Apostille Services Auburn CA: How to Get Your Documents Authenticated with an Apostille
American River Notary & Apostille is your Auburn & Placer County Certified Apostille Agent and Notary Public who helps reduce the processing time and take the guesswork out of the apostille process, including notarizing documents, obtaining state or federal authentications, working with translation specialists to translate documents for immigration services, official authorities, embassies and submitting paperwork to a competent State or Federal authority.
American River Notary & Apostille BENEFITS:
- Free Local Pickup and Delivery in Auburn CA, Roseville CA and Sacramento CA
- Experienced with all facets of apostille authentication services
- Expedited In-Person apostille process with the Secretary of State in Sacramento, California
- Free Notarizations with Apostille services
- Fast service Apostilles processed daily at the Secretary of State’s office
- Over 10 years in business, operating since 2012
- Local services available to Colfax, Meadow Vista, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Loomis, Lincoln, Rocklin, Newcastle, Orangevale, and Citrus Heights
- Experienced with Apostilles for Adoptions, FBI Backgrounds, Criminal Record Check, Transcripts, Business Corporation fillings, Vital records, Power of Attorney, Single Status Affidavits, U.S. Passports, and more!
Let our experts help you focus on more important aspects of your overseas travel by calling (530) 354-2400 to discuss the requirements for your document authentication.
An apostille, meaning “certification” in French, is a seal that legitimizes legal documents for use outside the United States or country of origin. This is commonly required when you go overseas to conduct business, purchase property, marriage, or adopt a child.
Why you might need an apostille
In some cases, documents to be used overseas may require an apostille before a foreign country will recognize its authenticity and authority. Many but not all countries accept an apostille from the Secretary of State’s office where the document originated.
When a state issues an apostille and authentication, it is to verify the notary public is authorized to provide the notarization or copy certification and all state notarial laws have been followed.
Overseas travel or moving
When we travel internationally, a United States passport is more than enough to travel to and from a foreign country. But there are times when you will need to request an apostille for legal, personal, or public documents to travel, such as studying abroad, relocating to a new country, applying for a foreign visa, adopting a child from a different country, or getting married internationally.
Overseas business
Many established companies decide at some point they want to bring their products or services to the global market. This can be opening an international office, exporting goods, or signing a partnership with foreign partners. Each country has its own set of apostille document requirements needed to run a legal business, such as a passport, Certification of Incorporation, Certification of Origin, Corporate Resolution, or other important financial documents.
Overseas residential or commercial property
Whether it’s a personal home, timeshare, or property investment, overseas property ownership requires specific documents to have an apostille to purchase and own the property, such as a birth certificate, passport, proof of income, and power of attorney. If the property owner passes away, an apostille may be required on the death certificate, last will and testament, and probate before the country will allow any legal actions.
Documents that commonly need an apostille
Technically, any notarized document or Vital records can be processed for an apostille, but not all require one. Here are examples of the most common documents that do.
Birth Certificates and other Vital Records
Vital records are public legal documents for an individual’s life events recorded by the state and include at least the individual’s full name, the event, the date of the event, and the location. The most common public legal documents are:
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage Certificates
- Marriage Licenses
- Divorce Certificates
- Divorce Decrees
- Death Certificates
- Business License
- Articles of Incorporation
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Foreign Certificate of Registration
Power of Attorney and other private legal documents
The most common private legal documents are:
- Adoption dossier
- Affidavits
- School diplomas & transcripts
- Power of attorney
- Last Will & Testament
- Insurance Certificates
- Certificate of Status
- Registered Trademarks
- U.S. Patent
- Stock Certificates
- Commercial Invoices
- Business Tax returns
Passports and driver’s licenses
In a number of states, passports and driver’s licenses may be copy certified by a commissioned California Notary. The common uses for a passport or driver’s license apostille:
- Opening a bank account in a different country
- Purchasing foreign property
- Conducting international business
- Driving a car or obtaining a foreign driver’s license
What are the apostille requirements?
Apostille requirements vary by state, country of destination, and document type.
A detailed apostille application process might be:
- Obtain an original or copy of the document
- Visit the County Recorder Office to request certified copies
- Visit the County Clerk’s Office to request certified copies
- Visit a Notary Public in the same state you are applying for the apostille
- Complete the state Apostille application form
- Request Translation service for the document; some foreign countries may request an apostille
- Present the original, certified, or notarized document with applicable fees to the Secretary of State or competent authority
- Present the original, certified, or notarized document with applicable fees to the
U.S.D.S. federal government for final certification and/or U.S. Embassy if required
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Looking for more information? See the following common questions about an apostille.
Which countries accept an Apostille?
Legal document certification used to be highly complex, time-consuming and varied greatly from country to country, but in 1961 the Hague Convention Treaty was signed to streamline the process and make it easier to follow. Countries that do not participate in the convention require documents to be authenticated according to their specific rules and regulations.
Currently, 91 members participate in the Hague Convention. Some of these countries are:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Ukraine
- Turkey
- Thailand
- Sweden
- France
- Israel
- India
- Iceland
- Philippines
- Mexico
- China
- Brazil
- Argentina
For a complete, up-to-date list of all participating countries, go to the HCCH Members web page.
How long does it take to obtain an apostille or certification?
The California Secretary of State’s office processes document requests within 14-30 days but doesn’t guarantee you’ll hear back within (30 days). Expedited services are available to speed up the turnaround time of the apostille processing is available. United States Department of State and Embassy authentications can take longer due to processing times. You can discuss any urgent requests with your agent to get a better estimate of what to expect.
How much do apostille services cost?
The fees for apostille services vary based on how many documents you have, where the document originated from, what state(s), authenticating agency they must go to for processing, and the level of urgency for processing your apostille request. Therefore, it is best to contact us to get a quote for apostille services for your document request. Get a quote today by filling out the apostille services request form here. The fees for apostille services are typically based on how many documents you have, what state(s) or authenticating agency they must go to for processing, and the level of urgency for processing your apostille request. It is best to contact us to get a quote for apostille services, get a quote today by filling out the apostille services request
What are the differences between a notarized, apostille, and authenticated document?
The difference between a notarized document, an apostille, and an authenticated document is the certificate and legalization requirements, who certifies it, and the country of destination. Whether the document requires an apostille or authentication depends entirely on which country will receive the document. An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document for use in another country.
An Apostille certifies:
- The authenticity of the signature of the public official who signed the document
- The Capacity in which that public official acted
- The identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears, e.g., a notary public seal
Apostille document
The California Secretary of State provides an Apostille to authenticate California public officials’ signatures on documents to be used outside of the United States of America. Processed by the Secretary of State or United States Department of State, an Apostille is a certificate attached to a document with notarial language or a vital record to authenticate the signature on the document. Vital Record documents, such as Birth Certificates, are not notarized but authenticated by the Secretary of State.
Authenticated document
Document authentication is not the same as an apostille, but they are both meant to certify foreign public documents for use in another country. Therefore, authentication is unique to countries that don’t participate in the 1961 Hague Convention. Because of this, the process is country-specific and can be much more complicated and time-consuming.