Documents we notarize → Apostille Services
Apostille Services in Your Area
Sending a document abroad? We notarize it, then handle the authentication process with the Secretary of State so you do not have to work out the steps yourself.
What you need to know
What an apostille actually is
An apostille is a certificate attached to a document that confirms the signature or seal on it is genuine, so a foreign government will accept it. It does not certify that the contents are true — only that the official who signed or sealed it really holds that office.
It exists because of the Hague Convention of 1961. Between member countries, an apostille is all that is needed. For countries outside the convention the same goal takes a longer route: authentication by the Secretary of State, then the U.S. Department of State, then the destination country’s embassy or consulate. That route is called legalization, and it takes considerably longer.
We do not issue apostilles. Only the Secretary of State can. What we do is prepare the document correctly, submit it, track it and get it back to you — which is where most of the wasted time and rejected submissions happen.
Powers of attorney and affidavits
Notarized here, apostilled, then used to sell property, manage accounts or act on someone’s behalf overseas.
Corporate documents
Articles, certificates of good standing, board resolutions and commercial agreements for foreign registration.
Diplomas and transcripts
For study or employment abroad. These usually need a registrar’s signature notarized first.
Vital records
Birth, marriage and death certificates. These take a different path — see the note below.
Single-status and marriage documents
Affidavits of single status and consent documents required to marry in another country.
Adoption and family paperwork
International adoption files, parental consents and travel letters. See adoption documents.
How it works
The order of steps matters
Getting the sequence wrong is the single most common reason an apostille request comes back rejected. It usually looks like this:
Notarize or obtain a certified copy
Personal documents get a notarized signature. Government records need a certified copy issued by the agency that holds them.
Submit to the Secretary of State
In the state where the notary is commissioned, or where the record was issued. The wrong state means an automatic return.
Apostille or legalization
Hague country: the apostille is attached and the document is finished. Non-Hague: it continues to the Department of State and the consulate.
Vital records are the exception people trip over. A notary cannot certify a copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate, and a photocopy you notarize yourself will be rejected. You need a certified copy issued by the vital records office, and that copy goes for apostille as-is.
Before we start
What we need from you
Have ready
- The destination country — it determines the entire route
- The original document, or a certified copy for government records
- Valid government-issued photo ID if a signature is being notarized
- Any wording the receiving institution specifically asked for
- Your deadline, honestly stated — it changes which service level we recommend
Common mistakes
- Notarizing a photocopy of a birth or marriage certificate
- Submitting to the wrong state’s Secretary of State
- Assuming a Hague apostille is enough for a non-Hague country
- Leaving the document undated or partially completed
- Booking travel before the document is back in hand
Apostille questions
Frequently asked
How long does an apostille take?
It depends on the state and the season — anywhere from a few days to several weeks, and longer if the document has to continue to the Department of State and a consulate. Tell us your deadline when you call and we will tell you plainly whether it is realistic.
Can you apostille my birth certificate?
Yes, but it must be a certified copy from the vital records office that issued it. A notarized photocopy will be rejected. If you do not have a certified copy yet, order one first.
Do you issue the apostille yourselves?
No, and anyone who says they do is describing the process loosely. Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State. We prepare, submit, track and return the document.
My country is not on the Hague list. What then?
Then the document needs full legalization: Secretary of State, then the U.S. Department of State, then the embassy or consulate. It takes longer and costs more. We will map out the steps for your specific country before you commit.
Does the document need to be translated?
Sometimes. The apostille itself does not require translation, but the receiving institution often wants a certified translation attached. Ask them before you submit — adding it afterwards means starting over.
Related services
Our notaries are not attorneys. We cannot give legal advice, or advise on the requirements of a foreign jurisdiction.
Sending a document overseas?
Tell us the country and the deadline. We will lay out the exact route and what it costs before anything is submitted.