How to apostille a document issued in California?
If your document is issued in the state of California and will be used abroad, an Apostille is required. The Apostille may be affixed to documents bearing the official signature and seal of a currently commissioned California notary public or the current California State Registrar.
Click here to see what should be included in a properly and correctly notarized document.
In California, your original document should be signed and stamped by a local notary public if it’s non-recordable, or certified by the public official (the county/court clerk or registrar) if it’s recordable. Then the Apostille is processed by the California Secretary of State’s Office.
What documents can be apostilled in California?
Any public, private, or corporate documents issued in California can be apostilled. These documents include, but not limited to:
Birth Certificates
Death Certificates
Marriage Certificates
Divorce Certificates
Court Documents
State or Local Background Checks
Petition for Name Change
Copy of Driver’s License
Copy of Passport
Single Status Affidavit
Affidavit of One and the Same
Power of Attorney
Diplomas and Transcripts
Proof of Income
Employment Verification Letter
Bank Statement
Tax Returns
Articles of Incorporation/Articles of Organization
Corporate Amendments
Company’s Annual Report/Statement of Information
Bylaws/Operating Agreements
Good Standing Certificate
Business License
Meeting Minutes
Board Resolutions
Corporate Stock Ledger
Contracts and Agreements
How to obtain vital records in California?
To get an apostille for vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events that occurred within the state of California, you must first order a certified copy of the vital record. The fastest and easiest way is to order it online at VitalCheck, which is authorized by the government to provide vital records for individuals in America.
What if my documents are federally issued?
Federal documents (like FBI Background Checks, Certificate of Naturalization, and Trademarks) are not authenticated at the state level. In this case, the service you’ll need is the Apostille of the U.S. Department of State.
Special guidelines for documents in California
For birth and death certificates, the California Secretary of State can issue an Apostille for the signatures of:
county clerks and their deputies,
county recorders and their deputies, and
the State Registrar (California Department of Public Health).
If your birth or death certificate was issued by a city- or county-level agency and has the signature of a Health Officer or County Registrar (e.g. Local Registrar, Registrar of Vital Records), prior to ordering our service for apostille, one of the following will be required:
have that birth or death certificate certified by the county clerk’s office in the county in which it was issued, or
obtain a certified copy of that birth or death certificate from the county recorder or State of California Department of Public Health.
The signature, name, and title of the public official can be found at the bottom of a birth or death certificate.
What’s the apostille process, and what should I provide?
1. Order the Apostille service online. If you prefer to pay by check, make it payable to American Notary Service Center Inc. Fees and processing time can be found here.
2. Mail your documents to our office for processing.
Mailing Address:
American Notary Service Center
7512 Diplomat Drive, Suite 101,
Manassas, VA 20109Besides California, we can also apostille documents issued from other states, D.C., or the U.S. Federal agencies. The Apostille process can be complicated, time-consuming, and distracting that requires expertise and experience. So just leave it to us! Our experts can provide you with a full range of fast services that allow you to save time and focus on your own careers and key areas.
American Notary Service Center Inc. provides fair, fast, confidential, and professional document notarization and certification services for our clients. We also provide various assistance services to small businesses led by socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Our service helps small businesses obtain federal government contracts, gain a foothold in the market, and boost their sales. For more information, please visit our website at www.usnotarycenter.com, and contact us by calling 202-599-0777 or by email at info@usnotarycenter.com.