Apostille, legalization and certified copies

An apostille or a legalization certifies a signature, the capacity of the person who signed and, where there is one, the seal on a document. It says nothing about the content.

Since 2025 the authority that issues them for French documents has changed, and the consulates in the United States handle only part of the work.

French documents

Since May 1, 2025, apostilles on French public documents are issued by the notaries of France, through fifteen regional councils or interdepartmental chambers of notaries, instead of the courts of appeal.

Since September 1, 2025, the notaries also issue legalizations, instead of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Notaries de France runs a toll-free number for questions, open on weekdays.

US documents for France

A US document to be used in France needs an apostille from the authority of the state that issued it, usually its secretary of state. The procedure varies from state to state: some add the apostille when they issue a certificate, others want the certificate first and the apostille afterwards.

The network points to the State Department's apostille page and to the Hague Conference's list of offices by state.

At the consulate: signature and copies

The consulate can certify your signature on a private deed if you are French, if the deed is to be produced in France or before a consular authority, or if you represent a French company or association.

You come in person with an ID and the unsigned original; the fee is lower if you are on the Registre. Some deeds, including certain powers of attorney, must be drawn up by a notary instead.

A certified copy is possible when the original is a French administrative document, a foreign authority asks for the copy, and a text provides for it.

The consulate does not certify copies of civil status records, judgments, commercial contracts or notarial deeds; those go back to the authority that issued them.

The network's general page says an honorary consul “does not issue official documents” and handles information and first-level help.

The directory cards of the two Louisiana honorary consuls, Lake Charles and Lafayette, list three services that are official acts: voting proxies, signature legalization and certified copies. Ask them before you go. (source: 1)

Official sources: Authentification d’un document : légalisation et apostille; Notaires de France, apostille et légalisation; Légalisation d’actes sous seing privé – Certification matérielle de signature; Copie certifiée conforme à l’original; Tarifs des droits de chancellerie.

Details checked against the official pages on October 6, 2026.