Apostille - Frequently Asked Questions

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document for use in another country. An Apostille certifies:

• the authenticity of the signature of the public official who signed the document,
• the capacity in which that public official acted, and
• when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears, e.g. a notary public seal.

The Apostille does not validate the contents of the document.

We will travel to local and state government offices on your behalf and get the Apostille done

We specialize in Apostille Certification (Authentication of documents for international use) and Document Legalization in California. 

The Apostille is a French word meaning certification.  It is an instrument that many governments, foreign and domestic, use to certify that a document is genuine.  It is the legalization of a document for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention.  Countries around the world are adopting this validation procedure for its simplicity and worldwide acceptance. As a result of globalization, worldwide trade, and the internet the need for proper international documentation and application of an “apostille” are becoming much more prevalent in everyday life.

Our clients trust us with the “apostilling” of their valuable documents because of our document processing experience, turnaround time, superior customer service, and document insurance.

1. Diana Notary Service inspects the document. We can do this by having the document faxed to us or meeting at a location of your choosing.   

2. We then properly notarize the document of if it has already been notarized we check that it has been done correctly. 

3. We transport/file the document and it never leaves our chain of command throughout the whole process. 

4. This document is then further inspected by the appropriate division of the Secretary of State office.   

4. An apostille or certification is then added to the document. 

5. We either return the completed document to you personally or ship it via courier service with a tracking number. 

The completed package usually arrives in your mailbox within three weeks of your notary appointment if you select basic service.  
Faster service is available.  We can discuss various options over the phone or during your notarization appointment.  

Regular processing: (3 weeks): The Apostille fee is $95 for the first document plus $50 for each additional document. WE PAY ALL THE FILING FEES!

Expedite processing– 1-2 days: The Apostille fee is $250 for the first document plus $75 for each additional document. WE PAY ALL THE FILING FEES!
This fee includes:
 fees for the government agency
 processing
 supplies and postage

*As you know, the Secretary of State office in Sacramento is currently closed to the public, therefore, in order to expedite the processing of your Apostille, please contact us in advance so we could plan accordingly our trip to Sacramento.  

*At the moment, we only accept documents via mail. 

*Notarization of your documents is just $15 per signature (and when applicable a $50 travel fee for the notary).
No additional taxes or fees will be added for notary services or Apostille filing fees. 

The safekeeping of the document is insured under our company policy.  Also, our turnaround time is anywhere between 1 to 2 days upon receipt of the document for expedited requests or 3 weeks for regular processing.  Although these procedures are largely administrative, they are quite burdensome and require knowledge of procedural rules, that if not followed, can lead to document rejection and this can be an expensive failure. 

We believe our apostille service is the fastest and most professional available.  Our Clients include banks, financial service firms, brokerages, law firms, immigration attorneys, schools, colleges and universities, and individuals. Our service saves both a tremendous amount of time and money and probably as important as peace of mind knowing that vital documents are being properly prepared for international use by professionals.  To determine the specific requirements for your document to either be Apostilled or Legalized as well as the associated fees give us a call.  

Apostille Processing Experience  

Since our inception, DianaNotary has processed thousands of apostilles all over the world.  Our experience includes but is not limited to the following document types:

Academic Transcripts, Adoption Documents, Affidavits, Agreements, Assignments, Baptism and Confirmation Certificates,  Bills of Sale, Certificate of Origin, Certificates of Incorporation, Certificates of Good Standing, Certified Copies   Commercial Contracts, Corporate Documents,  Court Judgments, Deeds and Titles,  Diplomas, Invoices, Identity Documents, Letters of Intent, Letters of Invitation, Naturalization Documents, Notary Oaths, Passports, Power of Attorney, Trademarks, and Patents, Vital Records including Birth, Death, Marriage, Paternity, and Divorce certificates, Wills, etc., etc., etc.,