Procedure for Apostille of U.S. Death Certificate

In the United States, in cases of accidental or illness-induced death of American citizens or citizens of other countries, departments handling property inheritance and similar matters often request the family to provide the deceased individual’s death certificate in the U.S. This certificate verifies the individual’s identity and the fact of death, serving as a legal basis for the family or heirs in matters concerning estate distribution and property transfer.

The funeral home in the deceased person’s location usually handles the application for a death certificate for the family. This certificate is typically issued by the Department of Health in the state. It’s a document issued by the U.S. government and may not be directly recognized by governments of other countries. If intended for use in another country that is also a member of the Hague Convention, it will require Hague Apostille certification.

There are two approaches to authenticate a U.S. death certificate for Hague recognition. One option involves authenticating a copy of the death certificate, while the other requires authenticating the original document. Applicants have the flexibility to choose the method that best suits their individual circumstances.

Steps for Apostille on a Copy of the U.S. Death Certificate:

Steps: The U.S. death certificate undergoes notarization by a U.S. notary public.
The notarized copy of the death certificate is then submitted to the Secretary of State for apostille.

Processing time: The processing time is 2-3 business days, excluding shipping time.

Steps for Apostille on the Original U.S. Birth Certificate:

The authentication process may vary based on the issuing state. Generally, the original U.S. death certificate must be submitted to the Secretary of State in the issuing state for apostille.

Processing time：The processing time is 3-4 weeks, excluding shipping time.

1. Documents required for apostille: Scanned copy or original of the U.S. death certificate.
2. Scanned copy of the passport photo page of the deceased’s immediate family member.