--- title: "Can a Regular Notary Do an Apostille? | 1Apostille" url: https://1apostille.com/resources/can-notary-do-apostille description: "No, a notary public cannot issue an apostille. Learn the difference between notarization and apostille, and who has the authority to apostille documents." lang: en --- Notary vs. Apostille Authority Explained # Can a Regular Notary Do an Apostille? One of the most common misconceptions about apostilles is that a notary public can issue one. The short answer is no — a regular notary public cannot apostille a document. A notary public and an apostille authority serve completely different legal functions. Understanding the difference is critical to avoiding delays, rejections, and unnecessary costs when preparing documents for international use. This guide explains exactly what a notary does, what an apostille does, and who has the legal authority to issue each one. Last reviewed: February 2026 Start Apostille Order: https://1apostille.com/order Call (833) 725-8001: 8337258001 Nationwide — All 50 States Fast Processing Immigration & International Use Expedited Rush Available ## Why People Confuse Notaries and Apostilles - Both involve verifying signatures and seals on documents - Notarization is often a required step BEFORE getting an apostille - Some countries use the term 'notarized apostille' which creates confusion - Notary offices sometimes advertise apostille services (which they outsource to the state) - The apostille itself authenticates the notary's signature — creating a chain of verification - Many people encounter both terms for the first time when preparing documents for international use ### Common Mistakes About Notaries and Apostilles - Assuming a notarized document is the same as an apostilled document — they are different - Asking a notary to 'apostille' a document — they do not have this authority - Skipping notarization when it's required — private documents must be notarized before apostille - Using a notary from a different state than where you submit for apostille — they must match - Believing a notarized document is sufficient for international use — foreign governments require an apostille - Not verifying the notary's commission is current — expired commissions result in rejection ### Apostille vs. Notarization A notarization verifies a signer's identity. An apostille is a government certification that authenticates a document for international legal use. Foreign governments require apostilles — notarization alone is insufficient. ### Top Reasons for Rejection Hospital-issued birth certificates, photocopies, unsigned documents, and sending to the wrong state office are the most common causes of apostille rejections. Our free document review catches these issues before submission. ### Ready to Get Started? Submit your documents for apostille processing today. Our team reviews every submission to ensure it meets requirements. Free document review included — we verify eligibility before processing. Submit Documents for Apostille (https://1apostille.com/order) ## Step-by-Step Process 1 ### What a Notary Public Does A notary public is a state-commissioned official who witnesses signatures, administers oaths, and certifies copies. Their role is to verify the identity of the person signing a document and confirm the signing was voluntary. A notary does NOT have the authority to authenticate a document for international use. 2 ### What an Apostille Does An apostille is a government-issued certificate that authenticates a document for use in foreign countries. It verifies that the signature, seal, or stamp on a document is genuine. Only a Secretary of State (for state documents) or the U.S. Department of State (for federal documents) can issue an apostille. 3 ### The Connection Between Them For private documents (contracts, affidavits, powers of attorney), the document must first be notarized. Then the notarized document is submitted to the Secretary of State, which apostilles the document by verifying the notary's signature and commission — not the content of the document. 4 ### Who Can Issue an Apostille In the United States, only three types of authorities can issue apostilles: (1) The Secretary of State in each state, for state-level documents; (2) The U.S. Department of State, for federal documents; (3) In some states, county clerks are authorized to apostille certain documents. 5 ### What to Do If a Notary Offers Apostille Services Some notary businesses advertise 'apostille services' as a convenience. They are not issuing the apostille themselves — they are acting as a middleman, notarizing your document and then submitting it to the Secretary of State on your behalf. This is legitimate but may cost more than working with a dedicated apostille service. ### State Considerations Each state has its own Secretary of State office that processes apostilles. The notary who notarizes your document must be commissioned in the same state where you submit for apostille. For example, if your document is notarized by a California notary, the apostille must be obtained from the California Secretary of State — not from any other state. View All 50 State Pages (https://1apostille.com/coverage) ### International Considerations The apostille system was established by the Hague Convention of 1961. Over 120 countries accept apostilled documents. If your destination country is not a Hague Convention member, you may need full embassy or consulate legalization instead of an apostille. In either case, a regular notary cannot complete the international authentication process on their own. View Country Guides (https://1apostille.com/services/international-document-use) ## Frequently Asked Questions Can a notary public issue an apostille?+ No. A notary public can only notarize documents — they cannot issue apostilles. Only the Secretary of State (for state documents) or the U.S. Department of State (for federal documents) has the authority to issue apostilles. Do I need to notarize a document before getting an apostille?+ It depends on the document type. Government-issued documents (birth certificates, court orders) do not need notarization — they go directly to the Secretary of State. Private documents (contracts, affidavits, powers of attorney) must be notarized first, and then the notarized document is apostilled. What is the difference between a notarized document and an apostilled document?+ A notarized document has been signed in the presence of a notary public who verified the signer's identity. An apostilled document has been authenticated by a government authority for international use. Notarization verifies identity; apostille verifies the document's authenticity for foreign governments. Can I get a notarized and apostilled document at the same time?+ Not in one step. Notarization and apostille are separate processes performed by different authorities. First, a notary notarizes the document. Then, the notarized document is submitted to the Secretary of State for apostille. We handle both steps as part of our service. Why do some notaries advertise apostille services?+ Some notary businesses offer apostille services as a convenience. They notarize your document and then submit it to the Secretary of State on your behalf. They are not issuing the apostille themselves — they are facilitating the process. ## Related Guides & Services What Is an Apostille?: https://1apostille.com/resources/what-is-an-apostille What Is a Notarized Apostille?: https://1apostille.com/resources/notarized-apostille Common Apostille Mistakes: https://1apostille.com/resources/common-apostille-mistakes Notarized Document Apostille: https://1apostille.com/documents/notarized-document-apostille Power of Attorney Apostille: https://1apostille.com/documents/power-of-attorney-apostille How to Apostille a Document: https://1apostille.com/how-to-apostille ## Start Your Apostille Order Today Don't risk delays. Let our expert team handle the apostille process for you. Start Apostille Order: https://1apostille.com/order Call (833) 725-8001: 8337258001 Documents handled securely and confidentially • Not affiliated with any government agency • Processing times vary by issuing authority Start Apostille Order: https://1apostille.com/order Call: 8337258001 Disclaimer: 1Apostille is a private document processing service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any Secretary of State office or the U.S. Department of State. Our service fees are separate from government filing fees. Processing times are estimates and may vary based on state office workload and document type. This website does not provide legal advice. ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "1Apostille", "url": "https://1apostille.com", "logo": "https://1apostille.com/favicon.png", "description": "Fast, reliable apostille and document authentication services nationwide. 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