What Is a Notarized Apostille?
The term 'notarized apostille' is frequently used but often misunderstood. Strictly speaking, there is no single process called a 'notarized apostille.' Instead, this term refers to a two-step process: first, a document is notarized by a notary public, and then the notarized document is apostilled by a government authority (typically the Secretary of State). Understanding how these two processes work together is essential for anyone preparing documents for international use.
Last reviewed: February 2026
When You Need Both Notarization and Apostille
- Private documents like contracts, affidavits, and declarations that need international authentication
- Powers of attorney granting someone authority to act on your behalf in a foreign country
- Corporate resolutions and bylaws that are not filed with a state agency
- Consent letters for children traveling internationally
- Immigration affidavits of support and sworn statements
- Personal statements and declarations for foreign legal proceedings
- Any document that does not already bear an official government seal or signature
Common Mistakes with Notarized Apostilles
- Thinking 'notarized apostille' is a single process — it's actually two separate steps
- Submitting a notarized document to the wrong state — the apostille must come from the state where the notary is commissioned
- Using a notary with an expired commission — the Secretary of State will reject the apostille request
- Notarizing a government document unnecessarily — birth certificates and court orders don't need notarization
- Not checking destination country requirements — some countries have specific format requirements for notarized documents
- Using an online notarization service when the state doesn't accept remote online notarization (RON) for apostille
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 ApostilleStep-by-Step Process
Understand Which Documents Need Notarization First
Government-issued documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, court orders) already have official seals and go directly to the Secretary of State for apostille. Private documents (contracts, affidavits, POAs) must be notarized first because they lack an official government seal.
Get Your Document Notarized
Visit a commissioned notary public in your state. The notary will verify your identity (usually with a government-issued photo ID), witness your signature, and apply their notary seal and signature. The notary's commission must be current and registered with the state.
Submit the Notarized Document for Apostille
After notarization, submit the document to the Secretary of State in the state where the notary is commissioned. The state verifies the notary's signature and commission, then attaches the apostille certificate.
The Apostille Authenticates the Notary
Important: the apostille does not authenticate the content of your document or even your signature. It authenticates the notary's signature and seal. The chain of trust works like this: the notary verifies your identity → the state verifies the notary → foreign governments trust the state's verification.
Receive Your Completed Document
The finished document has two layers of authentication: the notary's seal/signature and the state's apostille certificate. This makes it legally valid in 120+ Hague Convention countries.
State Considerations
The critical rule for notarized apostilles is that the notary's state must match the apostille state. If your document is notarized by a Texas notary, the apostille must be obtained from the Texas Secretary of State. This is true regardless of where you live or where the document will be used. Each state has its own fee schedule and processing times for apostille.
View All 50 State PagesInternational Considerations
Most Hague Convention countries accept notarized and apostilled documents. However, some countries have additional requirements: they may require the document to be translated into the local language by a certified translator, they may require the translation itself to be notarized and apostilled, or they may have specific formatting requirements for notarized documents. Always check with the receiving institution or embassy before preparing your documents.
View Country GuidesFrequently Asked Questions
What is a notarized apostille?+
Do all documents need to be notarized before apostille?+
Does a notarized document automatically work internationally?+
Can I get my document notarized and apostilled on the same day?+
What happens if my notary's commission expired?+
Start Your Apostille Order Today
Don't risk delays. Let our expert team handle the apostille process for you.