Find out how to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in the USA, when an apostille or legalization is required, and how to properly prepare the document for use in other countries.
International postal services are suspending or restricting deliveries to countries in the Middle East, while legal professionals report difficulties with document legalization. These factors should be taken into account when planning urgent matters.
The authorities of Connecticut are carrying out a large-scale reform of document legalization procedures. In 2025, they changed the submission process, and an electronic apostille is expected to be introduced soon. This was reported by official state online resources.
The United Mexican States have joined the electronic apostille program. This was reported by the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
The authorities of the Hawaiian Islands have announced the launch of a new online service to simplify the apostille procedure. This was reported by MAUI NOW, citing a statement from the office of the state’s lieutenant governor.
In Texas, USA, the procedure for getting documents apostilled will change starting August 5, 2025. This update comes from the official website of the Texas Secretary of State.
Offshore structures have not disappeared — but they are transforming to survive amid the implementation of international financial transparency standards.
The authorities of Arizona (USA) have updated the guidelines for apostilling documents. The relevant changes are posted on the official website of the Arizona Secretary of State.
The official website of the State of Connecticut (USA) has recently updated its sections on how to obtain apostilles and certified copies of vital records.
The authorities of the state of Wisconsin (USA) have announced the introduction of a "universal" apostille certificate. An official notice was released on February 5, 2025, by the office of the state secretary, Sarah Godlewski.
A federal district court in Alabama has ruled unconstitutional the US Corporate Transparency Act, which requires a number of categories of companies to report their beneficial owners to a registry run by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network - FinCEN. The decision was made as part of the National Small Business Association's lawsuit against US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Certificates, degree and other educational documents issued in the USA have no official legal validity outside the country. Therefore, an apostille may be required in a number of cases, especially when enrolling in undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
The US Treasury Department has proposed creating a special registry that will help close loopholes that allow organized crime, terrorists and corrupt officials to launder dirty money through shell companies.
“Non-US” companies incorporated to do business in the US, as well as corporations registered in the US, will be required to file reports annually with the US Treasury's Financial Crimes Agency (FinCEN) disclosing key information about their beneficial owners.
The US presidential administration has proposed a new tax model for the largest corporations, which will force them to give more money in all countries where they earn.
