LINCOLN, CA Get Your Documents Authenticated with Our Apostille Services
Getting a Document authenticated with an apostille.
Cari Southard, Notary Public is your Lincoln & Placer County Notary Public and Apostille expert 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 into the target language, and submitting paperwork to a competent State or Federal authority.
BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH CARI SOUTHARD, NOTARY PUBLIC:
Local Pickup and Delivery available in the Greater Sacramento Area, including Lincoln and Placer County
Experienced with all facets of authentication services
Expedited In-Person Apostille processed with the Secretary of State in Sacramento, California
Documents handled with the utmost care and professionalism including hand delivery of your documents directly to the Secretary of States office in Sacramento, California.
Local to Lincoln, Rocklin, Roseville, Wheatland, Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle, Granite Bay in Placer County and surrounding areas.
California Commissioned Notary Public since 2003
Let our experts help you focus on more important aspects of your overseas travel by calling 916-581-5122 to discuss the requirements for your document authentication.
An apostille, meaning “certification” in French, is a certificate that authenticates the signatures of a public official on a document for use in another country. This is commonly required when you go overseas to conduct business, buy property, get married, 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 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 certification and that he/she has done so under state laws.
Overseas travel or moving
Most of the time when we travel internationally, a United State’s 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 whether or not 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 documents 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 event date, and the event 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
Registered Trademarks
U.S. Pattens
Stock Certificates
Commercial invoices
Tax returns
Passports and driver’s licenses
In a number of states, passports and driver's licenses may be copy certified by a commissioned Notary. Please note: The Secretary of State in California does not authorize California Notary Public to certify copies of any documents except a Power of Attorney. 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, 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 services for document, some foreign countries may require 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 apostilles.
Which countries recognize apostilles?
Legal document certification used to be extremely 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 (adoptions)
Sweden
Italy
Israel
India
Iceland
Philippines
Mexico (weddings)
China (adoptions)
Brazil
Argentina
For a complete, up-to-date list of all participating countries, go to the HCCH Members webpage.
How long does it take to obtain an apostille or certification?
The State of California Secretary of State's office processes document requests daily, but that doesn’t mean you’ll hear back within 24 hours. Their turn-around time varies, but averages between 2 to 4 weeks. Expedited services are available to speed up the overall turnaround time of the apostille processing. United States Department of State's or 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 are typically based on how many documents you have and 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 for your document request. Get a quote today by contacting us!
What are the differences between a notarized, apostille, and authenticated document?
The difference between a notarized, apostille, and authenticated document is the application requirements, who certifies it, and where it will be used. Whether the document requires an apostille or authentication depends completely on which country will be receiving 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, and
when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears, e.g. a notary public seal.
Notarized Document
A document is notarized by a Public Notary – a public official and impartial witness who verifies the persons signing the document and adds a notary stamp afterward. In most states notaries are registered at the state level, which is why an apostille must be requested in the same state issued by the notary.
Apostille Document
An apostille is an international certification guarantee, requires a notarial certificate (if the document is signed), and is certified as an authentic notarization by the Secretary of State or US Department of State. 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 documents for legal use in another country. 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.
Call to get your documents Apostille today! 916-581-5122