What is an Apostille

An Apostille is an official state certificate attached to a document to verify a public official's signature so it can be legally recognized in another country.

Specifically, this certificate confirms three things:

• Signature Authenticity: It verifies that the signing public official's signature is genuine.

• Official Capacity: It confirms the specific role or title of the official who executed the document.

• Seal or Stamp Verification: When applicable, it validates the official seal or stamp on the document, such as a notary public seal.

Please note: An Apostille strictly verifies the authenticity of the signature and seal; it does not validate or approve the actual text or contents written inside the document.

An Apostille is exclusively used for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. If your destination country is not a member, your documents will require a different, multi-step process known as "chain authentication" or embassy legalization. 

No. As a California-based service, we can only process documents issued within the State of California (such as California birth certificates or documents notarized by a California Notary Public). Documents from other states must be processed by the Secretary of State in the state where they originated. 

We routinely handle a wide variety of public and corporate documents, including:

• Vital Records: Birth, marriage, and death certificates (must be certified county clerk or state-issued copies).

• Academic Records: Diplomas, transcripts, and school verifications (must be properly notarized first).

• Legal & Corporate Papers: Power of Attorney, business bylaws, agreements, and court judgments.

• Background Checks: Notarized local police clearances or state background checks.

No. The California Secretary of State will only issue an Apostille on original certified copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates issued by the County Clerk/Recorder or the State Department of Public Health. Photocopies or notarized copies of vital records are not accepted. 

An Apostille authenticates the signature of the official who signed the document. For private documents (like a Power of Attorney or a contract), a Notary Public must first notarize your signature. The State then issues the Apostille to authenticate that notary's active commission. 

No, the Apostille itself is attached to your original English paperwork. However, the destination country overseas will often require a certified translation of your documents to accept them. To provide you with a seamless, one-stop experience, we partner with trusted, certified professional translation agencies to handle this step for you. Our coordinated translation services start at $60 & up.