Broward County · Fort Lauderdale · Hallandale Beach · Weston
Apostille Services in Broward County, FL
Miami Dade Apostille provides apostille processing for clients throughout Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and Davie. Documents from Florida, any other U.S. state, or a federal agency can be processed and mailed in, with no need to visit an office in person. When mailing, use a trackable shipping method and keep your tracking number.
Definition
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is an official certification issued by a state's Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State that authenticates the official signature, capacity, and seal on a document — not its contents — for use in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. The Convention must be in force between the issuing and receiving states, and the receiving authority may have additional requirements. For non-Hague countries, consular or embassy legalization may be required instead of an apostille.
Coverage
Broward County: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, and Weston
Fort Lauderdale, as the county seat, is home to the Broward County courthouse, a large concentration of law firms, corporate offices, and the marine and yachting industry, generating steady demand for court judgment apostilles, corporate document apostilles, and FBI background check apostilles.
Hallandale Beach and Weston are both active areas for apostille requests, including vital record apostilles, dual citizenship documentation, powers of attorney, and certified translation services. Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Davie, Sunrise, Plantation, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach round out the county's most active areas for apostille requests, with significant small business populations needing document authentication for personal and corporate matters.
State vs. Federal
Florida Apostilles vs. Federal Apostilles
Most Broward County documents are processed through the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee. An apostille for an FBI background check is a federal apostille and must be processed through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., not the Florida Department of State. Documents issued in another state must be apostilled by that state's Secretary of State.
Vital Records
Birth, Marriage, Divorce, and Death Certificate Apostilles
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and death certificates are among the most requested apostilles for Broward County clients pursuing dual citizenship, family-based immigration, and international recognition of civil status. Vital records require an issuer-certified copy from the appropriate state or county custodian — the state vital records office for births, marriages, and deaths, and the clerk of the issuing court for divorce decrees. Notarized photocopies are not accepted for these document types.
FBI & Fingerprinting
FBI Background Check Apostille and Fingerprinting
FBI Identity History Summary reports require a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State. Electronic fingerprint capture and traditional ink fingerprint cards are available. Agency-specific employment and licensing submissions are separate from a personal FBI Identity History Summary request. We help with fingerprint capture, FBI request guidance, and federal apostille coordination; we do not issue FBI reports.
FD-258 fingerprint cards are available for clients completing the FBI process from outside the United States. Overseas fingerprinting requires physical capture locally — it cannot be done by video. The current FBI fingerprint card form is FD-1164; confirm FD-258 acceptance with the receiving provider. For non-citizens and overseas applicants, direct FBI submission options may be available. Approved channelers serve U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents physically present in the U.S. or territories. 24-hour emergency appointments are available by phone request — separate from regular walk-in hours.
Corporate & Real Estate
Corporate, Business, and Real Estate Document Apostilles
Corporate documents including Certificates of Good Standing, corporate resolutions, articles of incorporation, and commercial contracts are frequently apostilled for Broward County business owners with international operations. Publicly filed corporate records are issuer-certified; privately signed corporate documents require notarization before apostille. Powers of attorney and real estate closing documents are also commonly apostilled, provided signatures are properly notarized first. A power of attorney must be notarized before it becomes eligible for apostille, since the apostille authenticates the notarization itself. Clients can sign from anywhere worldwide via eligible Remote Online Notarization, subject to identity, witness, document, and recipient rules — this is not legal drafting and does not guarantee foreign acceptance.
Process
How the Apostille Process Works
Document Review
Confirming the correct process and whether notarization, clerk certification, or a certified copy is required.
Quote and Timeline
Provided based on document type and destination. Processing times are set by the issuing government authority and cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Submission
Mailed in, dropped off, or picked up by arrangement, then submitted to the correct state or federal authority.
Delivery
Returned by pickup, FedEx, or international shipping. Destination availability may vary.
Mobile pickup service is available throughout Fort Lauderdale and Broward County by arrangement.
Certified Translation
Certified Translation for Broward County Clients
Many countries require certified translation in addition to apostille. Whether the translation itself must also be apostilled, and what format or certification is required, is determined by the receiving authority. Certified translations are available in over 30 languages, including:
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Italian
- French
- German
- Arabic
- Hebrew
- Russian
- Chinese
- Ukrainian
- Turkish
- Over 30 languages available
Notary
Notarization and Remote Online Notary
All notarizations, including Remote Online Notarization (RON), are provided in-house. Remote Online Notarization allows a document to be notarized electronically over a secure video session and is legally valid under Florida law. The online notary must be physically located in Florida; the signer may be located elsewhere. Not all document types are eligible for RON — eligibility depends on the document type, jurisdiction, and the requirements of the receiving authority.
Document Types
Documents We Process
Vital Records
- Birth and marriage certificates (issuer-certified copy from the appropriate state or county vital records custodian)
- Death certificates (issuer-certified copy from the appropriate state or county vital records custodian)
Court Records
- Divorce decrees (certified copy from the clerk of the issuing court)
- Court records and judgments (certified copy from the clerk of the issuing court)
Federal
- FBI background checks (federal apostille via U.S. Department of State)
Academic
- Diplomas and school records (procedure depends on the issuing institution and state; a notarized registrar statement may be required — registrar certification alone is not automatically sufficient)
Powers of Attorney
- Powers of attorney (must be notarized; clients may sign via eligible RON subject to identity, witness, document, and recipient rules)
Corporate & Business
- Corporate records and business documents (publicly filed records are issuer-certified; privately signed documents require notarization)
- Certificates of Good Standing (issued by the Florida Division of Corporations)
Real Estate
- Real estate closing documents (notarization required where applicable; recording requirements depend on document type and receiving authority)
Immigration
- USCIS and immigration documents (USCIS-eligible documents are official agency-certified forms)
Coverage Area
Areas We Serve
Documents can be mailed in from anywhere, but Broward County clients specifically served include:
- Fort Lauderdale
- Hallandale Beach
- Weston
- Pembroke Pines
- Miramar
- Davie
- Hollywood
- Sunrise
- Plantation
- Coral Springs
- Pompano Beach
- Deerfield Beach
Miami Dade Apostille is not a government agency and does not issue apostilles directly. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. Processing times vary by document type, issuing agency, and destination country.
FAQ
Broward County Apostille FAQ
General
Yes, covering Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Davie, and the rest of the county.
Through the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee, not a local Broward County office.
Apostilles are recognized in Hague Convention member countries, subject to the Convention being in force between the issuing and receiving states and the receiving authority's requirements. For non-member countries, embassy and consulate legalization is handled instead.
Yes, from any of the 50 states, with completed apostilles returned by mail or courier.
Requirements depend on the document type. Vital records require an issuer-certified copy from the appropriate state or county custodian. Some documents may be notarized copies depending on the type and the receiving authority's requirements.
Do you provide apostille services in Broward County?
Where are Florida documents apostilled?
Are apostilles from Broward County valid internationally?
Can documents be mailed in?
Do I need the original document?
Hallandale Beach & Weston
Yes, including vital record apostilles, certified translation, and dual citizenship documentation.
Yes, including birth and marriage certificate apostilles, powers of attorney, and translation into Spanish and Portuguese.
Yes. Whether the translation must also be notarized or apostilled depends on the receiving authority's requirements.
Do you provide apostille services in Hallandale Beach?
Do you provide apostille services in Weston?
Is certified translation into Spanish or Portuguese available for these areas?
Vital Records & FBI
Yes, provided it is an issuer-certified copy from the vital records office of the state where the birth occurred.
Yes, provided it is an issuer-certified copy from the appropriate state or county vital records custodian.
A federal apostille, processed through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not a state apostille.
Overseas fingerprinting requires physical capture locally — it cannot be done by video. FD-258 fingerprint cards are available for clients located outside the United States. The current FBI fingerprint card form is FD-1164; confirm FD-258 acceptance with the receiving provider before submitting.
Can a birth certificate be apostilled for dual citizenship?
Can a marriage certificate be apostilled for use abroad?
Does an FBI background check need a state or federal apostille?
Can FBI fingerprinting be completed remotely?
Academic, Corporate & Real Estate
Usually yes, unless the school issues a registrar-certified copy that the issuing state's Secretary of State will accept directly. Registrar certification alone is not automatically sufficient — requirements depend on the issuing institution, state, and the receiving authority.
Yes, once issued by the Florida Division of Corporations.
Yes, the signature must be notarized first. The apostille authenticates the notarization itself. Clients may sign via eligible Remote Online Notarization subject to identity, witness, document, and recipient rules.
Yes, provided signatures are properly notarized where required. Recording requirements depend on the document type and the receiving authority.
Do diplomas need notarization before apostille?
Can a Certificate of Good Standing be apostilled?
Does a power of attorney need notarization before apostille?
Can real estate closing documents be apostilled?
Translation, Timing & Legalization
Many countries require certified translation of the apostilled document into their official language. Whether translation is required, and what format or certification is needed, depends on the receiving authority.
Yes, documents can be notarized online before proceeding to apostille. The online notary must be physically located in Florida; the signer may be located elsewhere. Not all document types are eligible for RON — eligibility depends on the document type, jurisdiction, and the receiving authority's requirements.
Processing times depend on whether the document is state or federal and are set by the issuing government authority. Expedited handling is available for eligible document types — contact us for current options.
The document will need embassy or consulate legalization instead of an apostille. The specific authority and process depend on the destination country.
No, but some authorities may require a recent certified copy of the underlying document.
Is a certified translation required with the apostille?
Is Remote Online Notarization available for Broward County clients?
How long does an apostille take in Broward County?
What if my destination country isn't part of the Hague Convention?
Does an apostille expire?
If you need apostille services in Broward County, contact Miami Dade Apostille today.
Miami Dade Apostille is not a law firm, and our team does not include attorneys. This page is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice.