Which California documents we handle
Birth, marriage, and death certificates issued by a California county recorder or the California Department of Public Health, divorce decrees and court records, diplomas and transcripts, corporate records from the Secretary of State, and documents notarized by a California notary.
Documents notarized in California go to the California Secretary of State, not to Oregon, because an apostille comes from the state where the notary is commissioned.
What the Secretary of State checks
California verifies the signature of the public official or notary on the document. A copy you made yourself will not do: vital records need a certified copy from the county recorder or CDPH, and court records need a certified copy from the clerk.
Notarized documents need a correctly completed California notarial certificate. A missing venue, date, or seal is the usual reason a package comes back.
How the 7 to 10 days works
That is our courier window from the day we have your document in hand, and in normal conditions it covers California Secretary of State processing. If the state runs behind, we tell you as soon as we know.
If you need it faster, tell us your deadline when you book and we will say honestly whether it is achievable.
What a California apostille looks like
The certificate above is a real California apostille we obtained for a client, with the names, dates, and certificate number removed. It is issued in Sacramento by the Secretary of State and names the official who signed the underlying document, in that case a County Clerk Recorder in Ventura County.
Note the line stating the certificate is not valid for use inside the United States. An apostille is for foreign use only, which surprises people who expected something they could file locally.
Documents for countries that do not accept apostilles
For the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and other non-member countries, a California document needs authentication followed by embassy legalization instead of an apostille. We quote that separately.
Everything in one place
Fingerprinting, the FBI background check, notarization, witnesses, certified translation, the apostille or authentication request, passport photos, and tracked shipping are all done by our own team, in our own offices.
That matters because these steps have an order. A translation done before the apostille usually has to be redone. A document notarized in the wrong state cannot be apostilled here. When one team handles the chain, those mistakes do not happen, and you make one call instead of coordinating four businesses against one deadline.
Other languages
Each language has its own page with document types and rules.
Translation languages
A document in another language usually needs a certified translation as part of the process.
Country guides
Requirements depend on where your documents are going.
Prices for California apostille service
- California apostille courier serviceAdditional documents in the same submission are $65 each. California Secretary of State fees are separate.$195first document
- Additional documentsEach additional document in the same submission.$65each
- Domestic shipping, FedEx or USPSTracked shipping within the United States. Added to the cost of the service.$25per shipment
- Authentication and embassy legalization courier serviceFor countries that don't accept apostilles.Request a quote
Our courier service fee. California Secretary of State fees and shipping are separate. See all prices.
Questions about California apostille service
How much is a California apostille?
Our courier service is $195 for the first document and $65 for each additional document in the same submission. California Secretary of State fees and shipping are separate.
How long does it take?
7 to 10 business days from when we have your document, which covers California Secretary of State processing in normal conditions.
I live in Oregon. Can you still handle a California document?
Yes, that is the point of this service. Mail or bring us the document and we handle California from here. Call (971) 514-3743 first so we can confirm your document is the right version.
My document was notarized in California. Can Oregon apostille it?
No. An apostille comes from the state where the notary is commissioned, so a California notarization goes to the California Secretary of State.
Can you get my California birth certificate for me?
No. Order the certified copy from the county recorder or the California Department of Public Health, then we handle the apostille.
Notary and document services
Signing, witnessing, translating, and authenticating documents. Book them together and we coordinate the order.
- Notary Public Services
Notarization at our Beaverton office at $10 per signature, Oregon's maximum fee.
- Mobile Notary
We come to your home, office, hospital, or care facility to notarize signatures.
- Loan Signing Agent and Document Closings
Mobile loan document closings for title companies, escrow offices, and signing services.
- Estate Planning Notary and Signing Services
Notarization and independent witnesses for wills, trusts, advance directives, powers of attorney, and deeds.
- Witness Services for Wills, Advance Directives, and Powers of
Attorney
Independent witnesses for wills, advance directives, and powers of attorney.
- Form I-9 Verification for Remote Employees
We act as your authorized representative to examine documents and complete Section 2 of Form I-9.
- Apostille Courier Service (Document Authentication)
Private courier service that prepares and delivers your apostille requests to the right government office.
- New York Apostille Courier Service
Apostille courier service for New York documents, including the county clerk certification step.
- Washington Apostille Courier Service
Apostille courier service for Washington documents, handled from Oregon.
- Corporate and Life Sciences Document Authentication
Apostille and authentication for FDA export certificates and corporate records used to register products and open entities abroad.
- Certified Spanish Translation and Document Translation
Certified Spanish to English translations of birth, marriage, and divorce records, plus other languages.
- Passport Photos
U.S., Canadian, and international passport and visa photos, printed or as a digital file.
Where we offer California apostille service
At our Beaverton office and by mobile appointment across the Portland metro area.
Last updated 2026-09-20