Month: December 2022

Generally speaking, one of the first steps to get the apostille is to order a certified copy of the birth certificate through the New York State Department of Vital Statistics. 

There are literally millions of U.S. citizens living abroad and many get married, work, or establish businesses outside the United States. If an U.S. citizen is about to marry abroad, obtain dual citizenship, or start a business in a member of the Hague Apostille network, then they will need to provide a birth certificate with an apostille. The birth certificate must be authenticated by the same state that has issued the certified copy.

Let New York Apostilles help handle the process for as little as $149. We can even assist you in authenticating a copy as many countries will accept copies when you can not obtain an exemplified or certified copy.

In Westchester County, the following Cities, Towns and Villages have the authority to issue birth certificates:

1. Cities:

• Mount Vernon
• New Rochelle
• Peekskill
• Rye
• White Plains
• Yonkers

2. Towns:

• Bedford
• Cortlandt
• Eastchester
• Greenburgh
• Harrison
• Lewisboro
• Mamaroneck
• Mount Pleasant
• New Castle
• North Castle
• North Salem
• Ossining
• Pelham
• Pound Ridge
• Rye
• Somers
• Yorktown

3. Villages:

• Ardsley
• Briarcliff Manor
• Bronxville
• Buchanan
• Croton-on-Hudson
• Dobbs Ferry
• Elmsford
• Hastings-on-Hudson
• Irvington
• Larchmont
• Mamaroneck (town)
• Mount Kisco
• Ossining (town)
• Pelham Manor
• Pleasantville
• Port Chester
• Rye Brook
• Scarsdale
• Sleepy Hollow
• Tarrytown
• Tuckahoe
• Irvington
• Armonk
• Chappaqua
• Katonah
• You can even upload your copy securely here: apostilleapply.com

Questions about the process? Call, text or WhatsApp Apostille Expediter Harry Otto at (914)441-2444 7 days a week.

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White Plains Apostille & Mobile Notary often process apostilles for the Bahamas, and when handling Power of Attorney documents, our clients are often surprised to learn that we need to add additional language—typically in the form of standardized stamps—to “legalize” the document for use in New York.

What is often overlooked is that if the “agent” being granted powers by the “principal” is located in New York, the POA becomes fully valid and enforceable in the state. With this in mind, the document must adhere to a few straightforward rules that were updated in the 2021 POA “makeover.”

If you’re submitting a POA for apostille that is intended for use in the Bahamas, and your attorney there isn’t well-versed in New York law, a few modifications will be necessary to ensure compliance.

Please note that these changes are NOT required to obtain your apostille. However, if we are also notarizing your POA, we make these adjustments because the “errors” are so apparent that we address them as part of our notarial duty to ensure the document’s accuracy.

Criteria	Nassau, Bahamas	New York State (2021 ABA Version)
Form	Must be in writing.	Must be in writing and on a statutory form.
Capacity	Principal must be of sound mind.	Principal must be of sound mind.
Execution	Signed by the principal or someone else at their direction in the presence of a witness.	Signed by the principal and the agent. Both signatures must be notarized.
Witnesses	At least one adult witness, who is not a party to the document and is not related to the principal.	Two witnesses required. Witnesses must sign in the presence of the principal and the notary.
Notarization	Recommended but not always required.	Required for both the principal and the agent.
Specificity	Should clearly outline the powers granted.	Must specify the powers granted. Statutory short form provides specific language for various powers.
Durability	Must explicitly state if it is a Durable POA.	Default is durable unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Revocation	Can be revoked at any time in writing, provided the principal is of sound mind.	Can be revoked at any time in writing. The principal must notify the agent and any relevant third parties.
Registration	Required for real estate transactions and other specific matters.	No general registration requirement, but filing is necessary for real estate transactions.
Effective Date	Effective immediately upon execution unless otherwise stated.	Can be effective immediately or springing (effective upon a future event like incapacity).
Scope of Authority	Can be general or specific; must be clearly stated in the document.	Can be general or specific; the statutory form includes specific language for different types of powers.
Language Requirement	Must be in English.	Must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation.
Acceptance by Third Parties	Generally accepted if properly executed and notarized; may require additional steps for specific transactions.	Mandatory for banks and financial institutions to accept the statutory short form unless reasonable cause exists.

This table highlights the key differences and similarities between the requirements for a Power of Attorney in Nassau, Bahamas, and New York State according to the 2021 ABA version.