Frequently Asked Questions

An apostille is an official certification that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in countries that are part of the Hague Convention. It verifies the signature, seal, or stamp of the official who signed the document, making it legally recognized in over 100 countries worldwide without requiring further authentication.

Over 100 countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention accept apostilles. This includes most of Europe, Latin America, Australia, and many Asian countries. For countries not part of the convention, we can assist with alternative authentication methods through the U.S. Department of State.

Yes! We provide apostille services nationwide to all 50 states. You can mail your documents to us, or if you're in the New York area, we offer mobile service where we come to you. Our expertise covers the requirements for every state's authentication process.

Processing times vary by state and current workload. Standard processing typically takes several business days to a few weeks depending on the state. We offer rush processing for urgent needs when available. Contact us for specific timeframes based on your state and document type.

Yes, we offer rush processing for urgent deadlines when available. The availability and timeframe depend on your specific state's processing capabilities and current workload. Contact us immediately if you have an urgent need, and we'll do everything possible to accommodate your deadline.

Absolutely! We provide updates throughout the entire process and include tracking information when we ship your completed documents back to you. You'll always know where your documents are and what stage of processing they're in.

We can apostille a wide variety of documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates, diplomas, transcripts, corporate documents, powers of attorney, affidavits, court orders, and other notarized documents. The document must be issued by a U.S. authority and properly certified before apostille.

In most cases, you need a certified copy or original document with the proper seals and signatures. A regular photocopy typically cannot be apostilled. For vital records like birth certificates, you'll need a certified copy from the issuing authority. We can guide you on the specific requirements for your document type.

It depends on the document type. Vital records (birth, marriage, divorce certificates) don't require notarization. However, documents like powers of attorney, affidavits, and certain business documents must be notarized before they can receive an apostille. We offer mobile notary services and can assist with this step.