An Apostille is a special certificate that verifies a document for use in another country that is part of the Hague Convention. Common documents needing an apostille include birth certificates, marriage certificates, school transcripts, notarized letters, and power of attorney forms. The apostille confirms that the signature or seal on your document is authentic so it will be accepted internationally.
We serve clients in Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Madera Counties.
To complete an Apostille request in California, you will need:
Submitting incomplete or incorrect documents can result in delays or rejection from the Secretary of State.
No. Government-issued documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates do not require notarization. Documents that do not come from a government office (such as letters, permissions, or power of attorney forms) typically must be notarized first before the Secretary of State can issue an apostille.
Processing times depend on the method you choose:
Walk-in service (Sacramento or Los Angeles): usually same-day or next-day
Mail-in service: often takes several days to a few weeks, depending on volume
Third-party courier services: timing varies by provider
The Secretary of State posts current processing times on their website.
No. Apostilles must be issued by the same state where the document originated.
Example: A Texas birth certificate must receive an apostille from the Texas Secretary of State — California cannot authenticate it.
No. Apostilles must be issued by the same state where the document originated.
Example: A Texas birth certificate must receive an apostille from the Texas Secretary of State — California cannot authenticate it.
The California Secretary of State can apostille documents in other languages as long as the signature or seal can be verified. If translation is required by the destination country, that step usually happens after the apostille, not before.
Yes. Another person, courier, or service provider may submit the apostille request on your behalf. Mail-in submissions may be sent by anyone as long as the correct form, fees, and return envelope are included.
If preparing the apostille request on your own feels confusing — especially with notarization rules and international requirements — we offer a complete service to make the process easy.
When you purchase the Apostille Packet, you’ll receive all required forms in your website account.
