Documents

Apostille a Death Certificate

A death certificate apostille is required when settling a deceased person's affairs abroad — including foreign property, bank accounts, inheritance, pensions, and life insurance claims.

What you need

  • A certified copy of the death certificate issued by the state or county vital records office.
  • The state where the death was registered.
  • For multiple foreign institutions, order multiple certified copies — each will need its own apostille.

We'll handle this with care

Settling international affairs after a loss is hard. Our team will guide you through exactly what's needed for the destination country.

When you need a death certificate apostille

  • Settling foreign property or real estate
  • Closing or transferring overseas bank accounts
  • Foreign inheritance and probate proceedings
  • International life insurance claims
  • Foreign pension and benefit transfers
  • Repatriation of remains

How long does it take?

  • Standard: 5–10 business days
  • Express: 2–4 business days
  • Rush: 24–72 hours (select states only)

Common questions

Do I need to be next of kin?

The state issuing the certified copy may have eligibility rules (typically immediate family, executor, or attorney). Once you have the certified copy, anyone can request the apostille on it.

How many copies should I order?

Order one apostilled certified copy per institution that requires it (banks, insurance, courts). Each apostille is attached to its own original.

What about a translation?

Most foreign jurisdictions require a certified translation. Have it done after the apostille so the apostille is translated as well.

Ready to apostille a death certificate?

Instant pricing, secure uploads, real humans handling your file.

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Ready to get your apostille?

Instant pricing, secure uploads, real humans handling your file.

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