Sacramento's #1 Apostille
Service Provider
Save Time, No Waiting in Line, and Make Sure Your Documents Get Apostilled Right
Courier Apostille
Service Package
Next Day Turn Around
After Documents Are Received
Only Availlable to Notary Providers Within The State Of California
Economy Apostille
Service Package
5-7 Day Turn Around
After Documents Are Recieved
Usually Completed Sooner, However, It May Take Up To 7 Business Days To Complete
Standard Apostille
Service Package
2-3 Day Turn Around
After Documents Are Recieved
Usually Completed Sooner, However, It May Take Up To 3 Business Days To Complete
Priority Apostille
Service Package
Next Day Turn Around
After Documents Are Recieved
Generally Booked by Business & Working Professionals
Can I get an apostille for documents issued outside of California?
Yes, you can obtain an apostille for documents issued outside of California, but it must be processed in the state or country where the document originated. If your document was issued in another U.S. state, you’ll need to submit it to that state’s apostille office. For foreign-issued documents, you may need to contact the embassy or consulate.
Can I request an apostille for multiple documents at once in California?
In California, an apostille can be issued for certain digital documents, but it must be in compliance with the California Secretary of State’s guidelines. Digital notarization or electronic records may require additional steps. It’s best to check whether your specific digital document qualifies for an apostille.
Apostille Services
Brookside Mobile Notary is your top-rated destination for comprehensive Apostille services in Sacramento and Placer County, including Folsom, Elk Grove, Rocklin, and Roseville. As a full-service provider, we expertly handle every step of the Apostille process—from document pickup and certification to global delivery—ensuring your documents are authenticated and universally recognized. Trust us to deliver flawless service with a 100% approval rate, making international document verification seamless and reliable.
Handy Links:
-
THE ABC'S OF APOSTILLE by the Hague Conference on Private International Law
-
UNITED STATES OF AUTHENTICATIONS
-
JUST LOOKING TO HAVE A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED AND DON'T NEED AN APOSTILLE?
What type of documents are you getting legalized? There are three primary types of documents that require authentications; private documents (individual or corporate), state/country-issued documents, and federally-issued documents.
Private Documents:
Private documents can be personal (e.g., a Power of Attorney) or corporate (e.g., Articles of Incorporation) and may be issued an authentication or apostille by a designated authority, generally the state Secretary of State's office.
Examples of commonly authenticated private documents include:
-
Affidavits
-
Agreements
-
Articles of Incorporation
-
Bylaws
-
Commercial Invoices
-
Copy of a U.S. Passport (Identification Page Only)
-
Deeds of Assignment
-
Diplomas
-
Home Study
-
Income Verification
-
Powers-of-Attorney
-
Single Status
-
Transcripts
-
Other business documents
State/Country-Issued Documents:
State/country-issued documents may be issued an authentication or apostille by a designated authority, generally the state Secretary of State's office. Examples of commonly apostilled and authenticated state/country-issued documents include:
-
Birth Certificates
-
Death Certificates
-
Divorce Decrees
-
Judgments in state court cases
-
Marriage Certificates
-
Probate Wills
Read more about Maryland-issued documents.
Federally-Issued Documents:
Federally issued documents are documents signed by:
-
American Consular Officer
-
Foreign Consul Diplomatic Official registered with the State Department Office of Protocol
-
Judge Advocate
-
Military Notary
-
U.S. Federal Officer
Documents issued by U.S. federal agencies are issued an authentication or apostille by the U.S. Department of State Authentication Office. Requirements, costs and address are below.
Examples of commonly authenticated federally-issued documents include:
-
U.S. Department of Agiculture
-
Animal/Plant Certification
-
Animal Health certifications
-
-
U.S. Department of Justice
-
FBI-Back ground check
-
U.S. FederalCourt Documents
-
U.S. Backrupsy Court DOcuments
-
-
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
-
Immigration Certifications
-
-
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
-
Certificate of Foreign Governments
-
Certificate of Pharmaceutical/Export
-
What Is An "Apostille" Or Certificate Of "Authentication" And Do I Need One In California?
If you are traveling overseas, or sending documents for use in a foreign country, you may be required to have the documents certified by the California Secretary of States Office. Depending on the country requesting the certificate, that certification may be called an "Apostille" or a certificate of "Authentication". An "apostille" or a certificate of "authentication" is issued to certify an California notary public, court clerk, or state document custodian to a foreign country. These certifications have been adopted internationally by the Hague Convention as a uniform way of verifying documents sent between countries. An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document (e.g., a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation). Apostilles can only be issued for documents issued in one country party to the Apostille Convention and that are to be used in another country which is also a party to the Convention. You will need an Apostille if all of the following apply: • The country where the document was issued is party to the Apostille Convention; and • The country in which the document is to be used is party to the Apostille Convention; and • The law of the country where the document was issued considers it to be a public document; and • The country in which the document is to be used requires an Apostille in order to recognise it as a foreign public document. An Apostille may never be used for the recognition of a document in the country where that document was issued – Apostilles are strictly for the use of public documents abroad! An Apostille may not be required if the laws, regulations, or practice in force in the country where the public document is to be used have abolished or simplified the requirement of an Apostille, or have exempted the document from any legalization requirement. Such implication or exemption may also result from a treaty or other agreement that is in force between the country where the public document is to be used and the country that issued it (e.g., some other Hague Conventions exempt documents from legalization or any analogous formality, including an Apostille). If you have any doubts, you should ask the intended recipient of your document whether an Apostille is necessary in your particular case.
In What Countries Does The Convention Apply?
The Apostille Convention only applies if both the country where the public document was issued and the country where the public document is to be used are parties to the Convention. A comprehensive and updated list of the countries where the Apostille Convention applies, or will soon apply, is available in the Apostille Section of the Hague Conference website – look for the link entitled Status table of the Apostille Convention. The Status table of the Apostille Convention has two parts: the first part lists countries that have joined the Apostille Convention and are also Members of the Hague Conference (i.e., the Organisation that developed the Convention); the second part lists countries that have joined the Apostille Convention but are not Members of the Hague Conference. In other words, a country does not need to be a Member of the Hague Conference to be party to the Apostille Convention. When checking the Status table of the Apostille Convention, always keep the following in mind: 1 Check if both the country where the public document was issued and the country where the document is to be used are listed in either part of the Status table. 2 It does not matter whether a country appears in the first or the second part of the Status table – the Convention applies equally to Members and nonMembers of the Organisation. 3 Check the date of entry into force of the Convention for both countries. Look for the column entitled ‘EIF’ – only after that date can the relevant country issue and receive Apostilles. 4 There are different ways for a country to become a party to the Convention (ratification, accession, succession or continuation), but these differences have no impact on how the Convention operates in a country. 5 If one of the countries has acceded to the Convention, check that the other country has not objected to that accession; to find out, see the column entitled ‘Type’ next to the acceding country’s name and check if there is a link entitled ‘A**’ – if so, click on it and check whether the other country is listed. 6 Check whether the Convention applies to the entire territory of a country or only to parts of it; to find out, see if there is a link in the columns entitled ‘Ext’ and ‘Res/D/N’ – if so, click on it and read the relevant information
Where Do I Get An Apostille?
Each country that is party to the Convention must designate one or several authorities that are entitled to issue Apostilles. These authorities are called Competent Authorities – only they are permitted to issue Apostilles. The list of all Competent Authorities designated by each country that has joined the Apostille Convention is available in the Apostille Section of the Hague Conference website. Some countries have designated only one Competent Authority. Other countries have designated several Competent Authorities either to ensure that there are Competent Authorities in different regions of the country or because different government entities are responsible for different kinds of public documents; in some federal systems, the national Government may be responsible for certain types of documents whereas a component state or local government may be responsible for others. If a country has designated various Competent Authorities, make sure you identify the relevant Competent Authority for your request. Most Apostilles are issued on the same day they are requested. The Apostille Section of the Hague Conference website provides full contact details of most Competent Authorities, including links to the websites of Competent Authorities where available.
What Do I Need To Know Before Requesting An Apostille?
Before you approach a Competent Authority about getting an Apostille, you should consider these questions: • Does the Apostille Convention apply in both the country that issued the public document and the country where I intend to use it? • If the country that issued the public document has designated several Competent Authorities, which one is the relevant Competent Authority to issue an Apostille for my public document? • Can I get an Apostille for my public document, i.e., is my document considered a public document under the law of the country where it was issued? • Can I request an Apostille by mail or must I appear in person? This is particularly relevant if you are living in a country other than the country that issued your public document. • If I have multiple documents, will I need multiple Apostilles? • Are there other documents (in addition to the public document) or additional information that I need to provide to get an Apostille (e.g., a document establishing my identity or a stamped envelope in the case of requests by mail)? • How much does an Apostille cost and what forms of payment can be used? • How long will it take to get my document Apostille?
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Document Apostille?
The Apostille Convention is silent on the cost of Apostilles. As a result, the practice among competent Authorities varies greatly. Many Competent Authorities do charge for Apostilles; when they do, the prices vary greatly. For practical information on the prices that individual countries charge, see the information available in the Apostille Section of the Hague Conference website.
Can I apostille a translation of a document?
Yes, you can apostille a translation of a document, but the translation must be notarized by a licensed notary in California. The original document may also need to be included with the notarized translation when submitting your apostille request.
How do I get a birth certificate apostilled in California?
To apostille a birth certificate in California, you need to obtain a certified copy from the county clerk or the California Department of Public Health. Once you have the certified copy, it can be submitted to the California Secretary of State’s office for the apostille process.
What Our Clients Say
Emily J., Client
"Our appointment took less than 15 minutes and all I had to do was bring my ID, answer a couple of questions, and sign. She’s the best in my opinion for Notary services.”