An Apostille is a type of certification or authentication that is used for documents being sent between countries that are parties to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization of Foreign Public Documents (often referred to as simply the “Hague Convention”). The primary purpose of an Apostille is to verify the authenticity of the signature, seal, or stamp on a document so that it can be accepted in another member country without the need for further authentication or legalization.

The Apostille or Certification does not validate the contents or the signers of the document. Apostilles only certify the authenticity of the signature of the official who signed the document, the capacity in which that official acted, and, when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp affixed to the document. The Apostille itself is a full-page embossed certificate that is permanently attached to your notarized document. Removing the staples that secure it in place is strictly prohibited.

The California Secretary of State authenticates signatures only on documents issued in the State of California signed by either a California notary public or the following California public officials and their deputies:

• County Clerks or Recorders
• Court Administrators of the Superior Court
• Executive Clerks of the Superior Court
• Officers whose authority is not limited to any particular county
• Judges or Executive Officers of the Superior Court
• State Officials

In general, official signatures must be in “wet ink” (written in pen). Photocopied signatures, faxed signatures, or stamped signatures are not acceptable for authentication purposes.

Here are the steps for successful Apostille processing 

1. Submit the Apostille Order Form and a scan of the document to Orozco Notary for a complementary evaluation. Documents may be sent by email.
2. Once the document has been assessed by Orozco Notary and approved for Apostille processing, I can pick up or you can mail the ORIGINAL document.
3. Processed orders will be available for return shipping or local pick-up within 2 business days of receipt (weekends and holidays excluded). If return shipping is requested, choose the method: USPS Priority Mail (2-3 days) for $10 or expedited overnight FedEx for $30.

California Apostille by Orozco Notary provides a 100% guarantee for its Apostille service. If, for any reason, an Apostille certificate cannot be obtained, the service will refund the full fee to the customer.

Orozco Notary cannot guarantee that the document destination will accept the Apostille, only that the Apostille request will be processed by the California Secretary of State according to their policies and the Hague Convention.

For California documents, you can anticipate receiving your paperwork in approximately 5 business days. My rates for Apostille:

• First Document: $149
• Each Additional Document*: $99 *Discounts are available for orders of five or more documents.

Vital Records such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates must be “certified copies” issued by the local county clerk registrar-recorder’s office where the certificate originated. Please note that birth certificates signed by a medical doctor (MD) cannot be Apostilled. If the birth certificate bears an MD’s signature, you will need to request a certified copy from the county clerk registrar-recorder’s office before proceeding with the Apostille request.