Notarization vs. Apostille

What's the Difference?

If you need to use a document in another country, you may have come across the word "apostille" and found yourself confused about how it relates to notarization.

Clients who've worked with Mark Orr can tell you it's a whole other, time consuming process. Even so, let's break down the difference!

What Is Notarization?

Notarization is the process by which a commissioned notary public — like Mark — verifies a signer's identity and witnesses the signing of a document. A notarized document is recognized as legitimate within the United States.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille (pronounced "ah-poh-STEEL") is a certification that validates the authenticity of a document for use in another country. It certifies that the signature, seal, or stamp on the document is genuine. The apostille is recognized by countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention, which covers most major nations.

"When Do I Need One?"

You might need an apostille if you're adopting a child internationally, getting married abroad, studying in a foreign country, conducting international business, or applying for citizenship or a visa in another country.

"How Does the Process Work?"

In California — the apostille process generally works in two steps: first, the document is notarized by a California notary public. Then, it must be submitted to the California Secretary of State's office, which attaches the official apostille certificate.

Can Mark Provide an Apostille?

Mark handles the first step — notarizing the document. The apostille itself is issued by the Secretary of State, not the notary. That said, for an additional fee, Mark offers an Apostille courier service. When you pay for Mark's expedited courier service, you're paying for Mark to personally take your notarized document to the Secretary of State's office, wait in lines no matter how long it may take, submit the document for apostille processing, and then delivers the completed document back to you in person. Need to mail the apostille document to another location? Mark's got you covered. For an additional mailing fee (to be determined at booking), Mark will ship it directly to wherever it needs to go.

BOTTOM LINE: Clients with tight deadlines or lots of stress from important international transactions should let Mark handle things, from notarization to apostille delivery. It makes a big difference!

Mark Orr Mobile Notary serves Los Angeles County. Contact him to today to get your document notarized and apostilled with the California Secretary of State.

CONTACT MARK HERE