For those who do business on an international level, there may come a time you will need commercial document authentication services. Each individual state has a Secretary of State office responsible for apostille services and authenticating commercial documents. If the company prepares business-related paperwork itself, signatures must be notarized by a local notary. For instance, if your company or organization has bylaws, the signer will need the signature notarized directly on the document so it is official.
State Level Business or Commercial Documents
These are the types of commercial document authentication services available at the state level.
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Certificate of Incorporation
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Articles of Incorporation
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Authorization letters for company matters (bank, office, finances)
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Certificates of Amendment
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Certificate of “Good Standing”
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Power(s) of Attorney
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Certificate of Incumbency
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Business Letter of Invitation
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Stock Purchase Agreement in Foreign Companies
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Joint Venture Agreement(s)
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Corporate Forms
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Certificate of Analysis
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Certification of Free Sale
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Certificate of Origin
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Corporate Resolution
Federal Level Corporate Documents
If a country is requesting US corporate documents but is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you will need to obtain commercial documentation authentication services through the US Department of State. Understanding and obtaining commercial document authentication services can be complex, and each country can have its own unique requirements. Here are the federal level corporate documents that require authentication:
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Power(s) of Attorney
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Patents
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USDA Documentation
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Shipping Documents
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Distributorship Agreement(s)
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Dept. of Health and Human Services Documents
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Corporate Documents to use Overseas
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Commercial Invoice
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Certificate of Origin
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Articles of Incorporation
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Certificate of Free Sale
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Certificate of Foreign Government
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FDA (Food & Drug Administration) Documents
If you are doing business overseas and need commercial document authentication services, visit the US Authentication website to learn about your next steps.
