When a relative dies leaving money in a Nigerian bank, a family in Texas quickly runs into two problems at once: the bank will not release the funds without Nigerian estate authority, and the Texas documents proving the death and the family relationship are not automatically recognized in Nigeria. Both problems have a process, and getting the order of steps right saves months.
What an apostille is
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates a public document — a notary's signature, a court seal, a registrar's certification — so it will be accepted by authorities in another country. For countries in the Hague Apostille Convention, the apostille is the finish line. For countries outside it, the same Texas certificate is the first step in a short legalization chain.
Does an apostille work in Nigeria?
No. Nigeria is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a plain apostille is not enough on its own. A Texas document destined for Nigeria has to travel the full legalization chain: first have it notarized, then certified by the Texas Secretary of State, then authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, and finally legalized by the Nigerian Embassy or Consulate in the United States. Only after that last step will Nigerian authorities and banks treat the document as valid.
How the Texas Secretary of State apostille works
Texas apostilles come from a single office: the Secretary of State's Authentications Unit in Austin. There is no county-clerk step — a document notarized by any Texas notary, in any of the 254 counties, goes straight to the state. Since October 2023 Texas issues one Universal Apostille (Form 2102) that works for every destination, whether or not the country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention.
The state fee is $15 per document. Mailed requests can take up to 25 business days; in-person and appointment service in Austin is same-day for up to 10 documents, and a bulk drop-box handles larger batches in 24–48 hours. There is no online submission — every request is handled by mail or in person. Certified copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) must be less than five years old.