Obtaining Authentication or Certification of Documents Not Party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961

Authentication Certificates

Process for obtaining Authentication Certificates

1. If the document is in a language other than English, this office will request a certified or notarized translation of the document into English as permitted in N.C.G.S. §66-274(a).

2. Appear before a Notary Public for execution of the document(s): Documents must be notarized by a North Carolina Notary Public, unless they were issued by one of these agents:

  • Register of Deeds
  • Clerk of Superior Court
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Vital Records
  • Department of Motor Vehicles (Raleigh, NC office ONLY)
  • North Carolina Attorney General's Office

Documents (transcripts, report cards, diplomas) 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.

When submitting original documents, provide a notarized Affidavit and when submitting a Copy of the document, provide a true Copy Statement. Both of these forms are found under "Sample Documents" on the Authentications web page.

Please note in all cases that the document for which you wish to receive an Authentication Certificates must be current, preferably issued within the last 1 or 2 years.

3. Submit documents to the NC Authentication Office with a cover letter, money order or check, the original document(s) with all certifications attached and a return paid carrier envelope. Should you wish the documents to be directed to a third party, please include that information and the paid carrier envelope addressed to the third party. Any documents received without a paid return envelope and/or a third party address will be delivered by regular mail to the person submitting the documents.

4. The processing fee is $10.00 (in US currency) per document. For adoptions only, the processing fee for a duplicate original is $5.00 (in US currency) when requested at the same time as the first original.

5. Make payment to the “NC Secretary of State.”

6. Upon receipt of the document(s), submit documents to the US State Department Authentication Office for further legalization.

United States Department of State Authentication
518 23rd Street N.W.
Sa-1 Columbia Plaza
Washington, DC 20520
800-333-4636 (202) 647-5002
Fax: (202) 663-3636 TDD: (202) 663-3468

NOTES:
  • cover letter
  • Contact Vital Records to obtain marriage or birth certificates. Vital Records telephone number is (919) 733-3526. They will accept credit/charge cards.
  • For a copy of the NC State on Foreign Adoptions contact NC Attorney General's Office at (919) 716-6400.