What Must I Do If A Customer Wants An Apostille?

A customer has requested that I notarize a document which requires an apostille. As a Notary, is there anything special that I need to do? — M.K., California

No, there are no special procedures that the Notary needs to follow when a document requires an apostille. The document must be notarized by following California law.

An apostille is issued by the Secretary of State for a document that is destined for a country that is party to the Hague Apostille convention after the notarization has been completed . The purpose of the apostille is to validate the Notary’s commission with the state so that it may be received in the country of destination.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

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Related Articles:

Notary Basics: Understanding Apostilles And Authentication Certificates

10 Comments

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Artur

13 Jan 2020

Sometime you you need to expand more in your answers. In this case, so how does it get taken care of? Is the customer supposed to go to some office of get the apostile? Can the notary do it for them for a fee? If the notary should direct them, to what office do they need to go?

National Notary Association

14 Jan 2020

Hello. It is normally the responsibility of the person who needs the apostille to submit a request to the appropriate agency. However, some businesses offer to submit apostille requests on behalf of customers for a fee, but please note this is not an official notarial act and it is not the Notary's responsibility to obtain an apostille for a signer. The office that issues apostilles varies depending on the state in question.

Jody Bode

How is the apostille obtained from the CA Secretary of State? Procedure steps please. That is the main question?

Hello. Apostille requests may be submitted by mail only to the CA Secretary of State's Sacramento office or in person at either the Sacramento or the Los Angeles office. No appointments are required. Persons requesting authentication may mail or present in person the original notarized document, the appropriate fee, and a letter indicating the country of destination. For mail-in requests, an addressed return envelope (no postage required) must be included. If a mail-tracking service is used, a pre-paid airbill must be provided. Processing takes approximately six to eight business days after receipt of the request in the Sacramento office. Please see here for more details: https://www.sos.ca.gov/notary/request-apostille/

Shae

14 Aug 2020

Are there refresher courses available?

17 Aug 2020

Hi Shae. To help us answer your question, can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in, and what type of refresher courses you are interested in?

Hope

26 Jan 2021

Hello, How is the apostille obtained from the Maryland Secretary of State? Procedure steps please. Thank you

After securing an authenticating certificate from a circuit court clerk, mail or present in person the original notarized document(s), along with the appropriate fee. In a cover letter, indicate the country the document(s) will be sent to, and include a daytime telephone number or email address for questions, as well as a stamped, addressed return envelope or a prepaid airbill for expedited mail, such as with FedEx. A cover letter form may be printed out from the Secretary of State’s website (“Certifications”). The address for the Maryland Secretary of State's office is: Office of Secretary of State 16 Francis St. Wineland Building, 1st Floor Annapolis, MD 21401 Telephone: 1-410-974-5521

Hope Pryor

28 Jan 2021

Hello, What are the specific documents that I will use in the Apostille process? Do you have a training that shows the process step by step? I live in Maryland and about 15 minutes from DC. I would like to add this service to my notary business. I know that the paperwork has to be notarized and then taken to the SOS. But I feel there is a step missing? Thank you

29 Jan 2021

Hello. It is important to understand that Notaries do not issue apostilles--only the appropriate state government agency may do so. For more information about the apostille process and the difference between issuing an apostille and courier services, please see this article: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2015/07/notary-basics-understanding-apostilles

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