Apostille Services State Of California

An apostille is a certificate from the California Secretary of State that makes a California document valid in the 120+ countries of the Hague Apostille Convention. Detailed Notary reviews your document, notarizes it if needed, submits it to the Secretary of State and returns it to you anywhere in the world.

Services start at $185 for standard 5-7 day service, $245 with expedited 1-2 day service available.

Nationwide & International Clients Welcome

Call or text (650) 675-7760

WhatsApp for international clients

Entrance to the California Secretary of State office in Sacramento where Detailed Notary submits apostille requests in person

In-person apostille submission at the California Secretary of State, Sacramento

Detailed Notary picking up a certified record at a California government records counter

Certified record retrieval at the county records counter

Request Your Apostille Quote

California Apostille Pricing and Turnaround

Standard apostille: $185 first document, 5–7 business days

Expedited apostille: $245 first document, 1–2 business days

Each additional document in the same order: $75

The same pricing and turnaround apply to all eligible documents:

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates

• Divorce decrees and court records

• Powers of attorney, affidavits, and notarized documents

• Corporate documents and Certificates of Good Standing

Secretary of State fees are separate: $20 per apostille plus a $6 special handling / signature verification fee.

Documents I Apostille

Birth certificates · Marriage certificates · Death certificates · Divorce decrees · Powers of attorney · Corporate documents · Certificates of Good Standing

How It Works

1. Tell me the document and the destination country; I confirm whether it needs an apostille or embassy legalization.

2. If it's a personal document like a power of attorney, I notarize it first, in person.

3. You drop off, mail or have me retrieve the document, and pay the invoice.

4. I submit it to the California Secretary of State.

5. Your apostilled document is returned by tracked shipping or local delivery.

Need an FBI Background Check Apostille?

FBI background checks are federal documents, so they are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not the California Secretary of State. I handle the full process, from mobile fingerprinting to federal apostille, for clients who need their FBI report for use abroad.

FBI Background Check Apostille

Mobile FBI Fingerprinting

Multi-Page Documents

Every notarization carries my official California ink seal. When a receiving country asks for pages to be tied together, I can also apply an embossed seal across attached pages. Mention it when you book and bring any instructions from the receiving office.

Local and Nationwide Service

In-person notarization and scheduled drop-off cover San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Apostille processing for California-issued documents is available to clients anywhere by mail, FedEx, or UPS.

California Apostille FAQs

What is an apostille and how does it work in California?

An apostille is a stamped certificate issued by the California Secretary of State that authenticates the signature of a public official, county clerk, or notary public on a document, making it legally recognized in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. The Secretary of State does not verify the content of your document; it only certifies the authenticity of the signature on the document.

How do I get an apostille in California?

The document must be a certified public record or properly notarized, then submitted to the California Secretary of State with a $20 fee. I handle review, notarization, submission and return.

How long does a California apostille take?

Standard service is completed in 5–7 business days for all eligible documents, including court documents, powers of attorney, trust documents, corporate records, other notarized documents, and certified vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates).

Expedited service for any eligible document type is 1–2 business days. Turnaround starts once I have the eligible document in hand; shipping time is not included.

Is there an apostille notary near me?

If you're in San Mateo or Santa Clara County, I come to you to notarize and collect documents for apostille. Elsewhere, you can mail documents in.

What if my country isn't in the Hague Convention?

Your document needs authentication and embassy legalization instead. I'll confirm the process before you pay.

Can you apostille a document issued in another state?

Not through California. Each document is apostilled by the state that issued it. If your document is from another state, I can refer you to a trusted notary in my network who handles apostilles in that state.

Start Apostille Services Quote

Call or text (650) 675-7760 · WhatsApp for international clients

San Mateo County

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