Orange County Apostille Services
Need a document accepted in another country? Ortiz Mobile Notary helps you with notarization, submission to the California Secretary of State, and return of your document with the apostille attached.
An official certificate for documents used outside the U.S.
An apostille is a certificate issued by the California Secretary of State. It confirms that the signature of the public official on your document, such as a notary public or county clerk, is genuine, so the document can be accepted in another country.
An apostille confirms the signature and seal on the document. It does not verify what the document says.
Documents That Often Need One
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
- College transcripts
- Powers of attorney
- Affidavits and sworn statements
- Business and corporate documents
- Travel consent letters for minors
- Other notarized documents for use abroad
A simple process, handled for you.
We take care of the details so you don't have to figure out the state process on your own.
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Tell us about your document
Call, text, or email with the document type and the country where it will be used.
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Notarization
If your document needs to be notarized first, we meet you at your home, office, or another convenient location.
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Submission
We submit your document to the California Secretary of State with the required cover sheet and fees.
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Return
Your document is returned to you with the apostille attached, ready to send abroad.
Apostille questions, answered.
Can I use a photocopy?
No. The Secretary of State requires an original document signed by a California public official, or an original notarized or certified document. Photocopies are not accepted.
What does the state charge?
The California Secretary of State charges $20 per apostille. In person requests also include a $6 special handling fee for each different public official's signature. Contact us for a quote that includes our service.
My birth certificate was issued by a county. Does that matter?
It can. The state can apostille birth and death certificates signed by a county clerk, a county recorder, or the State Registrar. If yours is signed by a local health officer or local registrar, you may need a new certified copy first. Send us a photo of the bottom of the certificate and we can help you check.
Can my document be in another language?
Yes. As long as the notarization is in English, the rest of the document can be in any language.
Do I need an apostille for a U.S. territory?
No. California does not issue apostilles for documents used in Puerto Rico, Guam, or other U.S. territories. A notarized document is generally enough there.
What about federal documents, like an FBI background check?
Documents issued by a federal agency are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, not the State of California. Give us a call and we can point you in the right direction.
Can someone else request the apostille for me?
Yes. Anyone can request an apostille on someone else's behalf, which is how we are able to handle the submission for you.
State requirements and fees are from the California Secretary of State and may change. We are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice.
Ready to get your apostille started?
Call or text David with your document type and destination country. Appointments are available seven days a week throughout Orange County.