The apostille is a simplified form of certificate of authenticity. It certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signatory has acted and, where applicable, the authenticity of the seal or stamp affixed to the document. It only replaces legalization in the contracting states of the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Documents.

There are international agreements according to which certain documents are exempt from the apostille.

The local and regional courts certify, for example, German judgments, resolutions, decisions, court documents, notarial deeds and translations by issuing an apostille.

Documents that

• by the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice,
• the Bavarian Constitutional Court,
• the Bavarian Supreme Court and
• the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Bavarian Supreme Court

shall be apostilled by the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice .