out to the Secretary of State. We do not accept second party checks nor do we have a billing system. You may visit our office to have your document(s) authenticated (our hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or you may mail your document(s) to the following address:

Secretary of State
Elections Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE
Suite 1104, West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334-1530

Apostille (for Hague countries)

If your document(s) are going to a country that is a member of the Hague Convention, please contact the Georgia Superior Court Clerk’s Authority at (404) 327-6023 to find out the requirements for obtaining an apostille certification.