APOSTILLES&CERTIFICATIONS

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that a request for an apostille or a certification shall be submitted on the form prescribed by the Secretary of State and must be accompanied by the lawful fee for the apostille or certification. Establishes grounds for which the Secretary of State may refuse to issue an apostille or a certification. Provides that an individual may not remove an apostille, certification, any part of the apostille or certification, or the "great seal of the State of Illinois" from any document to which the Secretary of State has affixed it. Provides this act or any attempt to do so shall render the apostille or certification invalid. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits tampering with a certification by a public official when he or she knowingly, without lawful authority, and with the intent to defraud any individual, entity, public officer, or governmental unit, uses a certification or part of a certification by a public official, including but not limited to an apostille, the "great seal of the State of Illinois", and other certification, in connection with any document he or she knows or reasonably should know is not the original document for which the public official originally issued the certification. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Effective July 1, 2013.