San Diego Apostille Services
Providing document authentication and legalization services in all 50 states. Apostille, U.S. Department of State Authentication, Foreign Embassy Legalization
San Diego Notary Signing Agent offers:
-
Complimentary Document Review
-
Mobile Services for Document Pickup/Delivery
-
Expedited Services
-
Confidential & Secure Services
Ever have a need to get a document authenticated by the Secretary of State in order for the document to be accepted overseas? San Diego Notary Signing Agent provides a simple, streamline process to assist you with authenticating your documents for the desired country.
​
Rest assured, we take care of the complexities involved in the process, including document compilation, application completion and notarization requirements so you don’t have to!
​
An apostille, pronounced “Ahh Poh Steel” which is a French word that translates to certification authenticates the origin of a public document. It is a simplified form of authentication that is recognized by countries that are parties to the Hague Convention. An apostille does not verify the content of the document, but it certifies that the signature, seal or stamp appearing on the document is genuine.
​
Obtaining an apostille can be a complicated process due to the varying types of document certification and the specific country requirements for document presentation. These factors determine the type of certificate needed for authentication.
Furthermore, the government agency has its own set of rules and standards that must be met before a certified document can be valid for an apostille or authentication.
What Information Do You Need For An Apostille?
To get the apostille process started, San Diego Notary Signing Agent needs to know the following to provide you an accurate, transparent quote:
​
-
Document type
-
Number of documents
-
State of origin for the document
-
Country of destination
-
Does the document need to be notarized? And if it’s already notarized, where was it notarized?
-
Does the document require translation? And if so, does the translation require an apostille?
-
Turn time to receive the document back
-
Apostille delivery method
​
Countries that participate in the 1961 Hague Convention have agreed to accept an apostille cover sheet as the only authentication required for a document to be used in their country. This cover sheet or apostille is issued by the Secretary of State in the state that the document originated from. For non-Hague countries, instead of authenticating through the Secretary of State, it requires authentication by the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. and legalized at the embassy/consulate of the destination country.
​
San Diego Notary Signing Agent offers complimentary document review service at no obligation to ensure that your documents satisfy all the required criteria for apostille or legalization. We will confirm you don’t have any blank spaces, all required signatures, appropriate notarization, correct fees, and meet all the requirements at either the state or federal level being submitted to process your apostille order.
​
Documents that commonly require an apostille can be for personal, corporate, or academic reasons.
-
Adoption
-
Affidavit of Single Status
-
Authorization Letters
-
Background Check (State or FBI Criminal)
-
Bank Statements
-
Birth Certificate
-
Car Titles
-
Death Certificate
-
Destination Weddings
-
Divorce Decrees
-
Driver’s License (copy)
-
Final Judgements
-
Marriage License /Certificate
-
Naturalization Certificate
-
Official Records
-
Passport (copy)
-
Social Security Benefit Verification Letters
-
Teaching Certificates
-
Travel Consent
-
Wills
-
Other Personal Documents
Turn Times for Receipt of Apostille
The turn times for receiving an apostille from a Secretary of State varies depending on several factors, including the specific state and their procedural protocol. While it can be challenging to provide exact time frames as they tend to change and differ state to state, typically, the processing time ranges from a few days to a few weeks.
​
If your document is going to the California Secretary of State, clients can expect their documents back typically within a few days (expedited) and up to 7-10 business days if we submit a complete apostille order.
​
Documents typically need to be authenticated at the federal level if:
​
-
The document is intended for use in a country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. If this is the case, the document needs to be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
​
-
When the document is being submitted to a federal agency or for any legal purpose within the jurisdiction of the federal government. Documents related to federal court proceedings, federal agency requirements, immigration, or any matter falling under federal jurisdiction.
In such situations, the document needs to undergo the authentication process at the federal level to verify its legitimacy and secure acceptance.
The turn times for receiving an apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. for standard processing is typically 4-6 weeks, however, it’s important to note that this is an estimate and actual processing times will vary depending on the complexity of the document involved or the current volume of requests at any given time.
San Diego Notary Signing Agent strives to provide you an accurate turn time and will obtain the most up-to-date information from the Secretary of State or U.S. Department of State for the latest information on apostille processing times.
