An apostille is an official certificate that verifies the authenticity of a public document so it can be legally accepted in another country that participates in the Hague Apostille Convention. It confirms that signatures, seals, or stamps on documents such as birth certificates, powers of attorney, or notarized forms are valid. This process is usually facilitated by a notary or an attorney.
In Tennessee, apostilles are issued by the Tennessee Secretary of State after the document has been properly certified. The apostille does not validate the content of the document — it only authenticates the origin of the signature or seal.
This process allows Tennessee-issued documents to be recognized for international use without additional embassy or consulate legalization.
