How to apostille boat sale and registration documents

There is no single “apostille for a boat.” Each document follows the route associated with the public authority or signature that gives it legal form.

Identify every document

• Deletion Letter or certified federal copy.
• State title or registration.
• Notarized private Bill of Sale.
• Mortgage or lien release.
• Powers of attorney and corporate documents for the signer.

Where each document is apostilled

An original or certified NVDC document follows the federal route. A certified title follows the route of the issuing state. A Bill of Sale signed before a notary is apostilled in the state that commissioned the notary; using Form CG-1340 does not automatically make it a federal document.

Prepare the Bill of Sale correctly

Ensure the name, Official Number or HIN, owners, ownership percentages and the signer's capacity all match. Complete the notarial acknowledgment and do not alter the document after it is signed.

What an apostille does not prove

It does not prove ownership, seaworthiness, tax payment or the absence of liens. It only authenticates the origin of the indicated official signature or seal.

Frequently asked questions

Must every document be apostilled?

Only the documents required by the receiving registry.

Does Form CG-1340 receive a federal apostille?

Not automatically; it commonly involves authentication of a state notarial signature.

Does the apostille prove there are no debts?

No. Review the titles, registries and releases.

Official sources

U.S. Coast Guard — Form CG-1340 · U.S. Department of State — Apostille requirements