Professional Apostille Notary Near Me in Sonoma, Napa & Marin County
Welcome to your trusted local apostille expert! Serving Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties, we know that finding a dependable "apostille notary near me" can be challenging. That’s why our mobile service brings professional document authentication right to your doorstep.
Expert Apostille Services in Your Area
When searching for a reliable apostille notary, proximity alone isn’t enough—you need proven expertise. With years of experience serving our local communities, we’ve refined the apostille process for a seamless experience whether you’re in the heart of Petaluma or Sonoma, the vibrant areas of Napa, or the serene neighborhoods of Marin.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
We’ve simplified the process so you can quickly get started on authenticating your documents:
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Effortless Online Booking: Choose your preferred time and location from our scheduling page. Whether you're at home, in the office, or at your favorite local café, our mobile team comes to you.
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Comprehensive Document Assessment:Provide key details about your documents, and we’ll offer immediate guidance on preparation and any necessary requirements.
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Expert Document Authentication:Our experienced apostille notaries ensure each document meets strict international standards, giving you reliable certification for both state and federal requests.
Why Choose Our Local Apostille Experts?
When you search for an "apostille notary near me," our service stands out because we offer:
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Convenient mobile service across Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties
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Often available same-day appointments, evening & weekends
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Personalized, expert guidance throughout the process
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Direct coordination with state agencies
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Regular updates on your document’s status
Understanding Apostilles & Authentication Certificates in California
If you’re traveling abroad or submitting documents for international use, you might require certification from the California Secretary of State’s Office. Depending on the country of destination, this certification is known as an Apostille or a Certificate of Authentication.
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What Is an Apostille?
An Apostille validates the origin of public documents (such as birth, marriage, or death certificates, court judgments, or notarized attestations) for use abroad. It confirms that a California notary public, court clerk, or state official has properly authenticated your document according to international standards set by the Hague Convention.
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When Do You Need an Apostille?
An Apostille is necessary if:
• Both the issuing and destination countries are members of the Apostille Convention
• The document is recognized as a public record in the issuing state
• The destination country requires an Apostille to acknowledge its authenticity as a foreign document
Note: Apostilles are strictly for international use and cannot be used within California or the United States.
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* If local laws or treaties have simplified or waived these requirements, you may not need an Apostille. When in doubt, always verify with the document’s recipient.
Countries Covered by the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention
Where Can I Obtain an Apostille?
​Each country in the Convention designates one or more Competent Authorities to issue Apostilles. These authorities vary—some countries appoint a single agency, while others use multiple offices based on region or document type. Most Apostilles are issued on the same day of request. For detailed contact information, refer to the Apostille Section on the Hague Conference website.
Key Considerations Before Requesting an Apostille
Before submitting your request, consider the following:
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Do both the issuing and destination countries participate in the Apostille Convention?
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Which Competent Authority is responsible for your document type?
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Is your document recognized as a public record under local law?
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Can you request the Apostille by mail, or is an in-person visit necessary?
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Will multiple documents require separate Apostilles?
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Are there additional documents or identification needed?
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What are the fees, and which payment methods are accepted?
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What is the estimated processing time for your document?
Understanding Document Apostille Costs
Since the Apostille Convention doesn’t specify fees, costs vary by Competent Authority. For precise pricing details, please consult the Apostille Section on the Hague Conference website.
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Requesting an Apostille in Person In Sacramento
Secretary of State (Sacramento)
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Sacramento 2nd floor public counter is open for in-person, same day service. Please obtain a take-a-number ticket from the dispenser in front of Room 255 and wait for your number to be called. Please be mindful of the following:
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A fee of $20.00 per Apostille is required. Payment can be made by credit card (Visa or Mastercard), check, money order, or cash. Checks or money orders must be made payable to Secretary of State..
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A $6.00 Special Handling fee is required for each different public official’s signature to be authenticated.
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A cover sheet stating the country in which the document will be used is required. You may fill out and print our Apostille Request Cover Sheet (Sacramento) to include with your request or fill out the form by hand upon arrival at our office.
Examples of state documents which may need authentication include:
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Birth certificates
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Marriage certificates
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Death certificates
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Divorce decrees
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Probate wills
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Judgments
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Affidavits
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Agreements
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Articles of incorporation
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Bylaws
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Commercial Invoices
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Copy of a U.S. passport (bio data page)
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Diplomas and transcripts
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Deeds of assignment
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Home studies (adoptions)
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Income verification
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Powers-of-Attorney
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Single Status (Never married or divorced)
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Authorization of agent
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Declarations
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Proof of employment
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Incumbency
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Medical report
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Police record
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Fingerprints
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Financial documents
Department of State Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of State
Office of Authentications
44132 Mercure Cir.
PO Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206
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Physical Address:
Office of Authentications
600 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
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If your document is signed by one of the following officials, you must get an apostille certificate:
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U.S. federal official
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U.S. consular officer
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Foreign consul registered with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Protocol
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Military notary or judge advocate
Follow these steps to get the apostille certificate from our office:
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Make sure your document is an original or certified copy
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A certified copy is a copy of a primary document with a certificate on it that it is the true copy. Make sure seals and signatures are originals. The document must include a date of issuance.
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If the country where you are using the document requires it to be translated from English, get a professional translator and have it notarized
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Do not get the original document notarized.
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Submit your request for authentication services (includes your Form DS-4194, fees, and documents)
Do not notarize your document. Your document will no longer be valid if it is notarized.
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Include a legible signature of the official's name, printed name and title, and seal of the agency
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Use agency letterhead
Requesting Authentication Services
You may request authentication services by mail or in person. Consider your travel date and our processing times when requesting services.
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Traveling in 5+ weeks: Send your request by mail. We will process it within five weeks from the date we receive it.
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Traveling in 2 to 3 weeks: Walk-in to our office to drop off and pick up your request. We will process the request in seven business days.
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Traveling in less than 2 weeks: You may qualify for an appointment if you need to travel to a foreign country in the next two weeks because your immediate family member outside of the United States has a life-or-death emergency. We will process your request on the same day as your appointment.
What to include with your request:
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Form DS-4194. Be sure to list the country in which you will use the document.
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The document(s) requiring authentication services
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Check if you need an authentication certificate or an apostille certificate.
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Fees which are $20 per document
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If you are mailing your request, pay by check or money order. Make them payable to the U.S. Department of State. Do not send cash or credit card information.
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Include the customer's name and address on checks (make sure this information is preprinted) and money orders. All check numbers must be over 100.
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If you are requesting services in person, pay by credit or debit card when you submit your request. You must provide the exact amount if you are paying with cash since we cannot provide change.
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Under federal law, we cannot refund the authentications fee.
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Examples of federal documents that may need authentication include:
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Animal and plant certifications, or animal health certifications (issued by U.S. Department of Agriculture)
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Federal court documents, and FBI background checks (issued by U.S. Department of Justice)
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Certificate of naturalization (issued by U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
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Certificate of foreign governments (issued by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS)
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Certificate of pharmaceutical product or export (issued by HHS)
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Patent and trademark applications (issued by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)
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Certification of U.S. tax residency (issued by Internal Revenue Service)
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Other documents issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, Social Security Administration, or Office of Personnel Management
Additional FAQs
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Apostille for Non-California Documents:
Documents issued outside California must be apostilled in the state or country of origin. For out-of-state documents, contact that state’s apostille office; for foreign documents, reach out to the relevant embassy or consulate.
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Apostille for Translated Documents:
You can apostille a translation, provided it’s notarized by a commissioned California notary and submitted alongside the original document.
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Birth Certificate Apostille:
To apostille a birth certificate, obtain a certified copy from your county clerk or the California Department of Public Health, then submit it to the Secretary of State’s office.
Handy Links & Document Categories
Document Categories:
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Private Documents:Includes personal and corporate documents such as affidavits, powers-of-attorney, articles of incorporation, agreements, diplomas, transcripts, and more. Typically authenticated by the state’s Secretary of State.
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State/Country-Issued Documents:Covers public records like birth, death, and marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and court judgments. Authentication is usually handled by the state’s designated authority.
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Federally-Issued Documents:Involves documents signed by U.S. federal officers, consular officials, or military notaries, authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. Examples include FBI background checks, federal court documents, and certifications from federal agencies.
Our comprehensive booking page covers every detail of state and federal apostille and authentication processes, ensuring you have all the information needed for a smooth, hassle-free experience in Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties. Whether you’re preparing documents for international use or need secure, local certification, our expert network of notaries are here to help every step of the way.​​