Sending a document overseas? Most people have never heard the word 'apostille' until someone asks for one. That's where I come in.
I'm Dawn, owner of My Document Office. I help clients in all 50 states get documents apostilled or authenticated correctly the first time, so there's no guessing which office to send it to and no rejected paperwork.
An apostille is an official certificate that confirms a document is genuine, so another country will accept it. Think of it as a passport stamp for your paperwork.
If your document is headed to a country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, that country will expect an apostille. Apostilles are issued by the state where the document was issued or notarized, or by the U.S. Department of State for federal documents.
If the country is not a Hague member, you'll need an authentication instead. That usually means extra steps, including legalization at that country's embassy or consulate. Figuring out which one you need is the first thing I do for every new client.
What is the document, and which state issued it?
Is it already notarized? If so, where and when?
Which country will the document be used in?
Will you need a certified translation?
Your answers tell me whether you need an apostille or an authentication, which office handles it, and whether the notarization will pass review.
Every state has its own apostille office, forms, fees, and quirks. I keep track of them so you don't have to.
Upload it securely or reach out, and I'll review it for free. I'll confirm exactly what it needs before anything is filed.
Most rejections happen because of notarization problems, such as:
A missing or incorrect notary stamp or seal.
Missing or incorrect initials.
Incomplete dates.
A notarization or issue date more than 12 months old.
Some of these can be corrected by the original notary. Others require a fresh, in-person notarization on a clean original. I'll tell you which applies to your document, and if it hasn't been notarized yet, I'll tell you exactly what to ask your notary for.
I check that everything meets the issuing office's requirements, coordinate any county-level certification, and file with the correct Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State.
Your document goes where it needs to go. It's shipped back to you with tracking, or sent directly to the embassy or consulate when needed.
A rejected apostille can cost weeks. My job is to catch problems before your document ever reaches a government office. With 4,700+ notarizations and 5+ years of experience, that attention to detail is what I bring to every request.
We process personal, educational, business, and legal documents nationwide.
Birth Certificate
(Certified Copy)
Diploma
Articles of Incorporation
Power of Attorney
Marriage Certificate
(Certified Copy)
Transcript
Certificate of Good Standing
Court Documents
Death Certificate
(Certified Copy)
Degree
Corporate Documents
Affidavits
Divorce Decree
Enrollment Verification
Operating Agreement
Adoption Records
FBI Background Check
Teaching Certificate
Commercial Invoices
Notarized Documents
Some countries and agencies require documents in their official language. If yours does, just let me know when you submit your request, and I'll arrange a certified translation in any of 150 languages through our professional translation partner.
Clients often need both for visas, residency and citizenship applications, schooling abroad, and international business.
Translations are completed by our translation partner.
My Document Office may earn a commission on translation
orders, at no extra cost to you.
These translations are accepted by:
What's included:
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates a public official's signature, such as a notary's, so a document will be recognized in another country without further legalization. It applies to countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
If your destination country is a Hague Convention member, your document needs an apostille. If it isn't, it needs an authentication, which usually takes longer and involves extra embassy or consulate steps.
The state that issued it, or the state where the notary who notarized it is commissioned. Federal documents, like FBI background checks, are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.
Yes. Where you live doesn't matter. I file with whichever office has authority over your document, anywhere in the U.S.
No. Vital records like birth and marriage certificates must be certified copies from the issuing agency. Other documents need an original notarization or an official certification.
Sometimes. Depending on the state and the error, the original notary may be able to correct it, often by completing a new certificate. Offices generally reject certificates with cross-outs, white-out, or handwritten changes, though. If the original notary can't make the fix, the document will need a new notarization. Send me a copy and I'll tell you your options before you do anything.
Birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and transcripts, powers of attorney, background checks, corporate documents, and court records are the most common. If you're not sure about yours, just ask.
It depends on the type of apostille or authentication and on current government processing times. Contact me for current estimates.
Reach out and tell me about your document. I'll walk you through exactly what's needed before you commit to any service.
That's decided by the country or agency receiving your document, so check their requirements. If they need a translation, tell me and I'll arrange a certified translation through our translation partner.
Wherever you are, and whichever state your document came from, I'll handle it personally from start to finish. And if your document needs something I don't offer, I'll tell you plainly and help you find the right next step.
I take every precaution to make sure documents are properly prepared and filed according to the issuing office's requirements at the time of service. However, I'm not responsible for loss, damage, or delays once documents are in the hands of a mail carrier, courier, or government office, embassy, or consulate. Acceptance of an apostilled or authenticated document is always up to the receiving country or agency. Using this service means you acknowledge these terms.
I am not an attorney licensed to practice law, and I may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice.
We file apostilles for documents notarized in any state. Documents notarized through our remote online notarization service cannot be apostilled. Apostille-bound documents need a traditional, in-person notarization.
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