We Will Help You Through the Process to Get Your Apostille

When sending important documents abroad for legal, academic, or business purposes, it’s critical to make sure they’re properly authenticated. That’s where Orange County Apostille comes in. We specialize in guiding individuals, families, businesses, and law firms through the often confusing apostille process—quickly, professionally, and reliably.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through what an apostille is, why you need one, and how our team can make the process seamless from start to finish.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a certificate issued by a government authority that authenticates the origin of a public document. The apostille confirms that a document was signed by a notary public, a state official, or a federal agency, and that the document is legally valid for international use.

This process stems from the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, an international treaty that simplifies the authentication process of documents to be used across borders.

Common Documents That Require Apostilles

Birth certificates
Marriage certificates
Death certificates
Divorce decrees
FBI background checks
Power of attorney documents
Adoption paperwork
Diplomas and transcripts
Business incorporation papers
Social Security Administration letters

Why You Need an Apostille

If you’re sending any document abroad—whether for immigration, marriage, education, real estate, or legal representation—you’ll likely need an apostille. Without this authentication, your document may not be accepted by foreign authorities.

Use Cases for Apostilles

Studying abroad: Universities often require notarized and apostilled diplomas and transcripts.
Getting married overseas: Some countries require an apostilled birth certificate or single status affidavit.
Adopting internationally: Adoption agencies need apostilled medical records, criminal background checks, and financial statements.
Opening a business abroad: Apostilled certificates of incorporation or company bylaws are often needed.
Immigration filings: Foreign governments frequently require apostilled criminal background checks and family documents.

The Apostille Process: What You Need to Know

Getting an apostille can be complex—especially if you’ve never done it before. Fortunately, Orange County Apostille is here to help.

Let’s break down the process by document type and level of authentication:

Step 1: Identify Your Document Type

There are two main categories:

State-issued documents – such as birth, marriage, and death certificates; notarized powers of attorney.
Federal documents – such as FBI background checks or documents from the Social Security Administration.

Step 2: Determine the Jurisdiction

State documents must be authenticated by the California Secretary of State.
Federal documents must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

Our team determines exactly which agency is responsible and submits your documents to the correct place.

Step 3: Notarization (If Needed)

Some documents—such as powers of attorney, letters of consent, or business agreements—must first be notarized. Our licensed notaries can help you with that on the same day.

Orange County Apostille offers full-service mobile notarization. We can meet you at your home, office, hospital, or anywhere in Orange County.

Step 4: Submit for Apostille

Once your documents are ready, we’ll either:

Deliver them in person to the California Secretary of State office for same- or next-day service, or
Send them to our Washington, D.C. office to expedite federal apostilles.

Step 5: We Return Your Documents

After authentication, we return your completed documents to you via:

In-person pickup
Courier drop-off
USPS Priority Mail or FedEx

Why Choose Orange County Apostille?

We’re more than just a courier—we are a trusted partner guiding you through every step. Our clients include families, attorneys, CPAs, HR professionals, adoption agencies, students, and international companies.

Here’s what sets us apart:

Same-day service available
Bilingual staff for Spanish-speaking clients
Office in Washington, D.C. for expedited federal apostilles
Licensed notaries available 7 days a week
Document preparation assistance
Free document review
100% satisfaction guarantee

Common Mistakes We Help You Avoid

The apostille process is notoriously strict. One wrong step can cause costly delays or rejection. Here are common issues we resolve:

❌ Submitting a photocopy of a vital record

✔️ We ensure original certified copies are used.

❌ Incorrect notarization format

✔️ We provide proper California-compliant notarizations.

❌ Sending documents to the wrong agency

✔️ We identify the correct state or federal jurisdiction.

❌ Apostilling documents that require translation first

✔️ We offer certified translation services before apostille.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does the apostille process take?

California state apostilles: Same-day or next-day available.
Federal apostilles: 2–3 weeks (expedited available).

2. Do I need to notarize my document before apostille?

Only if the document isn’t already a certified government-issued record (like a birth or death certificate).

3. Do you offer translations?

Yes, we provide certified translations for documents that must be translated before apostille.

4. Can I get documents apostilled for use in non-Hague countries?

Yes—but these require authentication and legalization, a longer process we also handle.

5. Can you apostille documents from other states?

Yes! We process out-of-state documents through our network of apostille agents.

How to Get Started with Orange County Apostille

Step 1: Contact Us for a Free Quote

Call us or fill out our secure contact form at https://orangecountyapostille.org/ to describe your document and the country it’s going to.

Step 2: Send or Drop Off Your Documents

We offer:

Walk-in appointments
Mail-in processing
Local pickup/drop-off

Step 3: Sit Back and Relax

We handle:

Notarization
Certified translation (if needed)
State or federal authentication
Return shipping

International Use Cases We’ve Handled

We’ve helped clients get apostilles for documents going to:

Mexico (dual citizenship applications)
Spain (student visas and background checks)
Italy (consulate marriage and residency filings)
Philippines (legal guardianship and family petitions)
Brazil (property transactions)
France (education and immigration)
Korea (employment verification and diplomas)

Whether you’re applying for residency, getting married, adopting, or doing business abroad—we’ve got you covered.

Client Testimonials

🗣️ “I needed an apostille for my son’s birth certificate for dual citizenship in Mexico. Orange County Apostille handled everything fast and professionally.”
— Veronica S., Santa Ana

🗣️ “I’m an attorney and rely on them regularly for apostille services. Their D.C. office is a huge advantage.”
— Mark L., Newport Beach

🗣️ “I was overwhelmed by the process of getting my diploma apostilled for a job in Korea. They made it easy.”
— Julian C., Irvine

Additional Services We Offer

Mobile Notary Public
Certified Document Translation
Embassy Legalization for Non-Hague Countries
Corporate Document Apostilles
FBI Background Check Apostilles
Single Status Affidavits
Marriage License Apostilles
Urgent, Same-Day Filing
Power of Attorney Notarization + Apostille

10 Trusted Government Resources

Here are official links we use to ensure every apostille is compliant:

Let Orange County Apostille Handle It All

When you need your documents accepted abroad, don’t risk rejection due to a small oversight. Let us make it simple, fast, and stress-free.

🟠 Whether you’re dealing with a tight deadline or an international legal issue, we’ll help you through the process to get your apostille—step by step.

📞 Call us today or visit us at https://orangecountyapostille.org to get started.