Are you a Kentucky Colonel? Preserve your legacy, get listed in the Kentucky Colonels Handbook last published in 1930.

Kentucky Colonel Apostilles Certificate

The Office of the Colonelcy recommends that Kentucky colonels living outside of Kentucky, especially those living outside of the United States to make the effort to obtain an Apostilles Certificate for their Kentucky Colonel Commission and Title. Residents of US states and countries that acknowledge or recognize the Commonwealth of Kentucky with an economic, heritage or tourism department in their capital information offices normally do not require an Apostille Certificate, however to affix your title to your name on your drivers license, passport or other identity document such as bank checks or credit cards may require an Apostille Certificate to have their office acknowledged.

International Certification of Documents (Apostille)

Some documents intended for use abroad (e.g., birth, death and marriage certificates; transcripts and diplomas; adoption papers; official titles and other corporate documents) require some form of certification to be utilized abroad or in making claims. The Secretary of State provides this certification in the form of either an apostille or certificate of authentication. Our office provides this service personalized hand carried to the Secretary of State's Office as well for our employees for a handling fee of $222, or can find an attorney in Frankfort which will charge $250-$500, or can do it themselves in person the next time they visit Kentucky for $5, or they can do it using the US mail.

Preparing Documents for Submission to the Office of the Secretary of State

Documents from Kentucky Department of Vital Statistics (birth certificates, death certificates, etc.) - must be signed by the current state registrar, Christina S. Stewart, and submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State with the completed Request for Apostille or Authentication form and $5 per document fee. If the documents are not signed by the registrar, contact the Kentucky Department of Vital Statistics at 502-564-4212.
Documents signed by a notary (adoption papers, grade transcripts/diplomas, powers of attorney, etc.) - must be signed by a notary registered in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; the notary's signature must be certified by the county clerk in the county where the notary took the oath of office and the documents must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State with the Request for Apostille or Authentication form and $5 per document fee. If the county clerk is not available, please confirm with the county clerk's office that the deputy clerk is authorized to sign for documents going outside the country.
Documents signed by a circuit clerk or circuit judge (e.g., divorce decrees) - must be signed by a judge and/or circuit clerk, certified by the county clerk in the county where the circuit court is located, and submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State with the completed Request for Apostille or Authentication form and $5 per document fee. If the county clerk is not available, please confirm with the county clerk's office that the deputy clerk is authorized to sign for documents going outside the county.

All checks should be made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer.

Documents may be submitted by:

First Class Mail: Office of the Secretary of State
Authentications and Apostilles
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602-0718
Overnight or Hand Delivery: Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol
700 Capital Ave., Ste. 158
Frankfort, KY 40601

The office of the Secretary of State is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Procedure Upon Having Documents Apostilled or Authenticated

Apostille - if the country in which the document(s) will be used is party to the Hague Convention, an apostille is affixed to documents by the Office of the Secretary of State and returned to the address provided by the customer.
Authentication - if the country in which the document(s) will be used is not a party to the Hague Convention, a certificate of authentication is affixed to the documents by the Office of the Secretary of State and returned to the address provided by the customer, who must then submit the documents to the U.S. Department of State for application of the Seal of the U.S. Department of State.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding apostilles or authentications, please contact the Office of the Secretary of State:

Phone: (502) 564-3490
Fax: (502) 564-5687
US Mail: Office of the Secretary of State
Authentications and Apostilles
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602

Page updated

Report abuse