Secretary of State in the state where the notary public is commissioned.
What You Need Before Submitting for Apostille
The original Power of Attorney document with the wet-ink signature of a licensed notary public whose commission is issued by the state where notarization occurred. The notary's commission must not be expired. Many states also require the notary's seal to be original (not copied).
Step-by-Step Process
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1
Obtain the Correct Document Version
See the preparation requirements above. The most common reason apostille requests fail at step one is submitting the wrong version of the document. When in doubt, contact the issuing authority (vital records office, court clerk, school) and confirm you have the right certified copy before proceeding.
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2
Identify Your State's Apostille Office
The apostille is issued by the state where the document was issued or notarized — not where you live now. Use our state directory to find the correct office, current fee, and mailing address for your state.
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3
Prepare Your Submission Package
Include: the original certified document, a cover letter (your name, return address, destination country, document count), payment (check or money order to the state authority for the per-document fee), and a pre-addressed return envelope with tracking.
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4
Submit and Wait
Mail to the address on your state's official website (always verify — addresses change). Use a tracked mailing method. Standard processing: 5–15 business days depending on state. See the state table for your state's specific timeline.
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5
Receive and Submit to Destination
Verify the apostille is securely attached. Do not separate it from the original. If a translation is required, send the complete apostilled document to a certified translator. Then submit the full package to your foreign authority.
Common Uses: Apostilling a Power of Attorney
| Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|
| International real estate transactions | Granting authority to buy, sell, or manage property abroad. |
| Foreign banking and financial accounts | Authorizing someone to act on bank accounts in another country. |
| Legal proceedings abroad | Representing you in a foreign court or legal process. |
| Business transactions in Mexico, Spain, Latin America | POA is commonly required for business formation and transactions. |
| Managing estate or inheritance abroad | Authorizing a local representative to handle estate proceedings. |
Have the POA drafted and notarized before you travel if possible — remote online notarization (RON) is available in many states, so you can notarize from anywhere using a commissioned notary in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
The apostille authenticates the English-language document. If the destination country requires the POA to be in their language, you'll need a certified translation in addition to the apostille — but the apostille goes on the English original, and the translation is a separate companion document.
No U.S. state can apostille a document notarized by a foreign notary. The apostille jurisdiction is determined by the notary's commission country. A POA notarized by a German notary needs a German apostille; one notarized by a Mexican notary needs a Mexican apostille.
The SOS will reject the apostille request. You'll need a new, correctly executed POA with a currently commissioned notary. Check the notary's commission expiration date before submission — it's printed on the notary's acknowledgment block.
This varies entirely by the destination country and the specific institution. Some countries accept POAs indefinitely; others require documents executed within the past year or even 6 months. Check with the specific foreign authority or attorney handling your transaction.