International adoption
Your adoption dossier: notarized, apostilled and right the first time
A dossier can run to dozens of documents, and each one has to be signed, notarized and authenticated the way the other country expects. One wrong certificate can cost weeks. Here's who authenticates what.
Who authenticates what
| Document | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Letters and forms signed in front of a New Jersey notary (employment, medical, financial, references) | New Jersey Division of Revenue, Trenton: an apostille for Hague countries, a certification for others. (NJ Treasury) |
| New Jersey birth and marriage certificates | Order the certified copy from the State Office of Vital Statistics, marked "will need an Apostille Seal," then send it to Trenton. (NJ Health) |
| Federal documents, like an FBI background check | The US Department of State, Form DS-4194, $20 per document, by mail. Don't notarize the original. (State Department) |
| Certificates from another state | That state's own apostille office. New Jersey can't apostille them. |
Mistakes that send papers back
- A notary certificate missing the county, the commission expiration date or the notary's printed name
- A plain photocopy where the country wants a certified copy
- A translation that wasn't notarized, when Trenton or the country asks for one
- Signing before the notary appointment instead of in front of the notary
Where to start
Your adoption agency or surrogacy attorney gives you the country's exact list. For Hague adoptions, the State Department's country sheets spell out the steps. (State Department)
What we do
- Notarize your dossier at home, in one sitting, evenings and weekends
- Order New Jersey certificates from Trenton and take every Trenton apostille through in one batch
- Send federal documents to the State Department and track them
- Keep a checklist of every document and where it stands
We follow the list your agency gives you. We don't advise on adoption law. Apostille services · Certified translation
General information, checked November 2026. Not legal advice. MCC Solutions is not a law firm.
Questions
Who apostilles an FBI background check?
The US Department of State, because it's a federal document. Send the original as issued; don't notarize it.
Can New Jersey apostille my birth certificate from New York?
No. Each state apostilles its own records. A New York certificate goes to New York.
How long does the whole dossier take?
It depends on the State's processing times and how many documents need federal authentication. Tell us your deadline and we'll plan backward from it.