Kentucky Apostille for Documents Used in Türkiye

The Kentucky Secretary of State issues apostilles, and for most documents it needs one particular signature chain before it can act. The rules differ by type of document, so it helps to sort your papers first.

Vital records, meaning certificates of birth, marriage, divorce and single status from the Kentucky State Registrar of Vital Statistics, must bear the signature of the current State Registrar. An older certificate signed by a previous registrar is worth replacing before you start.

Notary and County Clerk

For a private document, the principal signature must be notarized by a Kentucky notary public, and the notary's signature must then be certified by the County Clerk where the notary is registered. School records such as transcripts and diplomas follow the same chain: the school official's signature is notarized, and the County Clerk certifies the notary. Kentucky criminal background checks go through the same two steps as well.

Court records issued by a Kentucky Circuit Court Clerk take a slightly different path: they are submitted to the corresponding County Clerk, who certifies the Circuit Clerk's signature. Background checks from the Administrative Office of the Courts lack the required signatures and cannot be apostilled directly.

Walk-in requests are completed while you wait and handed back to you. Kentucky can also issue an e-Apostille, sent as a PDF by email. Whether the Turkish authority that receives your file accepts an e-Apostille is its decision, so ask before you choose the electronic route over paper.

In Türkiye

The apostilled document is then sent to Ankara, where our translators, sworn before a Turkish notary, produce the Turkish translation. A Turkish notary certifies the translation if the receiving authority requires it, and that authority decides on acceptance.

For a Kentucky diploma: school official's signature notarized, County Clerk certification of the notary, apostille from the Secretary of State, sworn translation in Türkiye.