Court documents such as decrees, court orders, grants of probate, and change of name deeds can be legalised, but only if they meet specific format and certification requirements.

If your documents are originals, they must include a wet ink signature, embossed seal, or stamp and a date from the issuing court or authority.

If your documents are unsigned originals or copies, they must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before legalisation.

If you’re unsure, The Apostille can review your document and provide solicitor certification to ensure it meets FCDO requirements.

Helpful tip:

Court documents without wet ink signatures or embossed seals are rejected by the FCDO.

If your court or legal documents lack these, The Apostille can arrange solicitor certification to make them eligible for legalisation.

Business and company documents such as Articles of Association, Certificates of Incorporation, Certificates of Memorandum, and other Companies House documents can be legalised, but they must meet specific format requirements.

If your documents are originals, they must contain a wet ink signature or embossed seal and a date from the issuing authority (for example, Companies House).

If your documents are unsigned originals or copies, they must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before legalisation.

If you need help, The Apostille can arrange solicitor certification to ensure your company documents are accepted by the FCDO.

Helpful tip:

If your Companies House documents are digital or unsigned, we can arrange solicitor certification before submission to the FCDO. This ensures your paperwork meets all UK legalisation standards and avoids rejection.

Yes — your Change of Name Deed can be legalised.

Accepted formats:

• Original deed signed by a UK solicitor or notary public, or
  
• Original deed not signed (must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public), or
  
• Certified photocopy, certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.
  

We cannot legalise uncertified photocopies or unsigned documents.

Yes — County Court, High Court, and other official UK court documents can be legalised, but they must meet strict requirements.

Accepted formats:

• Original document with a wet ink signature, seal, or stamp from the issuing court or official, or
  
• Unsigned original or photocopy, certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.
  

Please note:

Court documents are often issued with printed seals, which cannot be accepted for legalisation. Always ensure your document bears a wet ink or embossed seal before sending it.

Yes — your Decree Absolute or Decree Nisi can be legalised if it includes a wet ink signature or embossed seal and a date from the issuing court.

If your document does not contain an original signature or seal, or if you’re submitting a copy, it must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before legalisation.

Yes — your Grant of Probate can be legalised if it is the original document containing a wet ink signature or embossed seal from the issuing authority.

If your Grant of Probate is unsigned or a copy, it must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.

Yes — your Court of Bankruptcy or Sheriff Court documents can be legalised if they meet the same standards.

Accepted formats:

• Original document with a wet ink signature, embossed seal, or stamp from the issuing court, or
  
• Unsigned original or copy, certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.
  

We cannot legalise printed-only seals or uncertified copies.

Criminal record documents such as ACRO Police Certificates, DBS checks, Disclosure Scotland documents, Access NI records, and Subject Access Request letters can be legalised, but only if they meet strict format requirements.

If your document includes a wet ink signature or embossed seal and a date from the issuing authority, it can be submitted in its original form.

If your document is not signed or sealed, it must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before legalisation.

If you’re unsure, The Apostille can check your document and arrange solicitor certification to ensure it meets FCDO standards.

Helpful tip:

Criminal record documents are among the most commonly rejected due to missing signatures or stamps.

To avoid delays, The Apostille can review your documents and arrange solicitor certification if needed — ensuring they meet FCDO legalisation standards.

Yes — your ACRO Police Certificate can be legalised.

Requirements:

• Must be the original document, signed and dated by an official of the ACRO Criminal Records Office.
  
• Photocopies or scans cannot be legalised.
  

Your original certificate must include a wet ink signature and issue date.

Yes — your DBS certificate can be legalised, but only if it meets FCDO requirements.

• The document must be original.
  
• it must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.
  
• Photocopies or electronic printouts cannot be accepted.

Yes — your Disclosure Scotland document can be legalised if it is an original document issued by the authority.

• If the document is signed and dated, it can be submitted directly.
  
• It must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.
  

We cannot legalise photocopies or reprints.

Yes — your Access NI criminal record document can be legalised, but it must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before submission.

We cannot legalise photocopies or documents that have not been officially certified in the UK.

Yes — your Criminal Records Check can be legalised if it is an original document issued by a UK authority.

• If the document includes a wet ink signature and date, it can be legalised directly.
  
• It must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.
  
• Private company background checks are not accepted for legalisation.

Yes — your Subject Access Request (SAR) letter can be legalised.

• The original must include a wet ink signature, seal, or date from the issuing authority. It must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before legalisation.
  
• If it is an unsigned or electronic copy, it must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before legalisation.
  

Yes — documents that have been signed and stamped by a UK notary public can be apostilled.

A notary’s signature and seal confirm the document’s authenticity, allowing it to be accepted by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for legalisation.

Yes — documents that have been signed and stamped by a UK solicitor can be apostilled.

A solicitor’s signature confirms the document’s authenticity and makes it eligible for legalisation by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Before submission, ensure the solicitor is registered with the FCDO — if not, the document may be rejected.

If needed, The Apostille can provide solicitor certification and ensure your documents meet all FCDO requirements before apostille.

Documents issued in a UK Overseas Territory or a UK Crown Dependency can be legalised, but they must first be legalised by the local authority in the place of issuance.

Each Overseas Territory and Crown Dependency has the authority to issue its own apostilles under the Hague Apostille Convention.

If your document already bears an apostille from that territory, it does not require further legalisation by the UK Legalisation Office to be accepted abroad.

If your document has not yet been legalised locally, you must arrange for it to be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before submitting it for UK legalisation.

If you need help, The Apostille can provide solicitor certification and confirm whether your document qualifies for UK legalisation.

Helpful tip:

If you’re unsure whether your document from an Overseas Territory or Crown Dependency has already been legalised correctly, contact The Apostille. Our experts can verify its status and help arrange UK solicitor certification if needed.

Yes — your UK Overseas Territory document can be legalised, but only if it has first been legalised by the relevant authority in that territory.

List of UK Overseas Territories:

• Anguilla
  
• Bermuda
  
• British Antarctic Territory
  
• British Virgin Islands
  
• Cayman Islands
  
• Falkland Islands
  
• Gibraltar
  
• Montserrat
  
• Saint Helena
  
• Turks and Caicos Islands
  

If your document has not been legalised by the local authority, it must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public before it can be accepted for legalisation.

Yes — your UK Crown Dependency document can be legalised, but only if it has first been legalised by the authority in the relevant jurisdiction.

List of UK Crown Dependencies:

• Bailiwick of Guernsey
  
• Bailiwick of Jersey
  
• Isle of Man
  

If your document has not been legalised by the local authority, it must be certified in the UK by a solicitor or notary public before it can be legalised.