Any private document · apostilled by the notary's state
Notarized document apostille
A notarized document (affidavit, consent letter, passport copy, contract) is apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where the notary is commissioned. The notarization must be complete and the right type; an incomplete certificate is the number one reason these come back. $99 standard, plus the state fee and shipping.
What these documents are
Private documents: things written or signed by a person or a company rather than issued by a government office. Because no government official signed them, the Secretary of State has nothing to verify until a notary does. The notary certifies your signature (an acknowledgment) or your oath (a jurat), and the notary's signature and seal are what get apostilled.
The ones we see most:
- Single-status or no-impediment affidavit, to marry abroad.
- Minor travel consent letter, so a child can travel or live abroad with one parent or a relative.
- Certified copy of a passport or driver's license, for foreign banks, property purchases, and residency applications.
- Affidavit of support, invitation letter, or sponsorship letter, for visas.
- Employment verification, salary letter, or reference letter, for work visas and residency.
- Medical letter or vaccination statement, for adoption, residency, or school.
- Contracts, agreements, and declarations of every kind.
- Wills and trust documents, for foreign probate.
Does it need notarization first?
Yes, by definition. And the notarization has to be complete: state and county, date, the notary's signature and printed name, commission expiration, and the seal or stamp. The correct type of certificate matters too; a sworn statement needs a jurat ("subscribed and sworn before me"), not an acknowledgment. We check all of this before submitting.
State or federal?
State: the notary's state of commission. Not yours, not the recipient's.
What you need to provide
- The original notarized document. Not a scan.
- A complete notarial certificate.
- If the foreign party gave you a specific form or wording, use that. Many countries have a preferred single-status or consent form.
- The destination country and whether translation is required. Documents going to Spanish-, Italian-, French-, or Portuguese-speaking countries usually are.
What happens
- Quote request with a photo of the signed document and notary block, plus the destination.
- We check the notarization. If it is defective we tell you now.
- You mail the original, tracked.
- We submit to the notary's state. Apostille attached, returned, shipped.
Common mistakes
- Incomplete notary block. The number one cause of rejection across every document type.
- Wrong certificate type. An affidavit with an acknowledgment instead of a jurat.
- The notary's commission expired between signing and submission.
- A notary certifying something the state does not allow, such as a copy of a birth certificate.
- Sending it to the state where you live instead of the notary's state.
How to start
Request a quote with the document type, the notary's state, and the destination. If you are in the Wichita area and have not signed yet, APB Notary & Apostille can notarize it and pass it to us the same day.
Price: $99 standard · $199 rush · $299 expedited, per document. State fee and shipping separate.
Get your exact price, all fees included
Two business hours to a written total. Nothing to pay and nothing to mail until you have it.
Start My ApostilleFrequently asked questions
Can any document be notarized and then apostilled?
Almost. A notary can notarize your signature on nearly any private document, and that notarization can then be apostilled. The exceptions are documents that already carry a government certification (birth certificates, court records, FBI checks), which must not be notarized, and a few things a notary is not permitted to certify (in some states, copies of vital records or public records).
What is a single-status affidavit?
A sworn statement that you are not currently married, required by many countries (Mexico, Italy, Spain, the Philippines, Colombia, and others) before you can marry there. You sign it before a notary; the notary's state apostilles it. Some countries have a specific form; check with the civil registry where you plan to marry.
Can a notary certify a copy of my passport?
In most states, yes, as a copy certification or via an affidavit you sign stating the copy is true. That notarized copy can then be apostilled. Foreign banks and property registries often want exactly this. A few states do not allow notaries to certify copies; we tell you if yours is one and suggest the affidavit route.
Which state apostilles it?
The state where the notary is commissioned. Always.