Apostille Services
We handle the full apostille process — notarization, state certification, Secretary of State submission — so your documents are accepted abroad without the back-and-forth.
Find a Notary Near YouWhat Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate attached to a public document that verifies the document's authenticity for use in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention. When a member country receives a document with an apostille, they accept it without requiring further authentication through embassy or consulate channels.
The apostille itself doesn't translate or validate the content of the document — it certifies that the document was issued by a legitimate authority and, where applicable, that the notary who signed it is commissioned in that state.
Documents That Commonly Require Apostille
- Personal: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, adoption papers
- Educational: Diplomas, transcripts, degree certificates
- Legal: Powers of attorney for foreign use, court orders, judgments
- Background checks: FBI identity history summaries, state criminal background checks
- Business: Articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, corporate resolutions
- Real estate: Deeds for foreign property transactions
The Apostille Process
- Send us the document — Ship the original (or a certified copy where acceptable) to our processing address. We'll confirm the right document type for your country.
- Notarization if needed — Documents that require prior notarization are signed before a commissioned notary on our team.
- State submission — We submit to the appropriate Secretary of State office (or U.S. Department of State for federal documents like FBI checks).
- Return delivery — The apostilled document is returned to you by tracked mail. International shipping available.
Pricing
Pricing includes our service fee plus the Secretary of State's filing fee. Standard processing runs $150–$250 per document. Rush processing is available at a premium. Contact us with your document type and destination country for an exact quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a standardized certificate issued under the 1961 Hague Convention that authenticates the origin of a public document. It's required when using a U.S. document in another Hague member country — and those countries accept the apostille without further embassy or consulate certification.
Which countries accept an apostille?
Over 120 countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, including most of Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia. Countries not in the Convention (including China and most Middle Eastern countries) require full legalization instead — contact us for those cases.
How long does apostille processing take?
Standard processing runs 5 to 15 business days depending on the issuing state. Rush options are available in most states for 1 to 5 business day turnaround.
Do I need to notarize the document before getting an apostille?
It depends on the document type. Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) issued by the state don't need prior notarization — they go directly to the Secretary of State. Personal documents like powers of attorney typically need notarization first. We'll confirm what's required for your specific document.
Related Services
Need Apostille?
Start your apostille order — send us the document and we handle the rest.
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