Most court of bankruptcy and insolvency documents must be certified by an FCDO-registered solicitor or notary before being submitted for an apostille certificate.
We can return the legalised documents via DHL or Royal Mail (next-day service), or you can collect them in person from our office in London.
Jump to: How much does it cost? ↓ How long does it take?
How the process works:
Step one:
Ensure you have valid bankruptcy and insolvency documents that are not damaged and can be apostilled.
Step two:
Contact our office.
Please provide the following information:
- How many documents need to be apostilled?
- In which country will your insolvency documents be used?
- How soon do you need the apostille?
- How will the document(s) be delivered and returned?
When we have all the information, the team will assess your enquiry and give you a detailed quotation.
If you accept the quotation, the process of getting an apostille starts.
Step three:
Once your bankruptcy and insolvency documents have been apostilled, we will email you a scanned copy.
If you are not collecting your apostilled document from our London office – we will provide you with the tracking number the courier gave.
Note that we return documents by DHL or Royal Mail only. If you want to make other arrangements, please let us know.
- 3-4 day apostille service from £120
- 1 day (next business day) from £135
- 5-48 hours e-Apostille from £97
Our comprehensive fee covers:
- Solicitor certification
- FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) Fees
- Administration
- VAT
There could be additional costs, depending on your chosen service and how many documents you wish to apostille.
We will always provide a full breakdown to see precisely what you're paying for.
How long does it take to get an apostille?
There are three options for getting an apostille.
Option one: 1 day (next business day)
- Documents must arrive before 9:30 am for the next-day service.
- Documents can be collected around 3:30 pm the next day.
Option two: 3 to 4 days:
- If documents arrive after 9:30 am, it will take 3-4 days
Option three: e-Apostille 5 to 48 hours
If the document qualifies for an e-apostille, it is usually completed within 24 hours but can take two working days, depending on the FCDO's workload.
Do I have to come to your office?
No, you don't need to attend our office in Westminster. Documents can be sent by courier or by post. We recommend using a tracked service if you send your documents by post. We return your documents in the same way.
You are, of course, welcome to drop the documents off in person. However, delivering in person requires that you have an order number. Therefore, please make sure you contact our office first.
Are there alternatives to apostilles for legalising insolvency documents in the UK?
Yes. There are other ways of legalising insolvency documents in the UK – but they do not offer the same level of legalisation as an apostille.
- 1Consular legalisation is when a foreign embassy or consulate verifies the authenticity of an insolvency document. It is usually required by countries not signatories to the Hague Convention on apostilles.
- 2Notarisation is sometimes required when insolvency documents are used within the UK. Notarisation can also be necessary to obtain an apostille in other countries.
- 3
Certified copies are certified by a solicitor to confirm that they are true copies of the original insolvency document. Certified copies are often used in legal proceedings in the UK and other countries.
Each of the above methods represents a different level of legalisation.
Can I get an apostille for UK personal and business insolvency documents?
Yes, business and personal insolvency documents can be apostilled in the UK. Common insolvency documents that may require an apostille include bankruptcy orders, debt relief orders, individual voluntary arrangements for personal insolvency, administration orders, company voluntary arrangements, and winding-up orders for businesses.
Required information for UK apostille for bankruptcy documents
By providing as much information as possible to the FCDO, you can reduce the risk that your application will be delayed or denied.
Utilising apostilled insolvency docs in non-Hague Convention countries
To use apostilled UK insolvency documents in a non-member country of the Hague Apostille Convention, you will need to observe the legalisation requirements of the country concerned.
These requirements vary from country to country but they usually involve getting your documents legalised by the country's embassy or consulate in the UK.
- 1Determine the specific legalisation requirements from the destination country's embassy or consulate in the UK.
- 2Obtain an apostille for your insolvency documents, as most non-Hague Convention countries may require it.
- 3
Submit apostilled documents to the embassy or consulate for validation through a certificate or stamp.
- 4
The validated insolvency documents will be recognised as valid in the non-member country.
