How a Florida notarized document is used in Germany
German notaries and registries rely on officially certified signatures (öffentliche Beglaubigung). For a signer in Florida, a Florida notarization with an apostille usually serves that role, and the German consulate in Miami also certifies signatures. What German offices check is that the notarial certificate states who signed and how identity was verified, so a complete Florida certificate with the ID method matters. Typical documents are consents, declarations for a Standesamt and shareholder resolutions. Ask the German notary whether a remotely notarized document is acceptable for your purpose before using online notarization.
Translation for Germany
German offices that require a translation usually want one by a translator sworn, publicly appointed or authorized under German state law, searchable in the state justice administrations' database. Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a separate notary and apostilled in Florida; some German offices accept it, but many will instead require a sworn German translator. For recognition of a Florida divorce, plan on the apostille plus a sworn German translation. Translate after the apostille, including the apostille page.
What your Florida notarized document must look like
Florida can only apostille a notary it can verify, so the document must be signed in front of a Florida-commissioned notary with a complete notarial certificate: the venue (State of Florida, County of …), the date, the signer's name, how the signer was identified, the notary's signature and the seal showing the commission number and expiration. A missing county, a missing date or a stamp without a signature means a rejection at the counter. Not signed yet? Add online notarization to your order and sign on video with a Florida notary — no office visit.
Step by step: notarized document apostille for Germany
- Order online — pick "Notarized document" and "Germany" on the order form; $220 per document, $380 for two, $160 each for three or more.
- Send a photo — reply to the confirmation email with a picture of the document. We check the certification before anything ships, so a defect is caught before it costs you a round trip.
- Drop it at FedEx — after approval, FedEx emails you a prepaid QR code; show it at any FedEx Office or Ship Center, no printer or label needed.
- Filed in person in Tallahassee — we walk the document into the Florida Department of State and ship the apostilled original back by FedEx within 5–7 business days of receipt — to your U.S. address, or to Germany with international return shipping (+$100).
One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs for Germany. Whatever the office there asks for after that — a translation, a filing deadline — is covered above.