CALIFORNIA
EXPRESS APOSTILLE

 
 

 

What is an Apostille?

 

Apostille is a French word which literally means "to certify."  The term is used to refer to the legalization of a document for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalization separately, of each single nation for Foreign Public Documents.  All countries which adhere to the treaty have agreed to recognize the legalized documents from the locality from which it is being submitted.

 

In most circumstances, an Apostille is needed for any legal transactions wherein a document from one county must be presented in an another, as part of the legal process.  Often, these involve business transactions but are regularly becoming more common for documents related to property dealings and estates of deceased individuals with assets overseas.  Some of the most common documents requiring an Apostille are Power of Attorneys, Official Records (i.e. birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc), and passports.  The requirement of an Apostille is a benefit to you in that you are verified as the signer of the document by state certified Notary Public thus deterring fraud or you being defrauded.

 

Why Should I Choose Your Service?

 

California Express Apostille has been assisting clients with the process of obtaining Apostilles since 2005.  We have processed literally thousands of documents for clients over the years.  We also guarantee the best rates and fastest service to our clients compared to our competitors with a 100% money back guarantee.

 

Are My Documents Safe to Mail In?

 

We would highly suggest using USPS Certified Mail, FedEx or UPS to submit your documents as you will be able to track your package in case it gets lost.  If mailed regular mail and it gets lost, there is no way to retrieve it back.

 

Is Your Online Order Form Safe in Protecting My Information?

 

Yes, our online order for is SSL encrypted to protect your information so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will not be shared with any other parties.

 

What Documents Can You Obtain an Apostille For?

 

We can process documents from all 50 States. These include Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce documents, as well as any other documents which have been notarized by a Notary Public. The various offices of the Secretary of State will only authenticate signatures on documents issued in the State or signed by a licensed notary public or the following 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

• Executive Officers of the Superior Court

• Judges of the Superior Court

• State Officials

With vital records such as Birth, Death or Marriage Certificates, they have to be Certified Copies issued by the appropriate county clerks office and cannot be more than 15 years old in order for an Apostille to be issued. Certified Birth or Death Records issued by any County Department of Public Health cannot be Apostilled. You must obtain a new Certified Certificate from the appropriate County Clerk office, unless obtained through the State of California Department of Public Health.

 

How Long Does it Take to Process the Apostille?

 

Standard processing orders are returned within 2-4 business days of receipt (excluding weekends and holidays). Express processing orders are returned within one business day, guaranteed, of receipt (excluding weekends and holidays).

 

Are "Information Only" Certified Copies of Vital Records acceptable for Apostille certification?

 

Yes, even if the California Vital Record is an 'Informational Copy" only, it may still be submitted for an Apostille if it is an original issued by the appropriate county clerk or registrar.

 

Are Photocopies of Notarized Documents Accepted by the Secretary of State for Apostille?

 

Photocopies are not acceptable.  The document must be an original issued by either the appropriate State or County office or must have an original notarization certificate attached by a licensed Notary Public.

 

How Long is an Apostille Valid For?

 

There is no expiration on an Apostille issued by the State of California (other states may vary) however, all nations have their own rules.  You may inquire about this with the appropriate consular service.

 

Do you ship documents overseas?

 

Yes, we can ship your documents overseas for you however, you would be responsible for the fees associated with this as our rates only include shipping within the United States only.

 

Can You Order Copies of Vital Records For Us Such as Birth Certificates So We Can Get the Apostille?

 

Yes, we can obtain the Certified Birth or Death records for an additional fee.  We can also obtain official corporate documents from the Secretary of State office such as Statement of Information or Articles of Incorporation. Please call (888) 569-5995 for a price quote. 

 

 

Countries Which Recognize the Apostille

 

• Albania

• Andorra

• Antigua and Barbuda

• Argentina

• Armenia

• Australia

• Austria

• Azerbaijan

• Bahamas

• Barbados

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Belize

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Botswana

• Brazil

• Brunei

• Bulgaria

• China (Mainland / P.R.C.)

• China (Hong Kong)

• China (Macau)

• Columbia

• Cook Islands

• Costa Rica

• Croatia

• Cyprus

• Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Dominica

• Dominican Republic

• Ecuador

• El Salvador

• Estonia

• Fiji

• Finland 

• France

• Georgia

• Germany 

• Greece

• Grenada

• Guatemala

• Honduras

• Hungary

• Iceland

• India

• Indonesia

• Ireland

• Israel

• Italy

• Japan

• Kazakhstan

• Latvia

• Lesotho

• Liberia

• Lichtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Macedonia

• Malta 

• Malawi

• Marshall Islands

• Mauritius

• Mexico

• Moldova

• Monaco

• Montenegro

• Namibia

• Netherlands

• New Zealand

• Niue

• Norway

• Oman

• Panama

• Peru

• Philippines

• Poland

• Portugal

• Romania

• Russian Federation

• Saudi Arabia

• St. Kitts and Nevis

• Saint Lucia

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• Samoa

• San Marino

• Sao Tome and Principe

• Saudi Arabia

• Serbia

• Seychelles

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• South Africa

• South Korea

• Spain

• Suriname

• Swaziland

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Tonga

• Trinidad and Tobago

• Turkey

• Ukraine

• United Kingdom (Great Britain)

• Uruguay

• Vanuatu

• Venezuela