Can Someone Get an Apostille for Me?

Yes. You can hire an apostille service to handle the process for you. You send us the document you already have, we take it through the correct government office for that document, and we return the apostilled original to you by tracked courier. You do not need to visit a Secretary of State office or Washington, D.C. yourself.

Last reviewed: September 2026

What you send us

• Your original document. For a birth, marriage, divorce or death record, that means a recent certified copy issued by the government office, with its original signature and seal, not a photocopy.

• The country where you will use the document, because that decides whether an apostille is enough.

• Your deadline, so we can plan around it.

We handle the apostille step on documents you already have. We do not order certified copies from vital records offices, so if you do not have a certified copy yet, request it from the issuing office first and send it to us when it arrives.

What we handle for you

• Identifying which office issues the apostille. Documents issued by a U.S. state are apostilled by that state, generally through the Secretary of State. Documents issued by a federal agency, such as an FBI background check, are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.

• Preparing your document, submitting it to that office and tracking it.

• Checking whether your destination country accepts an apostille or requires a further step, such as legalization by its embassy or consulate.

• Returning your finished, apostilled document to you by tracked courier.

Do I need a notary first?

It depends on the document. Vital records issued by a government agency are normally not notarized. Documents you sign yourself, such as a power of attorney or an affidavit, must be notarized first, because the apostille verifies the notary's authority. If your document needs a notary, tell us. We work with remote online notaries, so you can often complete this step from home. Acceptance of remote notarizations varies by state and by destination country, and we will tell you if yours requires an in person notarization.

What if the document is from a state I do not live in?

That is fine. The apostille has to come from the state that issued the document, not the state where you live now, and we submit to that state on your behalf. We handle documents from every state. Requirements differ from state to state, so we check them for you. For example, Florida requires original certified copies with original signatures and seals.

How long does it take?

Timing depends on the issuing state, the type of document and how quickly you need it. Some state offices return documents in days, others take weeks, and federal apostilles take longer. Contact us with your document type and deadline and we will give you current timing. Pricing also depends on the state, the number of documents and the speed you need, so we quote each job individually.

Common mistakes that cause delays

• Sending a photocopy or a non certified copy instead of the original certified document.

• Going to the wrong office, such as the Secretary of State where you live instead of the state that issued the document, or a state office for a federal document.

• Not knowing whether the destination country accepts an apostille or requires legalization.

• Using a certified copy that is older than the receiving agency will accept.

How to start

To get started with American Apostille, email jared@apostillellc.com or message us on WhatsApp. Tell us the type of document, the state or agency that issued it, the country where you will use it, and your deadline.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Apostille requirements change and vary by state and by receiving country, so confirm current requirements with the office or agency that will receive your document.