Property Deed Authentication for Nigeria

A Florida deed is occasionally needed in Nigeria as proof of assets, for example for a bank, in a divorce, or in an estate with property in both countries. Order a certified copy of the recorded deed from the county's official records office, then authenticate it. The deed shows ownership as of recording; a Nigerian office may also ask for a current property record. Ask before you pay for every step.

A certified copy of the recorded deed with the custodian's certification and seal, or the clerk's official electronic certification printed complete with its verification page, including every recorded page and exhibit. The original deed returned after closing, free online search copies and notarized photocopies can't be apostilled.

Find the book and page or instrument number in the county's Official Records search, then order a certified copy in person, by mail or electronically where offered; Palm Beach County's E-Certify service, for example, sells electronic certified copies for $8 per document. County fees are not included in our $220.

State fee for this document: $20 — included in our price. Full details on the property deed page.

After we return your document with its Florida authentication certificate, the usual next step is authentication by the U.S. Department of State, followed by legalization by Nigeria's consular office: the Consulate General of Nigeria in Atlanta serves Florida, and the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C. also has a consular section. Confirm the current requirements with the Nigerian office before you send anything. We don't handle, arrange or refer anyone for the federal or Nigerian steps.

We don't handle or arrange the U.S. Department of State or embassy steps. See how non-Hague authentication works.

Florida is served by the Consulate General of Nigeria in Atlanta, whose published jurisdiction includes Florida; the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C. also has a consular section. In Nigeria, Florida documents go to the Nigeria Immigration Service, state probate registries and courts for estates, state lands registries for property, the Corporate Affairs Commission and investment authorities for companies, and employers, universities and professional regulators.

English is Nigeria's official language, so Florida documents in English normally need no translation. If a Florida document is in another language, for example a Spanish-language record or a foreign certificate attached to a Florida affidavit, have it translated into English, certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and authenticated in Florida along with the original.

We found no published Nigerian rule on document age for these documents. Ask the receiving office, especially for police records and bank statements, which are usually expected to be recent.

Consular office serving Florida: Consulate General of Nigeria in Atlanta (its jurisdiction includes Florida).

$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished authentication to Nigeria is a flat $100 per order.

Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).