Yes—we handle apostilles for your company’s Certificate of Status (also called a Certificate of Good Standing, Certificate of Existence, or Status Certificate) issued by any U.S. state. Whether your document will be used in a Hague Apostille country or needs full consular legalization for a non‑Hague country, our team makes the process clear and efficient.

Who we are: Orange County Apostille is a private, full‑service authentication and apostille agency. We specialize in state‑level California apostilles and nationwide state apostilles, and we maintain a Washington, D.C. office for federal authentications and consular legalizations when required.

What is a Corporate Certificate of Status?

A Certificate of Status is an official document from a state’s business registry (often the Secretary of State or Division of Corporations) confirming that your corporation, LLC, or LP:

is legally formed and active, and
is in good standing (e.g., filings and fees are current, a registered agent is on file).

Foreign registries, banks, and partners often require a recent Certificate of Status plus an apostille to open accounts, register a branch or subsidiary, bid on contracts, complete M&A filings, or finalize cross‑border transactions.

When do you need an apostille?

Your Certificate of Status will be used in a country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention → You need a state apostille from the same state that issued the certificate.
Your document will be used in a non‑Hague country → You will likely need state authentication plus consular legalization (and, in some cases, a U.S. Department of State authentication). We manage the full chain for you.

Tip: Many recipients require the certificate to be recent (commonly issued within the last 30–90 days). If yours is older, we can obtain a fresh certificate before the apostille.

How we help (end‑to‑end)

Confirm requirements Tell us the state of issuance and the destination country. We’ll map the exact pathway: apostille only or the full authentication‑legalization chain.
Obtain or verify your Certificate of Status
- Already have it? We’ll verify the issuing official’s signature and confirm it’s eligible for apostille.
- Need one? In many states, we can order the Certificate of Status on your behalf. If a state restricts who can order, we’ll coordinate with you to place the request correctly.
Prepare the document for authentication We ensure the certificate carries an eligible signature/seal (wet ink or approved digital signature) recognized by the state apostille/authentication unit.
Issue the apostille (or authentication)
- Hague countries: We obtain the state apostille from the issuing state.
- Non‑Hague countries: We secure state authentication and continue with U.S. Department of State and consular legalization steps if required. Our D.C. presence streamlines federal and consular processing.
Deliver your completed document We return the original Certificate of Status with the apostille/authentication attached, packaged for international use.

What we need from you

Entity name (exactly as registered) and state of formation/registration
Destination country (so we apply the correct pathway)
How the document will be used (banking, foreign registration, tender, etc.)
Whether you already have the certificate (PDF or original) and its issue date
Your shipping preferences (domestic or international)

Digital vs. wet‑signed certificates

States increasingly issue electronically signed Certificates of Status. Many are eligible for apostille as issued, while some states or foreign recipients prefer a wet‑signed version. We check the signature format, obtain the correct version if needed, and proceed without delays.

Common pitfalls we help you avoid

Out‑of‑date certificates. Recipient rejects certificates older than their policy allows.
Wrong issuing state. The apostille must come from the same state that issued the certificate.
Unrecognized signatures. The certificate must be signed by a state official whose signature is on file for apostille/authentication.
Sending photocopies. Apostilles attach to original or certified documents—not ordinary copies.
Skipping consular steps. Non‑Hague countries often require more than a state apostille; we handle the full chain.

Our related corporate apostille services

Beyond Certificates of Status, we regularly apostille or legalize:

Articles of Incorporation/Organization
Certificates of Incumbency/Officer Certificates (when notarized)
Board Resolutions & Minutes (when notarized)
Good Standing letters from agencies or regulators
Merger/Conversion/Name‑Change certificates
Registered Agent Certificates
Annual Report filings (certified copies)

If a document isn’t issued by a state official, we’ll advise on proper notarization so it can be authenticated.

Simple, compliant process (at a glance)

State‑issued corporate certificate? → We obtain state apostille (Hague) or state authentication (non‑Hague).
Non‑Hague destination? → We continue with U.S. Department of State (if required) and consular legalization.
We manage all steps: ordering the certificate (where permitted), document vetting, apostille/authentication, consular work, and secure shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Is a “Certificate of Status” the same as a “Certificate of Good Standing”?

Yes. Different states use different names (Good Standing, Status, Existence), but they serve the same purpose: confirming your entity is active and compliant.

2) Do I need to notarize my Certificate of Status before apostille?

Typically no. It’s an official state document signed by a state officer. Notarization is generally unnecessary and sometimes not permitted. We’ll verify eligibility.

3) Can you apostille a PDF certificate I downloaded?

Often yes—if the electronic signature belongs to a recognized state official. If not, we’ll obtain a wet‑signed or apostille‑ready version.

4) My company is registered in one state but doing business in another. Which state issues the Certificate of Status?

Request it from the state whose status you need to prove (formation state and/or the foreign‑registration state). Each certificate can be apostilled by the same state that issued it.

5) The destination country isn’t in the Hague Convention. Can you still help?

Absolutely. We handle the state authentication, U.S. Department of State authentication (if required), and consular legalization with the destination country’s embassy/consulate.

6) How recent should the certificate be?

Many recipients ask for a document issued within 30–90 days. Tell us the requirement you were given, and we’ll obtain a certificate that meets it.

7) Can you order the Certificate of Status for me?

In many states, yes. If a state restricts who may order, we’ll guide you through the request or coordinate with your authorized representative.

8) Will the apostille attach to the original document?

Yes. The apostille (or authentication) is attached to the original or certified certificate and travels together as a single, bound package.

9) What if my company name recently changed or merged?

Provide details. We can also apostille name‑change or merger certificates (or certified copies) to support your foreign filing or bank request.

10) Is this legal advice?

No. We provide document authentication services and general procedural guidance. For legal questions, consult your attorney or a qualified advisor.

Ready to get started?

Step 1: Send us your entity name, state of issuance, and destination country.
Step 2: Tell us if you already have a Certificate of Status (and its issue date).
Step 3: We’ll confirm the exact pathway (Hague apostille or consular legalization) and handle everything from there.

We make international corporate documentation simple, compliant, and dependable—so you can focus on your business.

Orange County Apostille

Book online: https://orangecountyapostille.org/