Death Certificate Apostille
When a Pennsylvania death certificate needs to be used abroad, an apostille from the PA Department of State makes it legally recognizable in any Hague member country. We hand-deliver the document to Harrisburg and return it to you once the apostille is complete.
What is a death certificate apostille?
A Pennsylvania death certificate apostille authenticates the signature and seal of the state registrar on a certified copy of the death certificate. Once apostilled, the document is accepted by foreign governments, courts, banks, and institutions without any additional embassy or consulate verification.
Dealing with a death that has international dimensions is already difficult. Foreign authorities often require an apostilled death certificate before releasing assets, processing pensions, or handling legal matters tied to the deceased. The apostille removes the bureaucratic barrier between the Pennsylvania record and what the foreign institution needs to see.
We are a courier service. We do not issue death certificates or provide legal advice. Our job is to take the certified copy you have in hand, deliver it personally to the PA Department of State in Harrisburg, and return the apostilled original to you by tracked shipping.
When people need one
- Settling an estate or accessing bank accounts and property held in another country
- Claiming a foreign pension, annuity, or life insurance policy on behalf of a deceased person
- Handling repatriation of remains when foreign authorities require proof of death
- Proving inheritance rights to a foreign court or notary
- Closing out foreign business interests, property titles, or legal registrations in another country
- Supporting an immigration case that requires proof a prior spouse is deceased
How Keystone handles it
The same simple process for every document. We handle the slow part for you.
- Step 1
Order online
Tell us what you need apostilled and check out in minutes. We email a prepaid label right away. No account needed.
- Step 2
Mail us your document
Attach the prepaid label and send it our way. You get tracking so you can follow it all the way to our door.
- Step 3
We apostille it and ship it back
We hand-carry it to the Pennsylvania Department of State in Harrisburg, get the apostille added, and ship it back, tracked.
Before you send it
We are a courier service, not a notary. Your document must already meet the state requirements before you mail it. If the state cannot accept it, we send it back so you can fix it and reorder.
- A State-issued certified copy of the death certificate from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. The document must have the official state seal and the registrar's signature.
- Do not notarize a certified death certificate. A vital-records-issued certified copy is apostilled as-is. Adding a notarization is not required and may cause the application to be rejected.
- Send the original certified copy. Photocopies, scanned prints, and uncertified duplicates are not accepted by the PA Department of State.
- The death must have been registered in Pennsylvania. If the person died in another state, that state's designated authority must issue the apostille.
- If the foreign institution requires a translation, arrange that separately after you receive the apostilled original. The apostille process itself is in English.
Common questions
How do I get a certified copy of a Pennsylvania death certificate?
Certified copies are available through the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Eligible requestors include surviving spouses, children, parents, legal representatives, and others with a direct interest. Once you receive the certified copy, send the original to us and we handle the rest.
Do I need to notarize the death certificate first?
No. A certified copy issued by Pennsylvania vital records is apostilled exactly as it is. There is no notarization step. Only uncertified or privately obtained copies would require additional steps.
How long does the process take?
We hand-deliver your document to the PA Department of State on the next business day after it arrives. Processing time at the state level varies. We will email you updates and ship the apostilled document back to you by tracked mail as soon as it is ready.
Can a family member order on behalf of the next of kin?
You can place the order on behalf of the family. Just make sure the return address is correct for wherever you want the apostilled document delivered. We do not verify relationships or authorize document release.
Is the apostille accepted if the destination country is not a Hague member?
No. The apostille is recognized only in Hague Apostille Convention member countries. If the destination country is not a member, you may need further legalization through the foreign embassy or consulate. We process only the Pennsylvania apostille step.
Ready when you are.
Order in minutes, mail us your document, and we handle the rest.