What is Chain Authentication?

If the country where the document will be used is not a party to the Hague Convention, authorities will have to attest to the validity of a succession of seals beginning with the document and ending with the seal of the foreign embassy or consulate of the destination country in the United States.
Notarized Documents: The procedure for authenticating documents executed before a notary public such as affidavits or acknowledgments varies from state to state in the United States and in different countries. In the United States the state Secretary of State's office can authenticate the seal of the clerk of the county court. After the seal of the state Secretary of State or comparable authority is on the document, it may be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. The final step is to obtain the seal of the foreign embassy or consulate.
State Documents: State documents such as documents originating with a state court or agency (birth, death, marriage, etc.) must be authenticated by the appropriate office in the state Secretary of State's office. The document may then be authenticated by the foreign embassy or consulate.
Documents Issued by Federal Agencies: Documents issued under the seal of a federal agency can be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. Then send the documents to the foreign embassy or consulate.
Documents Issued by Federal Courts: Documents issued under the seal of a federal court should be sent to Justice Management Division, Security Program Staff, Physical Security Office, for the preliminary authentication. Then forward the document(s) to the U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office. Finally, send the documents to the foreign embassy or consulate.