Frequently Asked Questions

An apostille is a certificate issued by a designated authority that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country. It's required for documents being used abroad that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document acted, and the identity of any seal or stamp attached to the document.

Processing times vary depending on the document type and destination country. Typically, Texas Secretary of State processing takes 3-5 business days for standard service and 24-48 hours for rush service. FBI background checks require additional processing time at the federal level. We offer expedited services for urgent needs.

Common documents that can be apostilled include: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, educational documents (diplomas, transcripts), powers of attorney, business documents, court records, and FBI background checks. Requirements may vary depending on the destination country.

Over 120 countries are members of the Hague Convention and accept apostilles. This includes most countries in Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Australia. Countries not part of the Hague Convention may require authentication or legalization through their embassy or consulate.

Yes! As a Remote Online Notary (RON) in Texas, we can perform notarizations via secure video conference. This allows you to sign documents from the comfort of your home or office without traveling. The notarized documents can then be apostilled as needed.

An apostille is a simplified certification for countries part of the Hague Convention. For countries not part of the Hague Convention, a multi-step authentication process is required, which may involve certification by the state, the U.S. Department of State, and the destination country's embassy or consulate. We can help determine which process your documents need.

Yes! We specialize in FBI background check apostilles. As a Certified Apostille Agent, we can obtain the federal authentication from the U.S. Department of State for your FBI Identity History Summary. We offer expedited 10-day guaranteed processing.