Professional apostille service for documents used internationally under the Hague Convention
Birth Certificates • Marriage Licenses • Diplomas • Powers of Attorney • Business Documents
Serving all of Pennsylvania • Mobile service • Expert guidance through the process
An apostille is an official certification that authenticates documents for use in foreign countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961. It's essentially an international notarization that verifies the signature and seal of the notary public or government official who certified the original document.
Think of it as a "notarization of the notarization"—the apostille proves to foreign governments that your notarized document is legitimate and was executed by an authorized Pennsylvania notary. Without an apostille, many countries will not accept U.S. documents, even if they're notarized.
Timeline: Apostille processing typically takes 7-14 business days through PA Department of State. Expedited service available for additional fee.
Only countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961 accept apostilles (currently 120+ countries including most of Europe, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and many others). Countries NOT in the Hague Convention (like Canada, China, UAE) require different authentication processes called embassy legalization. I can guide you on which process your destination country requires.
I notarize the document, and then you (or your attorney/representative) send it to the PA Department of State in Harrisburg for the apostille. I provide detailed instructions, the correct mailing address, required forms, and fee information. Some clients use apostille courier services that handle the Harrisburg submission for a fee.
The PA Department of State charges $20 per document for apostille certification. My notarization fee is separate (zone-based: $45-$65 depending on location, plus $5 per additional document). If you use a courier service to expedite the Harrisburg process, they charge additional fees ($50-$150 typically).
It depends on the document. For vital records (birth/marriage certificates), you usually need a certified copy from the issuing government office—photocopies won't work. For personal documents like diplomas or affidavits, I can notarize a photocopy as a "true copy" and that notarization can be apostilled. I'll review your specific situation and advise on the proper process.
Professional notarization and apostille guidance for international document authentication.
Serving all of Pennsylvania • Expert apostille guidance • Mobile notary service
