“Do you have apostille services?”

This is a question I receive as a notary public. Apostille service is not something a notary public is authorized to do. This is executed by the Secretary of State. The purpose of an apostille is to certify the capacity and signature of the notary public or government official who signed the document(s). It does not verify the content of the document(s). The documents requiring an apostille are for a recipient in a foreign nation who is a member of the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents.

Why is an apostille needed?

“In 1961 many nations joined together to create a simplified method of “legalizing” documents for universal recognition in each other’s countries. Members of the conference, referred to as the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents (33 U.S.T 883), adopted a document referred to as an Apostille that would be recognized by all member nations. ” California Secretary of State Notary Public Section

What are the steps involved in obtaining an apostille?

First, obtain your document(s). Second, find a notary public to notarize your document(s). Third, bring the documents to the California Secretary of State at 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. 916-653-3595 .

What are the options to obtaining an apostille?
One option is going to the California Secretary of State in person. Another option is mail or courier your document(s) to the California Secretary of State. A third option has two steps: first, going to the County Clerk’s office in the county where the notary public filed to do business. The second step is visiting or mailing your document(s) to the Secretary of State satellite/regional office to obtain the apostille. Lastly, you can hire someone or a company to complete this process for you.

There are fees associated with this process for more details on these fees and other details about an apostille and obtaining it visit: http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/notary_authentication.htm .

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