In our increasingly connected world, life events often cross borders. Whether you’re getting married, registering a birth, or applying for a new job in another country, one small piece of paper can bring everything to a halt: the Apostille.
If you’ve ever been told you need a document “Apostilled” or “Authenticated,” you know the feeling of confusion that follows. An Apostille is a specific type of certification, established by the Hague Convention, that authenticates the origin of a public document (like a birth certificate or marriage license) so it can be officially recognized in another country.
The process, however, is notoriously complex. It often involves identifying the correct government office (which varies by state and document type), navigating strict requirements, and dealing with international shipping. This is where we come in.
At the Dave Higgins Office, we specialize in demystifying this process. While many of our clients in Japan know us for our expertise in reissuing and Apostilling Japanese documents for use abroad, our services don’t stop there. We are equipped to help our clients—wherever they are—reissue and Apostille documents from virtually any jurisdiction.
A Recent Success Story: From the U.S. to Japan
We recently had the privilege of assisting a client in Japan with a time-sensitive matter. They needed to report their child’s birth to the United States but required an Apostilled copy of their U.S. birth certificate to complete the process here in Japan.
Navigating U.S. state bureaucracy from overseas can be a significant challenge. Our team took charge of the entire process. We successfully coordinated the reissuance of the U.S. birth certificate and then secured the official Apostille from the correct U.S. authority. We handled all the complexities, allowing the new parents to focus on their family.
This is just one example of how we bridge the gap for our clients. Whether you need a Japanese document authenticated for use in the U.S. or a U.S. document prepared for use in Japan, we manage the entire workflow. We can help you obtain new copies and secure the necessary Apostille or Embassy Authentication for documents from all 50 U.S. states and beyond.
Don’t let bureaucracy stand in your way. If you need to reissue or Apostille a document, contact the Dave Higgins Office today. We handle the paperwork so you can handle life.