---
title: "What Is a Notarized Apostille? | 1Apostille"
url: https://1apostille.com/resources/notarized-apostille
description: "Understand what a notarized apostille is, when notarization is required before apostille, and how the two processes work together."
lang: en
---

Understanding Notarization and Apostille Together

# 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

Start Apostille Order: https://1apostille.com/order

Call (833) 725-8001: 8337258001

Nationwide — All 50 States Fast Processing Immigration & International Use Expedited Rush Available

## 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 Apostille (https://1apostille.com/order)

## Step-by-Step Process

1

### 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.

2

### 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.

3

### 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.

4

### 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.

5

### 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 Pages (https://1apostille.com/coverage)

### International 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 Guides (https://1apostille.com/services/international-document-use)

## Frequently Asked Questions

What is a notarized apostille?+

A 'notarized apostille' refers to a document that has been both notarized by a notary public and then apostilled by a government authority. These are two separate steps performed by different officials. The notary verifies your identity and signature; the apostille authenticates the notary's seal for international use.

Do all documents need to be notarized before apostille?+

No. Government-issued documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and court orders already have official seals and go directly to the Secretary of State for apostille. Only private documents (contracts, affidavits, powers of attorney) need notarization first.

Does a notarized document automatically work internationally?+

No. A notarized document is only verified for domestic use. For international use in Hague Convention countries, the notarized document must also be apostilled. The apostille is what makes it recognized by foreign governments.

Can I get my document notarized and apostilled on the same day?+

Notarization can be done the same day, but apostille processing typically takes 5–10 business days through the Secretary of State. Our expedited service can reduce apostille processing to 1–3 business days in most states.

What happens if my notary's commission expired?+

If the notary's commission was expired at the time of notarization, the Secretary of State will reject the apostille request. You would need to have the document re-notarized by a notary with a current commission.

## Related Guides & Services

Can a Notary Do an Apostille?: https://1apostille.com/resources/can-notary-do-apostille
What Is an Apostille?: https://1apostille.com/resources/what-is-an-apostille
Notarized Document Apostille: https://1apostille.com/documents/notarized-document-apostille
Power of Attorney Apostille: https://1apostille.com/documents/power-of-attorney-apostille
Common Apostille Mistakes: https://1apostille.com/resources/common-apostille-mistakes
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. Trusted by individuals, businesses, and legal professionals across all 50 states.",
    "telephone": "+1-833-725-8001",
    "email": "info@1Apostille.com",
    "areaServed": {
      "@type": "Country",
      "name": "United States"
    },
    "sameAs": [],
    "contactPoint": {
      "@type": "ContactPoint",
      "telephone": "+1-833-725-8001",
      "contactType": "customer service",
      "areaServed": "US",
      "availableLanguage": [
        "English",
        "Spanish"
      ]
    },
    "serviceArea": {
      "@type": "AdministrativeArea",
      "name": "All 50 U.S. States"
    }
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "mainEntity": [
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "What is a notarized apostille?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "A 'notarized apostille' refers to a document that has been both notarized by a notary public and then apostilled by a government authority. These are two separate steps performed by different officials. The notary verifies your identity and signature; the apostille authenticates the notary's seal for international use."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Do all documents need to be notarized before apostille?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "No. Government-issued documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and court orders already have official seals and go directly to the Secretary of State for apostille. Only private documents (contracts, affidavits, powers of attorney) need notarization first."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Does a notarized document automatically work internationally?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "No. A notarized document is only verified for domestic use. For international use in Hague Convention countries, the notarized document must also be apostilled. The apostille is what makes it recognized by foreign governments."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Can I get my document notarized and apostilled on the same day?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Notarization can be done the same day, but apostille processing typically takes 5–10 business days through the Secretary of State. Our expedited service can reduce apostille processing to 1–3 business days in most states."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "What happens if my notary's commission expired?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "If the notary's commission was expired at the time of notarization, the Secretary of State will reject the apostille request. You would need to have the document re-notarized by a notary with a current commission."
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Article",
    "headline": "What Is a Notarized Apostille?",
    "description": "Understand what a notarized apostille is, when notarization is required before apostille, and how the two processes work together.",
    "author": {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "1Apostille",
      "url": "https://1apostille.com"
    },
    "publisher": {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "1Apostille",
      "url": "https://1apostille.com"
    },
    "dateModified": "2026-10-16"
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 1,
        "name": "Home",
        "item": "https://1apostille.com/"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 2,
        "name": "Resources",
        "item": "https://1apostille.com/resources/notarized-apostille"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 3,
        "name": "What Is a Notarized Apostille?",
        "item": "https://1apostille.com/resources/notarized-apostille"
      }
    ]
  }
]
```