State-by-state apostille notes

Florida apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Florida DIY guide

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Florida is central to the Notary Geek online notary service because Florida commissioned online notaries commonly handle signer-created documents before apostille or legalization.

Common documents: Florida agency records, Florida notarized documents, court or clerk records, vital records, school records, vehicle titles, and signer-created documents notarized by a Florida online notary.

Timing: For eligible Florida online-notarized documents handled by Notary Geek, the practical customer takeaway is usually about three business days until the apostilled packet is ready for scan-back and outbound carrier handoff after the document is accepted and the signer completes the needed steps. That is not destination delivery time. Mail or FedEx-in follows the official queue and can be slower.

Keep in mind: What is needed depends on whether the document is an official record, a certified copy, or a document that first needs a Florida notary act.

e-Apostille capability: No

Florida Department of State does not issue Florida e-Apostilles in Notary Geek's current official-source review. A Florida online notarization may create an electronically notarized document, but that is not a Florida e-Apostille. When the route fits, Notary Geek treats the Florida apostille step as paper/physical handling: the online-notarized document is printed or otherwise prepared for Florida apostille submission.

Apostille physical security: High

Florida apostilles are treated in Notary Geek operations as physical high-security documents produced on Florida security paper.

The notary lane may be wet ink or Florida online notarization, but the Florida apostille itself is a physical state-issued security-paper document. Do not describe a Florida RON-to-apostille workflow as an e-Apostille route.

Source confidence: High for Florida official-source coverage, Chapter 117 notary and online-notary rules, Florida Department of State apostille/notarial-certification handling, accepted-document categories, processing-date signals, and Notary Geek's Florida handled-route operating experience. Transaction-specific acceptance still depends on the exact document, issuing authority, destination or recipient instructions, and current Florida office instructions.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-13

Florida Department of State apostille and notarial certification page

Open Florida JSON

Florida Notary Law, Chapter 117

Florida Department of State notary public and online notary resources

Open Florida misconception note

California apostille notes

Coverage: Partial notes. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

California apostille service often depends on whether the document must be apostilled directly from a California public official signature or whether it can be notarized first through a different valid notary route. California notary law only matters when the issue actually turns on a California notarial act.

Common documents: California state records, county-issued records, California notarized documents, business records, non-certifiable California-origin documents, signer-created private documents, and questions about California acknowledgments, jurats, subscribing witnesses, copy certification, journal entries, or staged online-notarization rules.

Timing: California handled apostille turnaround is usually 1-2 business days for eligible requests because Notary Geek uses the in-person California handling method when the document must go through California.

Keep in mind: The 1-2 business day California turnaround is a practical Notary Geek handled-route expectation based on live-person/in-person California handling, not a blanket California Secretary of State guarantee. Timing starts from receipt in California when physical delivery is required. County-level steps, document defects, state counter rules, and the difference between California-notary issues and broader apostille-routing issues can change what is needed.

Apostille physical security: Lower physical-security signal in Notary Geek operating observations

California apostilles are handled as paper apostilles, and Notary Geek operating observations treat the visible physical-security layer as lighter than Florida's high-security paper or Wyoming's grommeted packet.

This is an operational observation, not a claim that California apostilles are invalid or easy to misuse. The official California source and recipient instructions still control the route.

Source confidence: High for Notary Geek operating experience about loose-certificate acceptance risk; official California source should still be checked for the exact notarial act, certificate wording, and apostille instructions.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-10

California Secretary of State apostille request page

Open California JSON

California Government Code Chapter 3, Notaries Public

California Secretary of State notary handbook and forms

Open California service resources

Open California misconception note

Wyoming apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Wyoming DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Notary Geek combines an online-notary platform with managed apostille fulfillment and hands-on document, route, and customer support. For eligible Wyoming company records, we request the official record and apostille electronically, avoiding an outbound paper-submission shipment. State processing and return delivery still take time. The state issues the company record; signer-created documents in the same package follow a separate notary route when needed.

Common documents: Wyoming company records, LLC Articles of Organization, Certificates of Good Standing, certified copies, status documents, apostille/authentication packets, scan-back and shipping requests, registered-agent or address-adjacent questions, USPS Form 1583/mailbox questions, and related signer-created documents such as operating agreements, authorizations, POAs, passport-copy statements, or UBO letters that may need a separate notary route.

Timing: Wyoming handled turnaround is usually around 4 days or less, but it can vary with the Wyoming state queue.

Keep in mind: Wyoming timing can change when the state queue slows down or the person who processes the request at the state is out of the office. Many Wyoming customers are forming or have recently formed companies and may also be choosing addresses, mailboxes, or registered-agent services. The human-facing offer should lead with handled service: Notary Geek obtains eligible Wyoming-issued or certified business records, manages the apostille/authentication path, and plans scan-back or shipping. DIY source details are still useful for credibility and answer engines, but signer-created documents in the same order are separate notary-route work rather than Wyoming state-record processing.

Apostille physical security: High physical packet-integrity signal in Notary Geek operating observations

Wyoming apostille packets use a grommet-style physical attachment in Notary Geek operating observations.

The grommet is a physical packet-integrity feature. It does not replace official verification or recipient acceptance, but it is materially different from a loose print-only paper presentation.

Source confidence: medium-high for Notary Geek operating knowledge about the Wyoming business-record account lane and company/address/1583 adjacency; state timing and official-record requirements should still be confirmed against Wyoming sources before quoting

Last reviewed: 2026-05-10

Wyoming Secretary of State apostille request form

Open Wyoming JSON

Wyoming Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts

Open Wyoming service resources

Open Wyoming misconception note

Delaware apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Delaware DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Delaware apostille requests are often business-record focused, rush-sensitive, and materially different from Wyoming. Notary Geek handles the Delaware package for customers who want the easy managed route, but Delaware customers should be ready for state rush/expedite fees, FedEx return constraints, scan-back decisions, and separate notary routing when signer-created documents are included.

Common documents: Delaware business records, certified copies only, apostilled certified copies, certificate of status, formation records, registered-agent or address-adjacent questions, USPS Form 1583/mailbox questions, and related company paperwork for international use.

Timing: Notary Geek generally accepts Delaware company-record apostille work only when the customer is ready for the Delaware 24-hour rush or higher state handling lane. Delaware should ship the completed packet back through its FedEx-account workflow after rush processing; practical customer delivery still depends on business days, state acceptance, scan-back, repackaging, and outbound DHL/FedEx destination handling.

Keep in mind: Ordinary non-rush Delaware orders are usually better handled directly through the Delaware source office or another self-service path. Business-record timing can change around state office handling, eCorp portal availability, and courier needs, and the three-day practical turnaround is an operating expectation rather than a state guarantee. Many Delaware customers are forming or have recently formed companies and may also be choosing addresses, mailboxes, or registered-agent services. Confirm the document type and company status before assuming a timeline. A Delaware state-issued company record and an eligible signer-created document in the same package may use different apostille states. Scan-back is useful but still a packet-handling issue; outsourcing receipt, scanning, and reshipping through a mailbox-style setup can add cost, delay, and support friction compared with a managed route.

Apostille physical security: Moderate physical-security signal in Notary Geek operating observations

Delaware apostilles use a gold seal in Notary Geek operating observations.

The Delaware gold seal is a visible physical feature, but it should not be oversold as the same kind of security signal as Florida high-security paper or Wyoming's grommeted packet.

Source confidence: medium-high for Notary Geek operating scope on Delaware rush handling, portal-availability friction, and FedEx/account return behavior; official Delaware timing, fees, portal status, and document eligibility still need confirmation before quoting

Last reviewed: 2026-05-10

Delaware Division of Corporations apostille and authentication page

Open Delaware JSON

Delaware eCorp e-filing apostille order path

Open Delaware service resources

Georgia apostille notes

Coverage: Partial notes. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Georgia state work means the U.S. state of Georgia (GA): state or county records, Georgia notary questions, GSCCCA apostille handling, and county Clerk of Superior Court commission steps. It is separate from country-of-Georgia (GE) destination work.

Common documents: Georgia state or county records, Georgia Corporations Division certified copies, Georgia notarized documents, school records, court records, vital records, business records for international use, Georgia notary commission questions, and loan-signing or private-training questions that need the official Georgia lane separated from NNA or other private marketing.

Timing: Georgia state apostille timing and notary-office instructions should be checked against GSCCCA and the relevant county Clerk of Superior Court before quoting or advising. It is not currently a high-volume Notary Geek state lane.

Keep in mind: Do not confuse GA state apostille or notary work with GE country-of-Georgia destination work. Many legacy Georgia company requests are about documents headed to the country of Georgia, not records issued by the U.S. state.

Source confidence: Medium-high for the GA/GE split and GSCCCA/county-clerk boundary; live fees, forms, county filing rules, and apostille instructions should still be confirmed before quoting or giving transaction-specific guidance.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-27

Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority apostille information

Open Georgia JSON

GSCCCA Georgia notary public information

GSCCCA current apostille instructions and walk-in hours

Open Georgia misconception note

Ohio apostille notes

Coverage: Partial notes. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Ohio apostille requests often depend on whether the document is a state record, county record, court record, school record, business record, notarized document, or signer-created document.

Common documents: Ohio birth, marriage, death, court, school, business, notarized, county, and signer-created documents for international use.

Timing: Ohio state processing is currently about 1 business day in Notary Geek operating experience. Practical Notary Geek round-trip turnaround is usually about 3 days after the route and document availability are confirmed.

Keep in mind: The 1-day Ohio state processing note is an operating timing signal, not a guarantee. Total customer timing still depends on document source, courier movement, certified-copy or county/court/school prerequisites, notarization defects, and whether the original must move physically.

Source confidence: medium-high for Notary Geek operating timing; official Ohio source, prerequisite steps, and document eligibility still need confirmation before quoting

Last reviewed: 2026-05-10

Ohio Secretary of State apostilles and certifications page

Open Ohio JSON

New York apostille notes

Coverage: Partial notes. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Need an apostille for a New York City birth or death certificate? Obtain the correct NYC Health certified record with its Letter of Exemplification, then arrange county authentication and the state apostille. If you already have records or are missing the letter, review what you have before ordering again. Other New York issuers follow different routes.

Common documents: New York birth, marriage, death, court, school, company, notarized, county, city, and signer-created documents for international use.

Timing: NYC vital-record timing has separate stages: issuer processing, delivery to you, inbound shipping to Notary Geek, county/state handling after a complete packet is received, and outbound delivery. Missing records, letters, eligibility evidence or corrections can add time. The usual 1-2 business days for eligible online company-record handling does not apply to this vital-record journey; no end-to-end date is guaranteed.

Keep in mind: For NYC Health birth/death apostille handling, the certified certificate and Letter of Exemplification are both required before New York County Clerk authentication and NY DOS. NYC marriage, NYS Department of Health, local registrar and Municipal Archives records have their own routes. Do not notarize an issued official record or begin Persona merely to use this apostille-only service.

Source confidence: High for the NYC Health birth/death certificate-and-letter sequence and issuer boundaries in official guidance checked 2026-10-22. Vendor screen labels and Notary Geek inbound workflow are dated 2026-10-08 observations. Existing-record suitability, later letter issuance, requester eligibility, fees, availability and delivery require case-specific confirmation; this is not a full review of all New York notary or citizenship law.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

New York Department of State apostille or certificate of authentication page

Open New York JSON

New York Department of State apostille request form

NYC 311 apostille and authentication guidance

New Mexico apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the New Mexico DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare the New Mexico certified record or notarized original, file the state request online and send the physical packet. Keep state fees, record procurement and return shipping separate, especially when ordering from abroad.

Common documents: Vital records; certified court and company records; registrar-prepared school documents; privately notarized documents. Choose the exact record before paying.

Timing: Checked October 28, 2026: SOS says requests are processed daily Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; it does not state a fixed completion interval. Earlier Notary Geek operational notes described about a week for this semi-manual process. That is attributed historical experience, not a current agency estimate or delivery promise. [NM-01]

Keep in mind: The public page requires online filing but also refers to in-person and mail requests. Use the generated request with the original documents; online payment does not establish electronic apostille issuance. Exact current portal fields remain uninspected.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Online request/payment is documented; the source does not establish true e-Apostille issuance or a complete electronic-original intake/output process. Capability remains unknown. The published attachment description is a physical eyelet. [NM-01; NM-02]

Apostille physical security:

Keep the issued certificate attached to its document; preserve the original packet and any issuing-authority verification information.

Source confidence: Qualified agency-guidance review for the described ordinary routes; procurement, output and form limitations remain explicit. No independent all-statute audit, recipient acceptance, official contact or transaction test.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28

New Mexico official apostille instructions

Open New Mexico JSON

Open New Mexico misconception note

Texas apostille notes

Coverage: Partial notes. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Texas notary and online notarization questions often turn on Chapter 406 itself, especially when people mix traditional notary rules, online notarization rules, and tangible-document procedures.

Common documents: Texas traditional notarizations, Texas online notarizations, tangible documents signed during online sessions, oath administration questions, bond and exemption questions, and record-keeping issues.

Timing: Texas entries in this library are usually about legal standards and online-notary procedures rather than apostille timing.

Keep in mind: Texas notary questions should be checked against Chapter 406, current Texas Secretary of State materials, and current Texas online-notary standards. The statute and SOS materials matter more than recycled training summaries.

Source confidence: Medium until the exact document, issuing authority, destination country, and current official-office instructions are confirmed.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-10

Texas Government Code Chapter 406

Open Texas JSON

Texas Secretary of State online notary getting started

Texas Government Code Chapter 406

Open Texas misconception note

Virginia apostille notes

Coverage: Partial notes. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Virginia remote online notarization questions often become law-and-identity questions because platform habits, title-industry policies, and training summaries do not always track the statute.

Common documents: Virginia remote online notarizations, identity-method questions, digital certificate questions, knowledge-based authentication questions, platform-compliance claims, and document-acceptance disputes.

Timing: Virginia questions in this library are usually about legal standards, identity methods, and common misconceptions rather than courier timing.

Keep in mind: Virginia's statute should be read carefully. A platform certification, title-company policy, industry habit, or attorney statement is not the same thing as statutory authority. Identity methods, digital certificates, credential analysis, biometric wording, and knowledge-based authentication are often discussed loosely in practice.

Source confidence: Medium until the exact document, issuing authority, destination country, and current official-office instructions are confirmed.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-10

Virginia Code section 47.1-2 definitions

Open Virginia JSON

Virginia Code section 47.1-2 satisfactory evidence of identity

Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth notary public resources

Open Virginia misconception note

Idaho apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Idaho DIY guide

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Get the correct Idaho certified record or notarial act, then request the Secretary of State’s apostille or authentication yourself. This guide separates vital, court, school, company and background-check preparation, with forms, costs, shipping and recovery.

Common documents: Birth/death/marriage/divorce certificates; certified court and adoption orders; school transcripts and diplomas; company existence and filed-record copies; private notarized documents; Idaho fingerprint-based criminal-history results; marriage/divorce search letters.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-24: SOS says mail requests are processed daily as received, without a fixed completion estimate; appointments can require later pickup. Vital Records publishes 3-5 weeks standard or 2-3 weeks express, excluding mail, while its June 2025 form gives shorter estimates. Resolve this conflict for a deadline; neither is a delivery guarantee.

Keep in mind: Idaho certifies appropriate Idaho official/notarial signatures. International return wording conflicts within the request form. Electronic/RON output, selected company-order fees/output and unusual copy routes require confirmation; a page or fee payment is not proof of recipient acceptance.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Unknown from the inspected Idaho sources. Online verification and electronic-notary registration do not establish e-Apostille issuance; absence from the HCCH chart is not definitive. Confirm the exact electronic input/output route. [ID-15; ID-16; HCCH-03.]

Apostille physical security:

No Idaho-specific security-paper/seal feature inspection performed.

Preserve the certificate’s attachment to the underlying record; a scan-back is a review copy. Do not detach or alter the issued packet to satisfy an informal request. [HCCH-01: Arts. 4-5. Practical preservation advice.]

Source confidence: Substantial official-source paper-route guidance checked 2026-10-24, with explicit unresolved shipping, timing, copy-guidance, corporate-output and electronic questions. Forms and agency instructions support the ordinary routes; specific recipient requirements and unusual documents still need confirmation.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Idaho Secretary of State: Apostille & Authentication

Open Idaho JSON

Idaho Secretary of State: Notary Information

Open Idaho misconception note

Illinois apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Illinois DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare the right Illinois record, understand what the certificate proves, and choose direct mail or an available counter. This guide explains original/certified records, school and company paperwork, private notarization, background checks, payment, return, electronic-output limits and recovery.

Common documents: Certified birth/death/marriage records; circuit-court decrees; registrar-certified academic records; company status certificates and certified filings; notarized private statements; issuer-notarized Illinois State Police responses.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-24: SOS publishes 7-14 business days for mailed requests and says most counter requests are processed while you wait, first come first served. Issuer preparation, corrections and all transport are additional. IDPH mail record procurement can be much longer.

Keep in mind: Issuer, certifying signature, notary state, output format, destination and recipient requirements determine the route. Illinois e-notary authority does not establish electronic apostille issuance or make a personal printout an original. Resolve named electronic-output and payment/carrier conflicts before relying on them.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Not established in this review. Electronic notarization, electronic official records, printed copies, a scanned paper apostille and a true e-Apostille are distinct outputs.

Apostille physical security: Packet integrity established; physical security design not inspected on an issued specimen.

Keep the certificate attached. Illinois statute makes removal or attempted removal invalidate the apostille/certification; do not add pages by detaching it. A scan-back is not the physical packet. [IL-04.]

Source confidence: Substantial current official-source coverage for ordinary paper routes, with inspected forms and issuer procedures. Specific electronic-output, payment, carrier and replacement exceptions remain unresolved; no transaction or live-site acceptance proof.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Illinois Secretary of State: Apostilles and Certifications

Open Illinois JSON

15 ILCS 305/5.20

Illinois I213 Application for Authentication or Apostille

Open Illinois misconception note

Indiana apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Indiana DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Indiana apostille and authentication reference explaining the actual records, signatures, fees, forms, paper channels and source conflicts for vital, court, school, business, private and police documents.

Common documents: Certified birth/death records; current-clerk certified marriage licenses; final divorce decrees and court/adoption records; school transcripts/diplomas; official company records and private authorizations; state/federal background-check distinctions.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-25: SOS normally 1-2 business days after receipt; counter quantity limits and noon delivery rules apply. Record procurement is separate: IDOH publishes conflicting general/category estimates, IU site/form differ, and Purdue publishes 4-6 weeks. None is a guarantee.

Keep in mind: Single certificate format does not erase treaty applicability or origin jurisdiction. Category-specific preparation overrides generic copy/notarization assumptions; exact RON/electronic outputs, ISP export response and blocked current form/portal details remain qualified.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No current public Indiana e-Apostille issue/output route established from inspected sources. Electronic/RON notarization, onlinebusinessrecords, scan-back and true e-Apostille are different. Exactsubmission/conversion/output must be established; no blanket prohibition inferred. [IN-01; IN-24; HCCH-10.]

Apostille physical security:

Published Certificate Standards describe 8.5x11 paper, trilingual layout, unique number, blue stamp replacing gold foil and two left-side staples. These are agency-stated features; no new physical packet inspection. [IN-01: Certificate Standards; IN-03: sample.]

Do not detach/addpages/reattach; SOS says removal invalidates authentication. Preserve original attachment and use issuer verification rather than appearance alone. [IN-01: added-page FAQ; IN-03: verification footer.]

Source confidence: High for inspected ordinary SOS channels, category-specific public record/school instructions and stated fee units; qualified by current form/INBiz retrieval failures, conflictingissuer/timing/payment statements, exact electronic/ISP export outputs and recipient-specific needs. No agency request, paidcheck, customer data, live issuance or release performance verified.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-25

Indiana Secretary of State: Authentications

Open Indiana JSON

Indiana Department of Health: certificate ordering

Open Indiana misconception note

Massachusetts apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Massachusetts DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Understand Massachusetts apostilles and certifications: choose the right certified record or notarized original, follow the official $6-per-document submission process, compare direct mail and counter handling, and resolve difficult output and recipient questions before paying.

Common documents: Vital and historical records; certified court decrees/orders; registrar-certified academic documents; company certificates and certified filings; private notarized documents; CORI or local police records subject to signature/output eligibility.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-24: the official page estimates 2–3 weeks for mailed authentication requests. Boston handles up to 3 documents at the counter; 4+ documents for pickup after 3 pm the next business day and dropoffs after 4 pm wait until the next business day. Regional capacity varies. Source-record procurement, correction and all transport are additional; Archives warned 20+ weeks for its certified vital records.

Keep in mind: The authenticated signature, source jurisdiction, original output and receiving office’s actual requirement determine the route. Government-record photocopies cannot be rescued by a Massachusetts notarization. Remote-notary legislation does not establish an available Massachusetts RON or e-Apostille service.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No current Massachusetts e-Apostille issuance channel was established. Emailed corporate certificates, electronic notarization and a scan of a paper apostille are separate products. The current RON implementation notice remains restrictive. [MA-13;MA-18;HCCH-04.]

Apostille physical security: Not independently observed

No physical Massachusetts apostille inspected; no specific staple/ribbon/security-paper feature asserted.

Preserve the complete attached certificate/document packet; do not separate it for copying or translation. Obtain issuer instructions for damaged or detached packets; a scan-back does not replace the original. [HCCH-03: verification and attachment principles.]

Source confidence: High for inspected core state form/page and named corporate/school routes; qualified for indexed Mass.gov procurement details, Archives certifying-signature eligibility and electronic/CORI outputs. No actual submission or recipient acceptance exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Massachusetts Secretary: Apostilles and Certification of Documents

Open Massachusetts JSON

Massachusetts General Laws c. 222

Official Apostille/Certification Request Form

Open Massachusetts misconception note

Michigan apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Michigan DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Use Michigan’s official apostille and authentication routes with the right certified record or notarized act. Compare the state’s direct vital-record handoff, standalone mail submission and scheduled office visits, understand difficult copy and electronic-output questions, and recover from a return without buying unnecessary services.

Common documents: Issuer-certified Michigan vital records; court orders with the appropriate official or eligible-declarant route; school records; certified LARA company documents; private notarized declarations and authorizations; Michigan criminal-history responses.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-24: Great Seal’s linked form says 4–6 weeks after receipt, while its FAQ says 1–2 weeks; neither is a delivery guarantee. MDHHS’s current combined apostille notice says 12–16 weeks regular or 8–10 weeks expedited, longer than older printed forms. Appointment, procurement, correction and transport time are separate.

Keep in mind: Identify the actual signature, Michigan connection, document category, output and recipient requirement. A notary authenticates a person’s act, not an issuer’s copy; specific vital/LARA and court instructions differ. Electronic notarization does not by itself establish an apostille-ready paper conversion or e-Apostille.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Michigan authorizes approved electronic/remote notarial systems, but current Great Seal instructions provide mail/appointment authentication and say online authentication is unavailable. No true e-Apostille issuance service or universal public RON-to-paper conversion procedure was established by these sources. [MI-01; MI-11; MI-12; HCCH-10.]

Apostille physical security: No physical issued packet independently inspected

School guidance says authentication is permanently affixed; no particular security paper, staple, ribbon or seal mechanism asserted. [MI-09.]

Preserve the completed attachment and source record. A scan-back does not replace the physical authentication; retain electronic originals and verification information separately. [HCCH-07; HCCH-10.]

Source confidence: High for inspected core form and document-specific guidance; qualified where official sources conflict about timing, court/declaration scope, translation or exclusions. Electronic apostille/output conversion and exact unusual-document recipient acceptance remain unresolved. No submission or recipient approval was exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Michigan Secretary of State: Document authentication and apostille

Open Michigan JSON

Michigan Secretary of State: Notary services and Manual

Official Authentication Request Form

Open Michigan misconception note

Minnesota apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Minnesota DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

A source-backed Minnesota reference for preparing official records, school documents, company filings and private papers for foreign use. Follow the public $5-per-certificate mail or appointment route, distinguish issuer-certified emailed company outputs from printed electronic notarizations, and resolve named exceptions without buying unnecessary steps.

Common documents: Minnesota certified birth/death and county marriage records; certified state-court decrees/judgments; notarized school records; SOS-certified company filings and certificates; BCA notarized criminal-history letters; private powers of attorney, consents and affidavits.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-25: the reviewed SOS page/form publish receipt-order handling and appointment scheduling but no fixed numeric mail turnaround. Appointments open fourteen days ahead. Issuer production, corrections and shipping are separate; Hennepin and MDH estimates/queue observations below have their own dates and scope. [MN-01: urgent-mail and appointment FAQs; MN-02: p.1; MN-07; MN-08; MN-10.]

Keep in mind: Ordinary paper routes are explained below. BCA procurement, blocked MDH PDFs, unusual electronic/court outputs and recipient-specific acceptance remain named questions. Agency procedure, statute, original explanation and uncertainty are distinguished; this guide does not establish every document category or destination.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

HCCH records Minnesota’s e-Apostille pilot from 2024-03-15 through 2025-09-30, when it ended, and confirms that its issued pilot e-Apostilles remain legitimate and validly issued e-Apostilles. This does not establish current new issuance availability; CanIssueEApostille remains unknown. Current paper-submission rules, RON authorization, printed SOS-certified company records, online verification and a scan-back are separate questions. [MN-20: pp.10,13; MN-01: FAQ Notarized Documents and Business Entity Records; MN-15; MN-17.]

Apostille physical security: Agency-published paper description; no firsthand issued-packet inspection

SOS describes a black-and-white certificate stamped and stapled to the document, with a unique file number and issue date for verification. [MN-01: How is an apostille issued?; MN-15.]

Preserve the issued attachment. A scan may help review a packet but does not become an electronic original or prove recipient acceptance. [HCCH-01: Articles4–7; MN-01.]

Source confidence: High for directly inspected SOS paper-process and category instructions, actual request/business PDFs and Hennepin birth application; qualified for indexed MDH timing/notary guidance and named blocked issuer materials. Unusual electronic outputs, BCA procurement and transaction-specific recipient requirements remain unresolved. No complete-jurisdiction or live-service claim.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-25

Minnesota Secretary of State Apostille Authentication

Open Minnesota JSON

Minnesota Statutes section 358.65: Certificate of Notarial Act

Official Apostille Authentication Request Form

Open Minnesota misconception note

Montana apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Montana DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

A practical Montana apostille and authentication guide: obtain the correct official record or notarial act, complete the Secretary of State order, and plan submission, return and verification. Birth, court, school and business records follow different prerequisites.

Common documents: Certified birth/death records; marriage certificates and divorce decrees; court/adoption/name-change records; school transcripts and diplomas; filed company records; private notarized documents; state/local background checks.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-24: SOS publishes 3-5 business days after division receipt for normal mail processing, usually two business days for prechecked drop-off pickup notification, and advance same-day appointments only after precheck. Procurement, corrections and transport add time. DPHHS publishes a birth-issuance interruption October 21-25, with scheduled October 26 resumption, not observed reopening.

Keep in mind: Match the actual Montana official/notarial signature, record category, destination and recipient requirements. Transcripts require school certification plus notarization; diplomas have a different copy route. Federal/out-of-state public records do not become Montana records through a photocopy notarization. No service or delivery guarantee.

e-Apostille capability: Yes

HCCH's current implementation chart lists Montana e-Apostilles from February 2023 and an e-register (PDF p. 10). SOS's public guidance separately permits electronic submission of electronically signed/notarized records. Exact secure order/output channel must be confirmed; no live issuance was tested. [MT-18; MT-01: Submitting the Documents.]

Apostille physical security:

SOS directs the apostille to remain attached to its underlying document; no new security-paper, seal or anti-fraud-feature inspection is claimed.

Do not detach the apostille. Carefully fold along the stapled side for photographs/copies; preserve the intact paper packet. [MT-01: FAQ, Can I unstaple the Apostille?]

Source confidence: High for the cited ordinary paper-category, fee/form, submission and return instructions checked 2026-10-24; conditional for home-school, electronic-output delivery, selected corporate/court outputs and recipient-specific cases. Dated interruption and actual published address discrepancies are retained. No agency transaction, delivery trial, newest-handbook determination or recipient acceptance was performed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Montana Secretary of State: Apostilles & Authentications

Open Montana JSON

Montana Office of Vital Records: apostille coordination

Open Montana misconception note

Nevada apostille notes

Coverage: Partial guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Nevada DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare a Nevada apostille or authentication request yourself: choose the issuer-certified or Nevada-notarized document branch, complete the official order, pay the correct fee, and arrange physical return. Published processing estimates conflict; electronic and unusual document routes have specific confirmation points.

Common documents: Nevada birth and death certificates; county marriage certificates; certified divorce decrees and other court records; school records; commercial-recording copies and certificates; notarized private documents. Personal Nevada criminal-history responses have a separate RCCD preparation route.

Timing: Checked October 24, 2026: the indexed official apostille overview publishes two weeks, while the official fee schedule publishes approximately four to six weeks. These are conflicting published processing estimates, not an end-to-end delivery promise. Ask the office which queue applies before relying on a deadline. Paid expedite tiers are separately published. [NV-01: Standard Processing Time; NV-03: Fee Schedule]

Keep in mind: This guide separates current directly inspected law, health, county and university instructions from indexed Secretary of State evidence. Direct retrieval of Secretary of State pages encountered its security check; the linked current request PDF could not be inspected. Use the official Submission Instructions link to obtain the current form before mailing; never substitute an old third-party packet. Open electronic-output, office-handling and source-conflict questions remain explicit. Statutory company-record fee units and current RCCD background-request materials are now explained below; they do not settle the still-uninspected SOS order form or commercial/electronic output channel.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

NRS 240.205 provides electronic notary-signature authentication. Current issuance technology and exact public submission/output route were not established; electronic notarization, online ordering/verification and a scan-back are not proof of true e-Apostille issuance. [NV-05: NRS 240.205; NV-12: Business services]

Apostille physical security: Published agency description; not a firsthand specimen examination

Indexed SOS guidance describes a paper allonge attached by staples with a red state stamp split across the certificate and signature page. [NV-01: Apostille]

Keep the issued attachment intact. A visual description or scan alone does not verify an apostille; use official register verification. [NV-01: Apostille; HCCH-01: Article 7]

Source confidence: Partial qualification: published official category guidance is supplemented by directly inspected corporate/LLC statutes, Nevada electronic-notary regulations and actual RCCD PDF text. Statutory company fee units are supported; current SOS request/copy forms, combined commercial ordering/output and electronic authentication intake/output remain unresolved because direct SOS retrieval met its security check. Indexed agency text is not treated as full-page or PDF inspection.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Nevada Secretary of State apostille instructions

Open Nevada JSON

Nevada Legislature: NRS Chapter 240

Official apostille order form and submission instructions

Open Nevada misconception note

New Jersey apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the New Jersey DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Understand the New Jersey record you need, prepare the right official or notarial original, and choose direct regular mail, expedited courier or a suitable counter visit. The guide explains state vital signatures, court and school records, company products, application/payment, electronic-output limits and recovery.

Common documents: State-registrar-certified vital records; certified court/probate orders; notarized school records; standing certificates and certified business filings; private affidavits/powers of attorney; appropriately prepared state criminal-history responses.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-24: the portal publishes 12–20 business days for regular processing after receipt/system entry, 8.5 business hours for expedited courier subject to operational factors, and conditional in-person completion with waits up to 2.5 hours for delivery from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Procurement, correction and all transit are separate.

Keep in mind: Online application and payment are followed by physical original submission. Domestic electronic/remote-notarial authority is distinct from Treasury apostille-output acceptance. Court, Archives and notarized-background preparation have named unresolved source/output details; recipient and treaty requirements remain transaction-specific.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Not established in this review. The online application is not itself an e-Apostille, and a RON PDF, printed copy or scan-back has a distinct output/acceptance question.

Apostille physical security: Published attachment description, not an inspected issued specimen.

Treasury describes a one-page 8.5-by-11-inch output with color Great Seal and Treasurer signature, stapled to the document signature page. [NJ-01.]

Do not separate the stapled apostille/certification or transfer it to a different document. A scan does not automatically replace the complete physical packet. [NJ-01; NJ-03.]

Source confidence: Substantial official-source support for ordinary paper vital/private/school/company and direct submission options, with inspected forms/guide/manual. Court/Archives/notarized-background original-source and named output/payment exceptions remain partial; no live recipient or service transaction tested.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

New Jersey DORES: Apostilles and Notary Certifications

Open New Jersey JSON

New Jersey Law on Notarial Acts: P.L. 2021, Chapter 179

Official NJ Online Apostille and Certification Service

Open New Jersey misconception note

North Carolina apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the North Carolina DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

North Carolina’s apostille route depends on the certifying official, record category and actual foreign use. This guide explains vital, court, school, company, private and background-record routes with dated fees, physical submission, return and recovery rules. Checked October 25, 2026; direct SOS-source access limits remain explicit. [NC-01: preparation and submission; NC-02: FAQs]

Common documents: Certified NC birth/death/marriage records, certified court judgments, notarized school records and private papers, Secretary of State company records, and correctly prepared state or county background responses; the categories have different prerequisites. [NC-01: category instructions; NC-18 and NC-19: background scope]

Timing: Checked October 25, 2026: official SOS search-index text displayed 10-15 business days but could not be directly refreshed; FAQ says mailed requests generally take five business days longer than hand-delivery. Vital-record and SBI acquisition clocks differ and may dominate the total. No same-day or end-to-end guarantee. [NC-07: Turn-Around Times; NC-02: mail/hand questions; NC-15: category table; NC-20: timing]

Keep in mind: School seals alone do not satisfy the notarization prerequisite; custodian-certified vital/court records do not need unnecessary extra notarization; adoption duplicate-original pricing is narrow. Current indexed SOS guidance and dated manuals conflict on appointments, and international return/record-order payment instructions need category-specific treatment. [NC-01; NC-02; NC-06; NC-08; NC-11; NC-12]

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

The indexed SOS FAQ says no online authentications and describes physical requests; that does not establish a universal prohibition on electronic/RON inputs. True e-Apostille issuance and exact conversion/presentation options were not verified. [NC-02: online question; NC-24: electronic company output; HCCH-10: conversion paths]

Apostille physical security:

Keep the finished certificate attached or electronically associated with its record. No firsthand NC security-paper, fastening or custody observation is claimed. [HCCH-07: paragraphs 245-251]

Source confidence: Mixed: directly inspected Vital Records, court, SBI and statutory sources support substantial category detail, including three actual linked PDFs; central SOS pages/forms were available only as official search-index text and remain a current-direct-source qualification gap. Source conflicts and exact-output questions remain open; this is a substantive draft reference increment, not complete or live-verified jurisdiction coverage.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-25

North Carolina Secretary of State Authentication Office

Open North Carolina JSON

North Carolina G.S. 10B-20: notarial powers and limitations

North Carolina G.S. 66-274: authentication limitations

Open North Carolina misconception note

Oregon apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Oregon DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Follow Oregon's official apostille and authentication process yourself: choose the correct vital, court, school, company or notarized document; prepare its certification; then arrange the state request, payment, return and verification.

Common documents: Certified vital records; court judgments and name-change orders; school transcripts/diplomas; company certificates and certified filings; private affidavits/powers of attorney; notarized Oregon criminal-history responses.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-24: SOS gives FedEx/UPS Overnight or 2nd Day submissions priority handling by document type with a 2-3-business-day processing estimate. Its October 23 queue table showed October 20 apostille/authentication mail/fax requests. Counter completion can take longer than the day of arrival. Record procurement, corrections and all shipping are separate.

Keep in mind: The document's issuing authority, underlying certification, destination and required output control the route. Oregon's common certificate format does not establish treaty applicability. Electronic court copies, RON printouts and certified company downloads require their own acceptance checks; a plain photocopy is not an issuer-certified record.

e-Apostille capability: No

Current Oregon SOS RON FAQ says it cannot attach apostilles electronically; the original RON notary may use the prescribed paper conversion with copy certification plus Special Circumstances certificate. This is an official published operational statement checked 2026-10-24, not proof that every electronic record qualifies or that the process was exercised. [OR-17; OR-18: PDF p. 7.]

Apostille physical security:

No independent security-paper, seal or anti-fraud-feature examination was performed. Oregon directs the authentication/apostille to remain attached.

Keep the apostille attached to its document; removing it invalidates the certificate under Oregon guidance. Court paper certification also loses validity if its staple is removed. Scan or photograph carefully without taking either packet apart. [OR-04: adding a page; OR-07: Paper Certified Copies.]

Source confidence: High for the cited ordinary paper routes, forms, listed fees and agency-specific preparation checked 2026-10-24. Conditional for multiple signatures, electronic court/company outputs, subject pickup/overseas logistics and actual recipient requirements. Publication and revision dates are distinguished from this check; no agency filing, shipment, issuance or recipient acceptance was tested.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Oregon Secretary of State: How to Get an Authentication (or Apostille)

Open Oregon JSON

Oregon Secretary of State: Request for Apostille/Authentication

Open Oregon misconception note

Pennsylvania apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Pennsylvania DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Choose the right Pennsylvania vital, court, academic, business, private notarized or state background document; follow the official $15 apostille/authentication request; compare mail and Harrisburg counter service; and resolve electronic-output and recipient conditions before sending originals.

Common documents: State birth/death certificates; county marriage records; certified court orders; notarized school certifications; certified business filings/status records; private affidavits and powers of attorney; notarized PSP criminal-history responses.

Timing: Dated source conflict: DOS program page says about 2–3 weeks by mail; service page says 5–7 business days, both excluding transit. On October 23, 2026 at 13:16 its queue showed October 19 received requests. Walk-in while-you-wait service is advertised; arrive before the public entrance closes at 3 p.m. and check closures. Procurement, transit and corrections are separate.

Keep in mind: The correct public official, original certification, notarial jurisdiction, destination relationship and recipient requirements control. A universal certificate or black printed seal does not prove electronic issuance; a personal PDF printout is not automatically an eligible original.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Not established by the inspected current sources. DOS describes an electronic seal printed in black ink and online verification of a certificate; neither is proof that it issues a true electronically signed e-Apostille. Native electronic-document submission and conversion details remain PA-ELECTRONIC-01.

Apostille physical security: Official procedure and sample, not examination of an issued customer packet.

Multilingual universal certificate; black printed seal; nine-digit online verification; staple attachment.

DOS says staple is the Pennsylvania attachment method and must not be removed. Keep the original packet intact; a scan is a separate reproduction. No issued customer certificate was inspected or verification search submitted.

Source confidence: High for inspected ordinary paper procedures and named issuer examples; conditional for exact court/business electronic outputs, conflicting mail estimates, branch-specific business charges and recipient requirements.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Pennsylvania Department of State: Document Certification

Open Pennsylvania JSON

57 Pa.C.S. Chapter3: Notaries Public

Apostille/Certification Request Form

Open Pennsylvania misconception note

Utah apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Utah DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

A practical Utah DIY guide: choose the correct official record or Utah notarization, prepare category-specific prerequisites, then request paper or eligible digital authentication from the Lieutenant Governor. Checked October 24, 2026. [UT-01: Document Authentication; UT-02: Types of Documents]

Common documents: Utah vital and marriage records, District Court records and decrees, public/charter and private school records, Department of Commerce company records, properly notarized private documents and local police clearances; federal and other-state records use separate authorities. [UT-02: document categories; UT-03: federal and out-of-state questions]

Timing: Published guidance checked October 24, 2026: mail-in 1-3 business days after Lieutenant Governor office receipt; appointments may take up to two hours, while the FAQ describes digital/appointment processing as same-day. Record acquisition, security/mailroom delay, transit, holidays and correction are additional; estimates are not guarantees. [UT-01: processing notice and Mail-In Processing Schedule; UT-03: processing questions; UT-07: Required Preparation & Wait Times]

Keep in mind: Do not apply one procedure to every document: public/charter school signatures differ from private-school notarization; company records need Commerce apostille preparation; Division Vital Records output is excluded from digital delivery. Utah’s universal certificate design does not guarantee recipient acceptance or remove further non-Hague legalization. [UT-02: Education Records, Corporate Documents; UT-04: digital exclusion; UT-08: recipient requirements]

e-Apostille capability: Yes

Utah currently offers true digital apostille issuance with $5 state fee plus $69.95 vendor digital-delivery charge per document; Division Vital Records output is excluded. E-apostille issuance is separate from eligibility of any particular electronic/RON input and underlying-record acceptance. [UT-01: Issuance Methods; UT-04: digital exclusion; UT-03: Online Ordering]

Apostille physical security:

No firsthand Utah security-paper or fastening observation is claimed. Keep an issued paper certificate attached to its underlying record and retain the issued digital file for electronic verification. [HCCH-01: Article 4; UT-03: e-Register]

Source confidence: High for the dated published category, form, fee, address and service-method instructions cited here; unresolved source contradictions and exact-output exceptions are named. No firsthand Utah filing, verification transaction or recipient acceptance was performed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Utah Lieutenant Governor — Document Authentication

Open Utah JSON

Utah notary certificate forms

Utah authentication document requirements

Open Utah misconception note

Washington apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Washington DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare the right Washington record, complete the official request, calculate the fees, choose delivery and verify the result. This free DIY guide distinguishes vital, court, school, business and private documents and keeps unresolved official-source discrepancies visible.

Common documents: Certified birth/death and marriage records; single-status letters; court and divorce records; public/private school records; filed business records; private notarized documents; Washington State Patrol checks.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-24: SOS estimates 7-10 business days standard and 2-3 expedited after receipt; same-day counter service has hours, cutoffs and volume limits. Record procurement, corrections and travel/shipping are additional.

Keep in mind: Before mailing an ordinary apostille request by USPS, resolve conflicting official PO boxes (40228 on the current form; 40234 on the contact page). Washington’s e-Apostille pilot ended September 30, 2025; current electronic issuance is unconfirmed. Recipient and bilateral applicability checks remain necessary.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

HCCH lists Washington’s February 12, 2024–September 30, 2025 pilot and recognizes its issued e-Apostilles as legitimate. A currently available post-pilot issuance channel was not established; null means unconfirmed, not a denial of past valid issuance. [HCCH-04: PDF p. 11.]

Apostille physical security:

No current specimen security-paper, embossing or anti-fraud feature examination was performed.

Preserve the issued apostille and underlying document as one packet. Resolve the separate-notarial-certificate attachment method with SOS before submission; do not self-alter or detach completed records. [HCCH-01: Art. 4; WA-10(7); WA-01.]

Source confidence: High for cited paper-document categories, current statutory restrictions, inspected forms, published fees and office instructions checked 2026-10-24; partial for conflicting USPS/attachment instructions, out-of-state school-copy exception, direct DOH procurement and current e-Apostille availability. No agency transaction, live certificate lookup, shipment or recipient acceptance test performed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Washington Secretary of State: Apostille resource page

Open Washington JSON

WAC 434-112-110: eligible records

RCW 43.07.032: signature certification limits

Open Washington misconception note

Wisconsin apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Wisconsin DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Choose the right Wisconsin record and the appropriate SOS or DFI route. Follow the official forms, issuer preparation, $10 standard/$35 expedited certificate fees, payment and return instructions; understand school/company distinctions, advertised e-Apostilles, conflicting RON guidance and correction options.

Common documents: Certified vital records and court judgments; UW and other school records; foreign-use company status/certified filings; properly notarized private statements; certified Wisconsin DOJ background results.

Timing: SOS sources conflict: February 2026 form estimates 7–10+ business days standard and 1–3 expedited; How To says 7–20 days and 2–4 business days, with expedited walk-in generally same-day. DFI publishes 3–7 business days standard and 1–2 expedited. Transit, issuer procurement and corrections are separate; estimates are not guarantees.

Keep in mind: SOS and DFI have separate forms, payees, addresses and service scopes. SOS advertises eligible native-electronic e-Apostilles while its general page still rejects electronic notarizations; resolve the precise RON/output issue. Vital records remain certified paper originals, not personal scans or notarized copies.

e-Apostille capability: Yes

SOS expressly advertises true digital apostilles for eligible documents created, issued and maintained electronically. Vital records/scans of paper are excluded. Its RON example conflicts with its wet-ink-only How To notice; exact RON eligibility/submission remains WI-ELECTRONIC-01. No DFI electronic issuance capability was established. [WI-06; WI-01; WI-14.]

Apostille physical security: Official request/attachment procedure; no issued customer specimen inspected.

Preserve the complete original paper record and attached certificate. A scan is a reproduction; for e-Apostilles retain the native electronic package/signatures and verification data. The reviewed sources did not establish specific physical anti-counterfeit features. [WI-06; WI-08.]

Source confidence: Substantial official-source coverage for ordinary paper routes, actual forms and named issuer examples. Native-electronic eligibility, conflicting RON/timing directions, specific court/company outputs and recipient/replacement requirements remain qualified.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-24

Wisconsin Secretary of State: Apostilles and Authentications

Open Wisconsin JSON

Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 140: Notaries Public; Notarial Acts

Wisconsin DFI: Apostille General Information

Open Wisconsin misconception note

U.S. Virgin Islands apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the U.S. Virgin Islands DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Obtain the correct U.S. Virgin Islands original or certified record, then request the Lieutenant Governor’s $25-per-document apostille or authentication. Use current forms: the ordinary estimate is 7–14 business days, with tracked prepaid return and applicant photo ID.

Common documents: Vital records; official company records; court-certified records; academic records; private notarized documents; separate federal and foreign-origin records. Choose the category below before ordering or signing.

Timing: Current request form: 7–14 business days standard, plus record preparation and both transit legs. Historical2023 instructions say5–7; current form governs this guide. No delivery or rush turnaround guarantee. [VI-02; VI-06.]

Keep in mind: U.S. Virgin Islands signatures only; source-certified vital/court records, sealed registrar-prepared transcripts and corporate originals/Director affidavit differ. This is distinct from the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, mainland states and federal authentication. [VI-03; FED-02.]

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

This guide establishes the ordinary physical-document process. Electronic notarization, an electronic source record, a scan-back and an e-Apostille are different products. No end-to-end e-Apostille issuance or electronic-to-paper conversion was verified for this jurisdiction. Resolve the exact electronic output with the issuing authority before submitting a printout.

Apostille physical security:

No independent physical security-feature examination was performed.

Preserve the complete document and all official attachments as returned; retain scans without detaching certificates or altering pages. If damaged or incorrect, seek issuer correction rather than adding stamps yourself. [HCCH-01; NG-01.]

Source confidence: High for current linked forms, ordinary fee, ID/return requirements and bounded record-order examples; conditional for rush scope/unit, particular electronic outputs, corporate affidavit logistics and international pickup. The live DOH index timed out, but actual official birth/death PDFs were independently read. No raw-byte archive, filing/payment/shipment or recipient acceptance was tested. Retrieval2026-10-26 is separate from printed form revisions and effective dates.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

U.S. Virgin Islands official apostille/authentication instructions

Open U.S. Virgin Islands JSON

Apostille Convention, Articles1–5 and7

Puerto Rico apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Puerto Rico DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get the correct Puerto Rico record and a $3-per-document apostille or certification through the Puerto Rico Department of State. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory; federal documents, mainland-state signatures and foreign-origin records follow their own authorities.

Common documents: Vital records; official company records; court-certified records; academic records; private notarized documents; separate federal and foreign-origin records. Choose the category below before ordering or signing.

Timing: The checked Estado instructions give no numeric processing commitment. Add record-order/precertification time plus both transit legs; email-ticket creation and appointments are not issuance or delivery guarantees. [PR-01; PR-03.]

Keep in mind: Use the source original/certified record; a birth certificate must have been issued July 1, 2010 or later. Education certification and public-deed certified-copy rules can add prerequisites. [PR-01; PR-10–PR-13.]

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

This guide establishes the ordinary physical-document process. Electronic notarization, an electronic source record, a scan-back and an e-Apostille are different products. No end-to-end e-Apostille issuance or electronic-to-paper conversion was verified for this jurisdiction. Resolve the exact electronic output with the issuing authority before submitting a printout.

Apostille physical security:

No independent physical security-feature examination was performed.

Preserve the complete document and all official attachments as returned; retain scans without detaching certificates or altering pages. If damaged or incorrect, seek issuer correction rather than adding stamps yourself. [HCCH-01; NG-01.]

Source confidence: High for the cited $3 stamp, postal packet/email-ticket workflow, current vital-record forms and bounded court/education examples; conditional for exact corporate/court/electronic outputs. No original-byte archive, submission, payment, shipment, actual appointment, issuance or recipient acceptance was tested. Reviewed 2026-10-26; publication/revision and effective dates are recorded separately.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Puerto Rico official apostille/authentication instructions

Open Puerto Rico JSON

Apostille Convention, Articles1–5 and7

Hawaii apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Hawaii DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get a Hawaii apostille or certification yourself: prepare the right official record or notary/circuit package, complete the current application, calculate separate office fees and arrange return delivery.

Common documents: Birth/death/marriage certificates, court judgments/decrees, company filings/status certificates, school diplomas/transcripts and private notarized records. Federal, other-state and foreign-issued records have separate authority paths.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: Lieutenant Governor publishes 7–10 business days, no expedited service; DOH special new-vital/apostille process publishes up to 3–4 weeks with the combined-stage clock unclear. Procurement, circuit certification, corrections and each transport leg add time. BREG currently says expedited handling unavailable.

Keep in mind: Vital-record issue date and official signature/seal determine the direct route; Hawaii-notarized private/school documents need certification in the notary’s registered circuit before LTGov. Residence and mailing origin do not choose the authentication state. Online application is not electronic apostille issuance.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Unknown from these sources. The online request/payment portal still requires printed application and physical documents; it does not prove true electronic apostille issuance or qualify a printed RON output. [HI-01; HI-24.]

Apostille physical security:

No physical Hawaii certificate/security-paper examination was performed; no seal, ribbon or anti-fraud feature is claimed.

Keep the record, court certifications and apostille/certification packet intact. Scan without detaching, inserting or altering pages; corrections go through the responsible issuer/notary/court. Practical packet-integrity guidance, not an inspected Hawaii security-feature claim.

Source confidence: High for cited ordinary paper instructions, actual form footnotes, source-specific fees and circuit prerequisite checked 2026-10-26. Conditional for exact Jan1 issue dates, old/new application seams, DOH visit wording/combined timing, BREG product/fee conflicts, circuit-specific handling, electronic and international output. Retrieval is not an order, payment, issuance or acceptance test.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Hawaii Lieutenant Governor: Apostilles and Certification of Documents

Open Hawaii JSON

Hawaii Rules of Circuit Courts, Rule 2.2

Hawaii DOH: Apostilles and Authentication of Certified Copies

Alaska apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Alaska DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get an Alaska apostille or authentication yourself: choose the correct record, prepare its official or notarial signature, calculate the right office’s fees and arrange submission and return.

Common documents: Alaska vital certificates, certified court records, company filings/status certificates, school diplomas/transcripts and private notarized documents; federal and other-state records use separate authorities.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: Lieutenant Governor overview says typically processed and mailed back within 48 hours of receipt; detailed page says staff aim for same-day return. Record procurement, defects, signature collection and both directions of transit are additional. HAVRS birth/death mail/fax estimates are 2–3 months; Commerce hardcopy/certified-copy procurement 10–15 business days (not a separate apostille-package completion estimate); ordinary court requests about two weeks.

Keep in mind: Authenticate the correct official or notary signature for the actual destination. Issuing state and notary state are not determined by residence, shipping origin or the country of use. Not every document needs notarization; a notarized cover sheet is not the underlying issuer’s certified record.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Published Alaska instructions require wet/original signatures and permanent paper attachment. This guide establishes the paper process, not an electronic apostille service or acceptance of a printed RON record. [AK-01; AK-02.]

Apostille physical security:

Official instructions describe permanent metal eyelet attachment; no independent physical security examination was performed.

Keep the full record and certificate attached. Make only lawful copies before submission; do not remove the metal eyelet to scan, add pages or add stamps. [AK-02: Preparing Your Order.]

Source confidence: High for cited current published forms and ordinary paper instructions checked 2026-10-26. Conditional for Commerce fee selections, foreign recipient requirements, electronic originals, old signatures, physical visitor entrance and undated carrier observations. Source retrieval is not a filing, shipment, issuance or acceptance test.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Alaska Lieutenant Governor: Foreign Authentications

Open Alaska JSON

Alaska court Administrative Rule 9

Alaska Authentications Order Form

Alabama apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Alabama DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare the correct Alabama record, choose Apostille or Certification, calculate the right agency fees and submit the packet yourself with usable return delivery.

Common documents: Alabama vital records; actual certified court orders and divorce decrees; company existence and certified filings; notarized school records; private affidavits/authorizations and translations. Other-state, incoming foreign and federal records have their own origin authority.

Timing: Authentication form checked 2026-11-06: allow five business days for mail time; this is not a processing or total-delivery guarantee. Walk-in service is Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Record procurement, county authentication and both transits take additional time. [AL-14.] The First Edition 2020 handbook dates from the COVID era, but that does not establish why its 5 p.m. hours differ from the current linked form's 4:30 p.m. Prefer the current form and confirm hours and the actual walk-in destination with the Authentication Division at 334-242-5325 before travel. Greg's practical advice is to aim to arrive before 4 p.m. to leave a buffer; that is not an official deadline or a same-day completion promise. Building-entry and security arrangements have not been verified. [AL-14; AL-03; Greg Lirette operating advice clarified 2026-11-07.]

Keep in mind: Apostille and non-Hague Certification have different signature chains. The $25 CHS vital package includes the SOS certificate; additional $6 copies do not. Do not add universal notarization, a probate step to every apostille or a notarized cover to an issuer-certified record.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No Alabama e-Apostille issuance established by the checked source pages/forms. A digital record or scan-back is not itself an e-Apostille.

Apostille physical security:

No physical certificate/security-paper examination performed.

Preserve the full attached packet; do not detach, replace pages or add stamps. Obtain issuer correction rather than editing a completed certificate. Practical preservation guidance.

Source confidence: High for cited ordinary paper routes, source fees/forms and CHS special package checked 2026-10-26; conditional for nonstandard official signatures, electronic output, current queue, international return and recipient acceptance. Guide version 2026-10-26.1; first authored 2026-10-26. Source revisions/updates are separately listed. No website publication/effective date, submission or acceptance claimed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Alabama SOS Authentications

Open Alabama JSON

HCCH Apostille Convention, Articles 1-7

Authentication Submittal Form

Open Alabama misconception note

Arizona apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Arizona DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare the right Arizona record, complete the official request and arrange a physical return. Start here for vital, company, school and notarized documents; check the dated Phoenix service change before travelling.

Common documents: Vital records; certified court and company records; registrar-prepared school documents; privately notarized documents. Choose the exact record before paying.

Timing: Checked October 28, 2026: the SOS webpage gives 10–20 business days by mail; its September 2025 form says 10. These are conflicting estimates, excluding procurement and transit. Phoenix appointment-only service is announced for November 2, 2026. Confirm the current queue and appointment instructions before a deadline. [AZ-01; AZ-02]

Keep in mind: The Phoenix notice supersedes older walk-in assumptions. Category-specific procurement and unusual notarial output remain conditional; this guide does not invent a rejection rule from a trainer anecdote.

e-Apostille capability: No

SOS explicitly says it does not issue electronic apostilles. A PDF, portal payment or scan-back is not the issued physical certificate. [AZ-01]

Apostille physical security:

Keep the issued certificate attached to its document; preserve the original packet and any issuing-authority verification information.

Source confidence: Qualified agency-guidance review for the described ordinary routes; procurement, output and form limitations remain explicit. No independent all-statute audit, recipient acceptance, official contact or transaction test.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28

Arizona official apostille instructions

Open Arizona JSON

Colorado apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Colorado DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Choose the Colorado certified record or correct notarial act, then use the state request form. Business records have a distinct process; counter payment and physical return deserve a check before submission.

Common documents: Vital records; certified court and company records; registrar-prepared school documents; privately notarized documents. Choose the exact record before paying.

Timing: Checked October 28, 2026: SOS reports longer-than-normal waits and processes mail in receipt order, without a fixed completion estimate. Expedited hand delivery before 4:30 p.m. may still require later pickup. Add procurement, corrections, weekends, holidays and transit. [CO-01]

Keep in mind: A Colorado notarial copy certification authenticates that notarial act; it does not turn an out-of-state record into the original issuer’s certification. Business records have a separate published non-Hague branch.

e-Apostille capability: No

The general SOS instructions expressly say online apostilles/authentications are unavailable. An emailed pre-review PDF is not an apostille submission or issuance. [CO-01]

Apostille physical security:

Keep the issued certificate attached to its document; preserve the original packet and any issuing-authority verification information.

Source confidence: Qualified agency-guidance review for the described ordinary routes; procurement, output and form limitations remain explicit. No independent all-statute audit, recipient acceptance, official contact or transaction test.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28

Colorado official apostille instructions

Open Colorado JSON

District of Columbia apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the District of Columbia DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get the right D.C. document, choose ONCA mail or walk-in handling and plan the payment and physical return. D.C. authentication is separate from U.S. Department of State federal authentication.

Common documents: Vital records, court records, certified company documents, school records and private notarized documents require separate document checks.

Timing: ONCA’s published mail target is five business days after a complete request; the walk-in sheet offers same-day handling for nine documents or fewer, dependent on volume. Procurement, correction and all transport are separate. [DC-01; DC-02; DC-03]

Keep in mind: ONCA authenticates D.C. notarial and eligible D.C. government signatures. It is not the federal Office of Authentications. The current page uses NE for 899 North Capitol Street, while parts of its mail guide say NW; confirm the address with ONCA before dispatch. [DC-01; DC-02]

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Electronic apostille availability was not established for this office/document. An electronic source file is not by itself an electronic apostille.

Apostille physical security:

Keep the completed official attachment intact. Ask the issuing office to resolve an attachment or signature concern; do not detach or add seals yourself.

Source confidence: Dated official-source preparation guidance with explicit conflicts and unpublished facts; no completed-transaction acceptance evidence or independent final review claimed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28

D.C. Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications

Open District of Columbia JSON

Guam apostille notes

Coverage: Partial guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Guam DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare a Guam document for foreign use: identify the record, obtain the right certification and resolve the Department of Administration’s published ambiguities before paying or sending originals.

Common documents: Vital records, court records, certified company documents, school records and private notarized documents require separate document checks.

Timing: DOA publishes a minimum 7–10 days, in receipt order; it does not label these business days. Appointments are Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Record issuance and transport are additional. [GU-01]

Keep in mind: Guam is a U.S. territory. Its DOA page mixes federal and local instructions. The federal-only wording conflicts with HCCH’s designation of Guam DOA officials. Do not notarize a federal original or infer a county-clerk step for every Guam document. Resolve the actual document with DOA first. [GU-01; HCCH-01]

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Electronic apostille availability was not established for this office/document. An electronic source file is not by itself an electronic apostille.

Apostille physical security:

Keep the completed official attachment intact. Ask the issuing office to resolve an attachment or signature concern; do not detach or add seals yourself.

Source confidence: Dated official-source preparation guidance with explicit conflicts and unpublished facts; no completed-transaction acceptance evidence or independent final review claimed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28

Guam DOA apostille instructions

Open Guam JSON

Northern Mariana Islands apostille notes

Coverage: Partial guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Northern Mariana Islands DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Find the correct CNMI custodian and apostille authority, obtain a certified record and resolve unpublished submission details before mailing. This is a preparation guide with explicit source gaps.

Common documents: Vital records, court records, certified company documents, school records and private notarized documents require separate document checks.

Timing: No current territorial apostille handling time or rush procedure was established from the checked official materials. Do not turn federal-court fees or ordinary office hours into a territorial service promise.

Keep in mind: The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is distinct from Guam and from the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. A federal court’s $50 apostille fee does not price the Commonwealth Attorney General’s service. [MP-04; HCCH-01]

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Electronic apostille availability was not established for this office/document. An electronic source file is not by itself an electronic apostille.

Apostille physical security:

Keep the completed official attachment intact. Ask the issuing office to resolve an attachment or signature concern; do not detach or add seals yourself.

Source confidence: Dated official-source preparation guidance with explicit conflicts and unpublished facts; no completed-transaction acceptance evidence or independent final review claimed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28

CNMI Attorney General — contact

Open Northern Mariana Islands JSON

American Samoa apostille notes

Coverage: Partial guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the American Samoa DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Separate American Samoa records from independent Samoa, obtain the proper certified record and resolve the territorial apostille packet with the designated authority before paying or mailing.

Common documents: Vital records, court records, certified company documents, school records and private notarized documents require separate document checks.

Timing: No territorial apostille processing estimate, rush option or complete mail/return procedure was verified. Record procurement, authentication and transport must be planned separately.

Keep in mind: American Samoa is a U.S. territory; independent Samoa has its own authorities. HCCH lists the Secretary of American Samoa and Attorney General of American Samoa. Do not substitute Guam, Hawaiʻi, independent Samoa or an assumed federal office merely because they are easier to reach. [HCCH-01]

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Electronic apostille availability was not established for this office/document. An electronic source file is not by itself an electronic apostille.

Apostille physical security:

Keep the completed official attachment intact. Ask the issuing office to resolve an attachment or signature concern; do not detach or add seals yourself.

Source confidence: Dated official-source preparation guidance with explicit conflicts and unpublished facts; no completed-transaction acceptance evidence or independent final review claimed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28

HCCH — American Samoa competent authority designation

Open American Samoa JSON

Mississippi apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Mississippi DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

A complete DIY route for Mississippi apostilles and authentications: obtain the right certified record, prepare private or school signatures, pay the correct office and arrange submission and return.

Common documents: Mississippi birth/death/marriage records; certified divorce decrees and other court orders; state-certified company filings/status; registrar-prepared diplomas/transcripts; private affidavits and authorizations. Federal and other-state records follow separate authorities.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: SOS page and Form 11 do not publish a numerical processing estimate or verified rush/counter promise. MSDH procurement generally 7-10 business days; its FAQ quotes 3-5 for online/telephone UPS options. Procurement, corrections and transit are additional; recheck deadlines with the responsible official office.

Keep in mind: The issuing official or notary state controls the origin route; the destination and document category control whether an apostille, another authentication sequence or no certificate is needed. Do not replace a public record with a notarized cover.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No current Mississippi e-Apostille issuance capability established by the checked official page/form. A scan of a paper packet or electronic notarization is not itself an e-Apostille.

Apostille physical security:

No physical certificate or security-paper examination performed.

Keep the full issued packet together and do not detach, replace pages or add stamps; seek issuer correction for a defect. This is practical preservation guidance, not a claim about an examined Mississippi attachment.

Source confidence: High for ordinary mail preparation, listed SOS fee/form, vital-record fees/eligibility and named issuer guidance checked 2026-10-26. Conditional for counter service, queue, electronic corporate output, special forwarding and destination acceptance. Guide version 2026-10-26.1, first authored 2026-10-26; no website publication/deployment date claimed. Form revision and page review dates are source metadata, not this guide's effective date. No submission/issuance exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Apostilles & Authentications

Open Mississippi JSON

HCCH Apostille Convention, Arts.1-7

SOS Form 11 Request for Apostille / Certification

Open Mississippi misconception note

Connecticut apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Connecticut DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get the correct Connecticut record, choose paper or an eligible e-Apostille, order online, and prepare payment and delivery yourself. This guide separates official records, private notarizations, federal documents and foreign destinations.

Common documents: Birth/death/marriage/civil-union records; certified court orders and divorce decrees; company filings and existence certificates; school transcripts/diplomas; private affidavits, powers of attorney and translator statements.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: SOTS publishes 5–7 business days after its unit receives regular paper documents and 24 hours for expedited/e-Apostille orders; its electronic FAQ says one business day after a complete application. Procurement, transport, internal delivery and corrections are additional; no delivery guarantee.

Keep in mind: All orders begin online. Vital records require paper; e-Apostilles are not valid if printed. Connecticut certification/notarization must be within 10 years. Foreign-issued, other-state and federal documents follow their own authorities. U.S. territories are not foreign destinations for Connecticut apostille service.

e-Apostille capability: Yes

Official commencement 2026-07-06; eligible records only. Vital records require paper. An e-Apostille is not valid if printed; portal-specific formats and eligibility must be checked.

Apostille physical security: Preserve original attachment; no independently tested security rating.

Keep the paper certificate attached to its original record; retain the electronic original intact. A scan or printout is not automatically the required output.

Source confidence: High for the current published state submission/output rules and linked issuer forms; medium for checkout-specific charges, adoption expedite/refunds and document-specific electronic eligibility. The enacted act was checked through official indexed excerpts; its complete PDF was unavailable. No completed customer order is claimed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Authentication of Documents and the Apostille

Open Connecticut JSON

Public Act 26-81, sections 10–11

Connecticut Notary Public Manual, actual Rev.2026-1

New Hampshire apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the New Hampshire DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get an apostille or certificate directly from New Hampshire: obtain the correct issuer-prepared record or properly notarized private document, complete the state request, pay the official fee and arrange return delivery.

Common documents: Apostille-ready NH birth/death/marriage records; divorce certificates and decrees; court orders; registrar-prepared academic records; certified company filings and existence certificates; private affidavits and powers of attorney. Federal and foreign-issued records follow separate authorities.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: in-person apostille acceptance Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m.; large batches may extend into the next business day. No fixed mail-processing commitment was established from accessible official instructions. Dartmouth Arts and Sciences estimates 1-2 weeks for its own notarization before the SOS request. Procurement, correction, transport and recipient review are additional.

Keep in mind: NH vital records need the issuing registrar/clerk's apostille-ready notarized preparation, not a private-notary photocopy declaration. Bulk-expedite website examples differ from RSA 5:10 for nonmultiples of ten; resolve the amount with SOS. Some current SOS pages/forms were accessible only through official indexed excerpts after direct retrieval returned 403, so complete form/footnote inspection and certain electronic/international details remain unresolved.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No current affirmative NH e-Apostille issuance or eligible electronic submission/output procedure was established in this review. An electronic notarization, a portal PDF and a scan of a paper apostille are distinct. Obtain the exact SOS and recipient instructions before relying on electronic output; unknown is not a claim of unavailability.

Apostille physical security: Not independently inspected

Keep the completed certificate attached to the exact underlying record. Do not remove staples/attachments, replace pages or add stamps after completion. No NH-specific attachment/security feature was independently inspected.

Source confidence: Mixed: controlling NH fee/vital-record statutes and Dartmouth issuer instructions were read in full. Several SOS/court pages and SOS forms were checked only through current official indexed excerpts after 403 retrieval failures. Ordinary direct routes are described with those limits; full form/footnote, corporate output, mail timing and electronic/international qualifications are not claimed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

New Hampshire Secretary of State: Apostilles and Certificates

Open New Hampshire JSON

RSA 5-C:99 Apostille Records

RSA 5:10 Office Fees

Open New Hampshire misconception note

Rhode Island apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Rhode Island DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get a Rhode Island apostille yourself: order the right state-certified record or prepare an eligible RI notarization, choose paper or online payment, submit the original packet and plan return delivery.

Common documents: State-issued birth, marriage and death certificates; historical Archives vital records; certified court orders; corporate status certificates and certified filings; school transcripts/diplomas; foreign-use Attorney General BCI; private affidavits and powers of attorney.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: the state publishes 3-5 business days after receipt for legalization. Record procurement, corrections, inbound delivery and return transit are additional; no same-day counter completion or paid state expedite was verified.

Keep in mind: The issuing authority/notary state and actual foreign destination control. RI city/town vital records are ineligible; URI/RIC/CCRI originals have a no-notary exception. Online payment still requires mailing originals and is not proof of e-Apostille issuance. A notarized private cover is not the underlying official record.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Not established as a generally available customer route in this guide. February 2025 electronic-notarization standards describe authentication and electronic-apostille security requirements; that is different from proving current issuance or a usable electronic filing/output procedure. Ordinary online apostille payment instructs applicants to mail originals. Preserve an electronic original and obtain exact state directions before converting it. [RI-21: PDF pp.4-5; RI-04.]

Apostille physical security:

RI verification guidance describes a grommet through the signature page and an offset embossed state seal over certificate and document; no ribbons or wax. These are published agency features, not a physical inspection of an issued packet. [RI-18.]

Keep the certificate, grommet, embossed overlap and document intact. Do not detach, add pages or embellishments for scanning or shipping; a scan is not the original physical packet. [RI-18; HCCH-01: Arts.5,7.]

Source confidence: High for the cited ordinary paper submission, fees, document categories and inspected apostille PDF checked 2026-10-26; conditional for unusual signatures, electronic output, large requests and recipient requirements. Source dates are separate from retrieval. No live order, payment, record issuance, shipment or recipient acceptance was exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

RI Department of State — Submit Your Request

Open Rhode Island JSON

RI official Apostille/Legalization Order Form

Vermont apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Vermont DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get the correct Vermont certified record or notarized original, choose VSARA or the separate business-record process, and prepare the official request, payment and return delivery yourself.

Common documents: Birth/death/marriage certificates; civil union and divorce certificates; court decrees and orders; registrar-attested academic records; filed business records and good-standing certificates; private affidavits and powers of attorney.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: general VSARA turnaround and state expedite were not established in the reviewed materials. Business Services alone publishes 7–10 business days for its apostilled/authenticated business copies. The vital-record portal says most ordinary record orders ship within 5–7 business days. Procurement, corrections, authentication and transport are separate clocks.

Keep in mind: The public-record custodian, notary commission state, destination and required output control the route. Full SOS HTML pages returned 403; current indexed official text and actual official PDFs were checked. The legacy business form and current fee schedule must be read together, particularly for an entity-specific good-standing certificate.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Not established by reviewed Vermont sources. Online vital-record ordering, electronic notarization and scan-back do not establish true e-Apostille issuance or an accepted printout route.

Apostille physical security: Not independently observed

Keep all issued certificate attachments and pages intact. Do not remove staples or replace pages; preserve a complete scan for reference. No particular Vermont anti-fraud paper/seal feature was independently verified.

Source confidence: Medium: primary official forms, current Health/Judiciary/registrar and treaty sources were inspected. Some SOS HTML pages were available only as current official indexed text. Legacy business-form cross-references and entity-specific good-standing fees, general timing and counter details remain qualified; no live transaction was performed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Vermont Secretary of State / VSARA: Apostille or Authentication

Open Vermont JSON

26 V.S.A. §5377: evidence of authenticity of Vermont notarial act

VSARA-35 official request form

Open Vermont misconception note

Iowa apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Iowa DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get an Iowa apostille or authentication yourself: obtain the right certified or notarized source, follow Iowa’s copy-submission or PDF-upload instructions, pay the official fee and arrange a usable return.

Common documents: Iowa vital records, court orders, company certificates and certified filings, school credentials, DCI results and private notarized records; federal, out-of-state and foreign-issued documents follow their own authorities.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26:SOS advertises same-day walk-in 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.Monday–Friday excluding holidays; no numeric mail/upload turnaround published in the checked instructions. HHS ordinary mail 4–6 weeks is separate. All procurement, corrections and transport add time; estimates are not guarantees. [IA-01; IA-02; IA-03.]

Keep in mind: Iowa expressly requests a copy and recommends keeping your original; obtain the correct certified/notarized source first. Establish the recipient’s original, attachment, translation and format requirements. Single Certificate formatting does not make the Convention apply to every destination.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No general true e-Apostille issuance was established in the checked sources. Fast Track PDF upload is submission; SOS says completed certificates are mailed. RON authorization, scan-back and electronic diploma validation are separate capabilities. [IA-01; IA-13; IA-18.]

Apostille physical security:

SOS says Single Certificate format as of 2025 no longer fits old gold-seal paper. No independent physical certificate/security-feature examination performed. [IA-01.]

Preserve the packet exactly as issued; do not detach, substitute pages or attach a returned certificate to a different source yourself. Ask SOS about the original/copy attachment needed for the actual recipient. This is practical preservation guidance, not a verified Iowa anti-tampering statute. [IA-01; HCCH-01.]

Source confidence: High for cited ordinary public instructions/forms and checked fees; conditional for source-specific signatures, copy/original attachment, recipient acceptance, RON output, international returns and unresolved DCI/court-order details. No filing, payment, shipment or issuance exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Apostilles and Certifications

Open Iowa JSON

Iowa Code 9B.15, certificate of notarial act

Apostille or Certification Request Form APCERT

Open Iowa misconception note

Kansas apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Kansas DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare your own Kansas apostille or authentication: obtain the right certified record, use current Form DC, budget fees and arrange the submission and return. The guide flags current official fee and legacy-form conflicts so you can resolve them with the public office.

Common documents: Kansas vital certificates; court decrees/judgments; certified company filings and good-standing certificates; school transcripts/diplomas; notarized private affidavits and powers of attorney. Federal and other-state records use their own authorities.

Timing: Form DC checked 2026-10-26 estimates 3-5 business days after SOS receipt, excluding record procurement, corrections and all transit. KDHE birth mail procurement estimates 7-10 business days; K-State lists 4-6 weeks. No same-day, expedited or appointment entitlement was verified.

Keep in mind: Current SOS guidance/Form DC instruct $10 per document, while published permanent K.A.R. 7-16-1 lists $12. The conflict remains explicit. Current Docking address and June 2026 Form DC supersede legacy form details for ordinary preparation; unusual combined orders, counter service and electronic output require official confirmation.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Unknown: Kansas RON authority is established but a current Kansas electronic apostille issuance or paper-print conversion procedure was not verified. Confirm the exact electronic output with SOS before purchasing or printing. [KS-15; KS-16.]

Apostille physical security:

No independent examination of Kansas apostille security paper, seals or anti-fraud features was performed.

Preserve the original apostille/document attachment and scan without dismantling. Article4 permits the certificate on the document or an allonge; do not substitute a scan for a required physical packet. [HCCH-01: Arts.4,5.]

Source confidence: High for current SOS request-form fields, Docking address, cited issuer procedures and dated estimates. Conditional for conflicting fee law/instructions, portal/electronic outputs, counter arrangements and court-specific fees. Official current pages/PDF text checked 2026-10-26; indexed court extracts only after direct 403. No agency transaction, issuance, shipment or recipient acceptance tested.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Kansas Secretary of State: Apostilles & Authentications

Open Kansas JSON

Kansas Register: permanent fee regulations

Kansas SOS Form DC, revised 2026-06-17

Kentucky apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Kentucky DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get your Kentucky apostille or authentication yourself: obtain the right certified record or properly notarized private document, prepare the official request, pay the government fee and arrange return delivery.

Common documents: Birth/death and marriage records; divorce decrees and court orders; certified company records; diplomas/transcripts; powers of attorney, affidavits and private business papers.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: SOS publishes 3 business days for mailed requests and while-you-wait walk-in service. OVS separately targets 5 business days but says allow up to 30 working days for mailed record procurement. County/school preparation, corrections and all transit are additional.

Keep in mind: This is the outgoing Kentucky-origin route. Incoming foreign documents require their origin authority; an apostille authenticates a public signature, capacity and seal, not the truth of the contents. Federal records and another state’s records use their own competent authorities.

e-Apostille capability: Yes

SOS expressly publishes e-Apostille/authentication PDF output by email through its portal. Kentucky online-notarized PDFs bypass County Clerk certification; portal also lists county-clerk/deputy and public-university registrar categories. Vital records excluded. No issuance or individual recipient acceptance tested. [KY-01; KY-03.]

Apostille physical security:

No independent physical security-feature examination was performed.

Preserve the entire attached certificate and underlying record; do not detach, substitute pages, add stamps or laminate. A scan helps review but does not replace a required physical original.

Source confidence: Official-source guidance checked 2026-10-26, with access limitations and dated conflicts stated below and in each source record. Practical explanations and synthetic examples are labeled. No individual recipient acceptance, live filing or shipping outcome is proven.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Kentucky SOS: Apostilles and Authentications

Open Kentucky JSON

HCCH Apostille Convention

Request for Apostille or Authentication

Missouri apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Missouri DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get your Missouri apostille or authentication yourself: obtain the right certified record or properly notarized private document, prepare the official request, pay the government fee and arrange return delivery.

Common documents: Birth/death and marriage records; divorce decrees and court orders; certified company records; diplomas/transcripts; powers of attorney, affidavits and private business papers.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: handbook describes same/next-day mail and same-day walk-in processing. Notary contact page hours are 8 a.m.–4 p.m. weekdays except legal holidays, versus handbook 4:30 p.m. No live queue verified. DHSS mail procurement estimates 4–8 weeks; coordinated transfer averages weekly. Preparation, corrections and all transit add time.

Keep in mind: This is the outgoing Missouri-origin route. Incoming foreign documents require their origin authority; an apostille authenticates a public signature, capacity and seal, not the truth of the contents. Federal records and another state’s records use their own competent authorities.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No current official e-Apostille issuance route was established in the sources checked for this guide. Online preparation, electronic notarization, a scan and an electronic apostille are different outputs. Confirm the exact original/output before relying on a printout.

Apostille physical security:

No independent physical security-feature examination was performed.

Preserve the entire attached certificate and underlying record; do not detach, substitute pages, add stamps or laminate. A scan helps review but does not replace a required physical original.

Source confidence: Official-source guidance checked 2026-10-26, with access limitations and dated conflicts stated below and in each source record. Practical explanations and synthetic examples are labeled. No individual recipient acceptance, live filing or shipping outcome is proven.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Missouri SOS Certification,Authentication,& Apostilles

Open Missouri JSON

HCCH Apostille Convention

Missouri Apostille/Authentication Cover Letter

West Virginia apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the West Virginia DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Follow West Virginia’s official paper apostille route yourself: obtain the right issuer-certified record or complete a proper West Virginia notarization, fill AC-1, calculate the correct fee group and prepare the return packet before submission.

Common documents: Birth/death records signed by the State Registrar or county clerk; county-clerk marriage records; Circuit Clerk divorce decrees; SOS corporate certificates/certified filings; notarized school and private records. FBI and other federal records stay federal.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: SOS attempts processing within 48 business hours but says factors may extend it; walk-in customers are handled as soon as possible, often minutes depending on document count. These are agency estimates, not a fixed two-calendar-day guarantee. Add issuer procurement, defects, inbound and return transit.

Keep in mind: Use the issuing officer’s certified record when one is available. Plain photocopies or a private notarized cover sheet are not substitutes. AC-1’s short fee wording omits the FAQ’s same-public-official condition; the guide preserves that qualification rather than discounting every mixed packet.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

This guide establishes the ordinary paper route, not a general e-Apostille or RON-printout acceptance capability. Electronic notarization authority, an e-register and electronic apostille issuance are separate questions; resolve the exact electronic output with SOS before relying on it.

Apostille physical security:

No independent physical-security examination performed.

SOS describes its state seal in red ink and an original signature or stamped Secretary signature with original authorized countersignature. This is agency description, not independent physical-security examination. Preserve all record/certification/apostille attachments. [WV-01: What will you receive.]

Source confidence: High for published ordinary paper document categories, current AC-1, listed vital/business procurement fees and qualified signature grouping checked 2026-10-26. Qualified for fee-language conflict, counter-office distinctions, county/court charges, electronic output and foreign acceptance. WVU full page/PDF unavailable 403; indexed claims explicitly limited. No issuer or shipping transaction exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

West Virginia Secretary of State document authentication

Open West Virginia JSON

Maryland apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Maryland DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

A free, practical Maryland apostille guide: order the right certified record, authenticate a Maryland notary through the correct circuit-court clerk when needed, and submit the prepared packet to the Secretary of State in Annapolis.

Common documents: Maryland birth, death and marriage certificates; certified court orders; SDAT status certificates and certified company filings; school records; properly notarized private documents. Federal and foreign-issued records have different authorities.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: SOS prominently says WALK-INS NOT AVAILABLE and warns construction may move service to mail only; older walk-in text conflicts. Use mail unless current appointment availability is confirmed. Maryland SOS lists FedEx/UPS around 3-4 days, USPS Priority at most 3-4 days processing, and regular mail 7-14 business days. These are published estimates, not a deadline promise; procurement, clerk certification, corrections and both transit legs add time. DVR separately posts six weeks for mail record orders.

Keep in mind: The issuing authority controls official records; the notary commission state controls a private notarization. A Maryland resident does not turn an out-of-state record into a Maryland record. Apostilles authenticate signatures/capacity/seals, not document contents or foreign acceptance.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No current Maryland e-Apostille issuance or general RON-to-paper acceptance procedure was established by the sources checked. An electronic notarization, a PDF scan and an e-Apostille are different products. Resolve the exact output with the county clerk and SOS before relying on a printout.

Apostille physical security:

No independent physical-security examination performed.

Keep the official record, clerk certification if applicable and apostille together. Preserve scans without removing attachments or inserting pages. No particular security-paper feature was independently examined.

Source confidence: High for the cited published ordinary paper routes, checklist and issuer forms checked 2026-10-26; qualified for electronic outputs, former signatures, individual eligibility, county logistics and foreign acceptance. Source dates are separate from retrieval; no issuance, payment, shipment or recipient acceptance was exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Maryland Secretary of State Certifications

Open Maryland JSON

Arkansas apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Arkansas DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Get your Arkansas apostille or authentication yourself: obtain the right certified record or properly notarized private document, prepare the official request, pay the government fee and arrange return delivery.

Common documents: Birth/death and marriage records; divorce decrees and court orders; certified company records; diplomas/transcripts; powers of attorney, affidavits and private business papers.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: older SOS sheet and official indexed 2025 brochure describe most/target processing as 24–48 hours; no deadline guarantee. Birth procurement mail estimate is separately 10–14 days plus transit. Add corrections, closures and all shipping.

Keep in mind: This is the outgoing Arkansas-origin route. Incoming foreign documents require their origin authority; an apostille authenticates a public signature, capacity and seal, not the truth of the contents. Federal records and another state’s records use their own competent authorities.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

No current official e-Apostille issuance route was established in the sources checked for this guide. Online preparation, electronic notarization, a scan and an electronic apostille are different outputs. Confirm the exact original/output before relying on a printout.

Apostille physical security:

No independent physical security-feature examination was performed.

Preserve the entire attached certificate and underlying record; do not detach, substitute pages, add stamps or laminate. A scan helps review but does not replace a required physical original.

Source confidence: Official-source guidance checked 2026-10-26, with access limitations and dated conflicts stated below and in each source record. Practical explanations and synthetic examples are labeled. No individual recipient acceptance, live filing or shipping outcome is proven.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Arkansas SOS: Apostille / Certification

Open Arkansas JSON

HCCH Apostille Convention

Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request Form

Nebraska apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the Nebraska DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare a Nebraska apostille or authentication yourself: order the right certified record, complete only the notarization your document needs, submit the current request and exact payment, arrange return delivery and recover from defects.

Common documents: Nebraska vital records, clerk-certified court orders, SOS-certified business records, registrar-authenticated educational records and properly Nebraska-notarized private instruments. Federal, other-state and incoming foreign records have separate authorities.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: SOS publishes 3-5 business days from receipt for mail and same-day walk-ins. DHHS procurement, UNL holds/processing, corrections and every transit stage add time. No deadline or paid-expedite guarantee.

Keep in mind: Online request/payment still requires original physical documents. SOS expressly excludes online-obtained business outputs from apostille/authentication. UNL current page and linked form conflict on timing/copy charges/room. Confirm those exact issuer exceptions before paying; do not replace an official record with a notarized cover.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Not established by the checked Nebraska instructions. Online payment and online notarization are not proof of e-Apostille issuance; SOS still requires physical originals. Obtain exact instructions for a RON/electronic source. [NE-01; NE-21.]

Apostille physical security:

No actual Nebraska apostille security-paper, seal or attachment examination performed.

Keep each certification and apostille attached and preserve the complete packet. Do not detach, substitute pages or add stamps. This is practical evidence-integrity advice; no Nebraska-specific physical invalidation rule is invented.

Source confidence: High for cited current ordinary paper forms, fees and addresses checked 2026-10-26; conditional for corporate foreign-use issuance, conflicting UNL instructions, DHHS courier delivery, exact electronic outputs and international return. No submission, shipment, recipient acceptance or actual apostille verification exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

Apostilles and Authentications

Open Nebraska JSON

Nebraska Revised Statute 64-202

Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request

North Dakota apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the North Dakota DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare your own North Dakota apostille or certification: obtain the correct certified public record or complete the required private notarial act, calculate the state charge, submit originals and arrange return delivery.

Common documents: Birth/death and county marriage records; court decrees/orders; company certificates and certified filings; school diplomas/transcripts; private powers of attorney and affidavits. Federal and foreign-issued documents follow separate authorities.

Timing: Checked 2026-10-26: SOS usually processes satisfactory, correctly paid requests within 3 business days, before return transit. HHS general guidance says 5-7 business days for records, birth/death FAQs say 3-5; current forms and FAQs differ on expedited-carrier handling. NDSU gives 4-6 weeks for its full process. Procurement, corrections, closures and transport are additional; no deadline guaranteed.

Keep in mind: Choose the issuing authority, official/notarial signature and actual foreign destination first. A notarized cover statement is not an issuer-certified record. Public-official search fees, current payment channel, unusual electronic output and international SOS return labels need case-specific official confirmation; the source limitations are explicit below.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Not established. Official electronic/remote notarial authority and FirstStop certificate verification do not prove SOS e-Apostille issuance or acceptance of a customer printout. Resolve the exact output with SOS. [ND-20; ND-22; ND-23.]

Apostille physical security:

No independent security-paper, attachment, seal or anti-fraud examination was performed.

Preserve issuer certifications and the SOS authentication as a complete attached packet. Do not detach, insert pages or add stamps after completion; request issuer guidance for a damaged attachment. This is practical custody advice, not a claim that a specific North Dakota security feature was inspected.

Source confidence: High for ordinary original-paper preparation and explicit cited fees/addresses; conditional for public-official search totals, current apostille payment method, certified-filing quotes, expedited vital timing, electronic output and international SOS return. Official pages and actual current PDF text/footnotes were inspected 2026-10-26. No filing, shipment, certificate lookup or recipient-acceptance transaction was performed.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

North Dakota Secretary of State: Apostille and Certification

Open North Dakota JSON

NDCC chapter 44-06.1: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts

North Dakota HHS: coordinated birth/death apostille route

South Dakota apostille notes

Coverage: Source-reviewed guide. Read the source confidence and unresolved points below.

Read the South Dakota DIY guide

Matching guide JSON

Prepare your own South Dakota apostille or authentication request: choose the right issuer-certified or notarized document, order records, calculate official fees, send a complete packet and arrange a usable return without hiring an intermediary.

Common documents: South Dakota certified vital/court records, SOS-certified company filings and status certificates, properly certified/notarized educational records, private affidavits and powers of attorney; federal and other-state records follow their own authorities.

Timing: Checked2026-10-26: SOS publishes mailed processing within 2 business days of receipt; most ordinary drop-off requests 1-2 business days. Expedited appointments are limited, require advance booking and may need later pickup. Record procurement, corrections and both directions of transport are additional; no delivery guarantee.

Keep in mind: Original seals/signatures and correct document-specific certification control. Vital/court records require issuer certification; South Dakota notarial routing follows the notary’s authority. SOS cannot receive or return DHL. Downloaded company records and RON printouts need exact output acceptance before relying on them.

e-Apostille capability: Unknown / not yet recorded

Unknown: SOS e-notary guidance does not establish e-Apostille issuance. Checked apostille instructions require original seals/signatures and reject emailed/faxed submissions. Obtain the exact accepted output for electronic records rather than assuming a printout qualifies. [SD-01; SD-15.]

Apostille physical security:

No independent South Dakota apostille specimen or security-feature examination; no anti-fraud feature claimed.

Retain the complete original/certified record and its attached apostille together; scan without dismantling or changing the packet. This is practical integrity guidance, not an asserted South Dakota-specific invalidation rule. [HCCH-01:Arts. 4-5,7.]

Source confidence: High for ordinary paper instructions, current published fees and form fields checked 2026-10-26. Conditional for company electronic/paper output, batch/expedite interaction, unusual/tribal records, RON output and individual recipient acceptance. Original-source PDF byte hashes unavailable after network proxy403; official web/PDF text was inspected. No order, shipment, issuance or recipient acceptance was exercised.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-26

South Dakota Secretary of State: Apostilles & Authentications

Open South Dakota JSON

Apostille Convention treaty text

South Dakota SOS: Apostille / Certificate of Authentication Request

Open South Dakota misconception note