Delaware Apostille Services — Birth, Marriage, Diplomas, FBI & Corporate

Planning to use aDelaware-issued document abroad—for a visa, marriage, universityadmission, corporate banking, real estate,adoption, or dual citizenship? You’ll likelybe asked for an apostille.An apostille is an internationallyrecognized certificate, accepted by HagueConvention countries, that validates thesignature or seal on your Delaware document.Whether you need to authenticate aWilmington birth certificate, aDover marriage certificate, aUniversity of Delaware diploma, aCourt of Chancery order, orcorporate filings from the DelawareDivision of Corporations, this page explains exactly howDelaware apostille serviceswork—what qualifies, how to prepare, howquickly we can process (often~24 hours for many statedocuments), and how to avoid costly, time-drainingmistakes.

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Quick Answer

Authority: TheDelaware Secretary of State (Division ofCorporations)issues apostilles forDelaware-origin documents—vitalrecords, court-certified copies, notarizeddocuments executed by a Delaware notary,registrar-verified academic records, andbusiness filings certified by the state.Federal documents—like anFBI Identity History Summary(background check) or IRS 6166—areapostilled by theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C. Rule of thumb:follow the issuer.

Speed: DIY mail-in canstretch to weeks, especially if packetsbounce for correctness issues. With properreadiness and in-person filing,many Delaware state apostilles can becompleted in ~24 hours. We send asame-day scan of theapostille; original shipping isoptional.

Flat Rate:$145 per document —government fees included.Scans always included. U.S.shipping is $20 (optional).International shipping quoted.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a one-pagecertificate accepted by countries thatparticipate in the1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Itdoes not change your document; itauthenticates the authority behind asignature or seal so overseas officials canaccept your Delaware records without callingDover or Wilmington. If your destination isHague-member (Italy, Spain, Portugal,France, Germany, the Netherlands, Mexico,Brazil, Japan, South Korea), an apostille istypically the final step. If yourdestination is not a Hague member(e.g., China, UAE, Qatar, Vietnam), you’llneed a different route:authentication + consularlegalization.

Who Issues Apostilles in Delaware?

TheDelaware Secretary of State(Division of Corporations) issues apostillesfor:

• Vital records — CertifiedDelaware birth certificate apostille,marriage certificate apostille,death certificate apostille, and (court)divorce decree apostille.
• Court documents —Certified orders and judgments (e.g.,Court of Chancery, Superior Court, FamilyCourt) with clerk certification.
• Notarized documents —powers of attorney & notarizedaffidavits apostilleexecuted by a Delaware notary withcompliant wording/seal.
• Education records —Registrar-verifieddiplomas & transcripts apostille(University of Delaware, Delaware StateUniversity, Wilmington University,Goldey-Beacom, Delaware Tech, WesleyCollege legacy records, etc.).
• Business records —Certified copies and Good Standingcertificates, corporate resolutions, andPOAs for internationalbanking/registration.

Federal documents areapostilled by theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C. A Delaware office cannotapostille an FBI report or IRS certificate.

Rule of thumb: Delawareissuer or Delaware notary → Delaware SOS.U.S. federal issuer → U.S. Department ofState (D.C.).

When You’ll Need an Apostille

• Visas & immigration —apostilled vital records and a federalapostille on the FBI background check.
• Study & teaching abroad—apostilled diplomas &transcriptsfor UD/DSU/WilmU grads.
• Marriage or adoption abroad— apostilledmarriage certificates, parental consents, andPOAs.
• Dual citizenship —apostilledbirth certificates,death certificates, and court orders.
• Corporate & banking —apostilled Articles, Good Standing,resolutions, andcorporate POAsfor overseas accounts and subsidiaries.
• Property & inheritance— apostilled court orders anddeath certificatesfor cross-border estates.

Your Options at a Glance: DIY Mail-In vs.Our Expedited Service

Factor	DIY Mail-In	Our Expedited Service
Typical Timeline	~2–6+ weeks; returns add weeks.	As fast as ~24 hoursfor many DE state documents (withreadiness).
Risk of Rejection	Higher — wrong authority, stalecopies, notary errors.	Lower — expert pre-check, correctrouting, compliant packaging.
Status Visibility	Low — limited visibility aftermailing.	High — proactive monitoring +same-day scan whenissued.
Effort Required	You research, assemble, mail, track,and re-mail.	We review, file in person(state/federal), monitor, scan, and(optionally) ship.
Best For	Flexible timelines, experiencedDIYers.	Deadlines, consular appointments,onboarding, corporate closings.

Pricing & ETA (Scans Included, ShippingOptional)

Document Readiness for Delaware

Apostille success hinges on “readiness.” InDelaware, that usually meanscertified copies(vital/court),clerk certifications onjudgments,registrar verification foracademic records, andclean notarizations foraffidavits/POAs. If a step is skipped, theSecretary of State may reject or delay yourfiling.

Vital Records

Always usecertified copies—notphotocopies or scans—from the Office ofVital Statistics or the relevant county/townauthority. For aDelaware birth certificate apostille, ensure the certificate is legible andrecently issued. The same applies to amarriage certificate apostille, a court-certifieddivorce decree apostille, and adeath certificate apostille.

Court Documents

Delaware’s courts (including theCourt of Chancery, SuperiorCourt, Family Court, and Court of CommonPleas) must providecertified copies via theclerk. Plain docket prints are insufficientfor apostille.

Notarized Documents

Powers of attorney, affidavits, parentalconsents, corporate resolutions, andauthorization letters must be notarized by aDelaware notary withcomplete certificate language, venue, date,signature, printed name, commission details,and seal. If the destination country hasstrict rules, we align the certificateformat before filing. Seepower of attorney & notarizeddocuments apostille.

Academic Records

For the University of Delaware, DelawareState University, Wilmington University,Goldey-Beacom, Delaware Tech (DTCC), andother schools, aregistrar verification orsealed packet is typicallyrequired prior to thediplomas & transcripts apostille. We coordinate with the registrar and thenfile with the SOS.

Business & Trade

International banks and registries oftenneed apostilled Articles, Good Standing,board resolutions, andcorporate POAs. We source certified copies from theDivision of Corporations and ensure thepacket meets the receiving country’sexpectations.

Step-by-Step: Delaware Apostille Process

High-level view; we protect clientprivacy and proprietary workflow.

1. Identify the issuer —Delaware issuer/notary → Delaware SOS;federal issuer → U.S. Department of State(D.C.).
2. Readiness check —Certified copies (vital/court), compliantnotarization, registrar verification, andpathway (Hague vs. non-Hague).
3. Submission — Wefile in person with the DelawareSOS for state documents and with the U.S.Department of State for federal documents.
4. Monitoring — We track thefile, resolve issues fast, and preventre-mail loops.
5. Issuance & delivery —We send a same-day scan;originals ship only if you want them (U.S.$20; international quoted).

Document Playbooks (Vital, Academic,Notarized, Corporate, Court, Federal/FBI)

Birth Certificate Apostille (Delaware)

Common for dual citizenship, immigration,school enrollment, marriage, or foreignresidency. Obtain a fresh certified copy,then we file for aDelaware birth certificate apostilleand return a same-day scan.

Marriage Certificate Apostille (Delaware)

Needed for visas, family registries, or namechanges abroad. Secure a certified copy andwe’ll complete themarriage certificate apostillewith the SOS.

Divorce Decree Apostille (Delaware)

For remarriage, custody, or inheritanceabroad, request acourt-certified copy and wewill obtain thedivorce decree apostilleand deliver a same-day scan.

Death Certificate Apostille (Delaware)

Estate and insurance matters often require adeath certificate apostille. Only certified copies qualify; we file inperson and provide a same-day scan.

Diplomas & Transcripts Apostille(Delaware)

For employers, ministries of education, anduniversities overseas, obtain registrarverification for University of Delaware,DSU, WilmU, Goldey-Beacom, DTCC, etc. Thenwe process thediplomas & transcripts apostillepromptly.

Notarized Affidavits & POAs (Delaware)

Real estate, banking, adoption, or businessrepresentation abroad often hinges onproperly notarized affidavits and powers ofattorney. We pre-check certificates, thenobtain thePOA & notarized documentsapostille.

Corporate Records (Delaware)

Delaware corporations frequently needapostilled Articles, Good Standing, boardresolutions, incumbency certificates, andcorporate POAsfor overseas banks, regulators, andregistries. We source certified copies andcoordinate end-to-end.

FBI Background Check (Federal Apostille)

The FBI Identity History Summary is afederal record. We route itto theU.S. Department of Statefor a federal apostille and provide asame-day scan when issued. (Delaware SOScannot apostille federal records.)

Why Delaware Corporations Often NeedApostilles

Delaware is the U.S. hub for incorporationsand corporate case law. When a Delawareentity opens a foreign bank account, forms asubsidiary, signs cross-border agreements,or participates in a tender, foreignauthorities often requireapostilled corporate documents. The most common areArticles/Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Good Standing,board resolutions, andcorporate POAs. We manage theseevery day, aligning the exact combinationand order of documents that the receivingbank or registry expects (some requestnotarized translations or country-specificformats).

Use Cases & Scenarios (Delaware)

• UD graduate teaching in SouthKorea— apostilleddiploma & transcripts+ FBI apostille for visa.
• Family moving to the EU —apostilledbirth certificatesandmarriage certificate; sometimesdeath certificatesfor dual-citizenship lineage.
• Wilmington firm opening an account inLondon— apostilled Articles, Good Standing,board resolutions, andcorporate POA.
• Heirs managing property in LatinAmerica— apostilled court orders anddeath certificates.
• International marriage —apostilledmarriage certificate, single-status affidavits, andnotarized affidavits.

Delaware Cities We Serve

We support clients statewide. If yousearched “apostille near me Delaware,” we’ve got you covered. Frequent serviceareas include:

• New Castle County —Wilmington, Newark, New Castle, Bear,Glasgow, Hockessin, Middletown (overlapswith Kent), Claymont, Pike Creek, Elsmere,Edgemoor
• Kent County — Dover,Smyrna (overlaps with New Castle), Camden,Harrington, Magnolia, Milford (overlapswith Sussex), Felton
• Sussex County —Georgetown, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, BethanyBeach, Fenwick Island, Selbyville,Millsboro, Laurel, Seaford, Bridgeville,Milton, Delmar

County Coverage & Campuses

We routinely process records fromNew Castle,Kent, andSussex counties. Campuswork spans:

• University of Delaware(Newark);Delaware State University(Dover)
• Wilmington University(multiple locations);Goldey-Beacom College(Pike Creek)
• Delaware Technical CommunityCollege(DTCC) — all campuses
• Legacy records for Wesley College andother formerly independent institutions

Hague vs. Non-Hague: Embassy Legalization

If your destination country is a Haguemember, a Delaware apostille is typicallythe last step. For non-Hague destinations,documents take theauthentication path (stateor federal) followed byembassy/consular legalization. Some countries requirecertified translations in aspecific sequence (before or afterapostille). We map the exact route toprevent returns.

Real-World Timelines, Risks &Contingencies

DIY mail-in can be slow and unforgiving—anincorrect fee, a stale certificate, anincomplete notary block, or a missingregistrar step can cause a full return. Tokeep your timeline safe:

• Front-load readiness —gather recent certified copies; verifynotary language; obtain registrarverification fordiplomas & transcripts apostille.
• In-person filing — forfixed dates (visa appointments,onboarding, school start), avoid mail-inrisk.
• Leverage scans — manyconsulates/schools pre-process from oursame-day scan while theoriginal ships.
• Parallel tracks — if youhave both state and federal items, we runthem simultaneously.

Top Mistakes to Avoid in Delaware

• Wrong authority —submitting an FBI report to Delaware SOSor a Delaware record to the U.S.Department of State. Use the correct path:birth,marriage,divorce,death,diplomas & transcripts,POAs & notarized affidavits.
• Uncertified/old copies —photocopies or outdated vital records;obtain fresh certified copies beforefiling.
• Notary defects — missingseal, wrong venue, incomplete certificate,or remote notarization not accepted by thedestination. See ourPOA & notarized documentsapostilleguide.
• Skipping registrar steps— university records without registrarverification are commonly rejected. Followtheacademic apostilleprocess.
• No destination check —Hague vs. non-Hague determines whether youneed apostille or authentication +legalization.
• Late starts — mail cyclesplus re-mailing can derail travel/consularappointments. In-person filing reduces therisk.

Readiness Checklist (Delaware)

• Is your documentstate (Delaware) orfederal (U.S. agency)?
• For vital/court records, do you have acertified copy (not aphotocopy or plain download)? If not,start with:birth certificate apostille,marriage certificate apostille,divorce decree apostille,death certificate apostille.
• For notarized items, is the notarizationDelaware-compliant(venue, date, signature, printed name,commission, seal)? If unsure, seePOA & notarized documentsapostille.
• For academic records, has theregistrar provided therequired letter or sealed packet? Seediplomas & transcripts apostille.
• Is the destinationHague (apostille) ornon-Hague (authentication+ legalization)?
• Do you have adeadline (visaappointment, school start, onboarding)that justifies in-person filing andproactive monitoring?

Frequently Asked Questions (DE Apostille)

Who issues apostilles for Delawaredocuments?

TheDelaware Secretary of State — Divisionof Corporationsissues apostilles for Delaware-origindocuments such asbirth certificates,marriage certificates,divorce decrees, court orders,diplomas & transcripts, andnotarized POAs & affidavits.

Can Delaware apostille my FBI backgroundcheck?

No. The FBI Identity History Summary is afederal record and mustbe apostilled by theU.S. Department of Statein Washington, D.C. Delaware SOS onlyapostilles Delaware-origin documents.

How fast can a Delaware apostille becompleted?

DIY mail-in can take weeks. With readinessand in-person filing,~24 hours is possible formany state documents (vital,court-certified, notarized,registrar-verified). We send a same-dayscan upon issuance; shipping is optional.

Do apostilles expire?

The apostille itself doesn’t formallyexpire, but many consulates/universitiesprefer recent issuance (often within 90days). If timing matters, expedite.

Is shipping required?

No.Shipping is optional. Wealways provide asame-day scan. U.S.shipping is $20; international shipping isquoted.

What if I need both a birth certificateand a diploma apostilled?

We can submit parallel tracks:Delaware birth certificate apostillevia the SOS anddiplomas & transcripts apostillewith your registrar’s verification.

Do you provide certified translations?

Yes—when required by the destination.We’ll confirm whether translation shouldhappen before or after the apostille tomeet the country’s rules.

Are you a government office?

No. We’re a private expert service thatprepares, files, monitors, and deliversapostilles end-to-end (state and federal),with same-day scans andoptional shipping.

Related Guides & Tools

• Birth Certificate Apostille
• Marriage Certificate Apostille
• Divorce Decree Apostille
• Death Certificate Apostille
• Academic Diplomas & TranscriptsApostille
• Power of Attorney & NotarizedDocuments Apostille

Disclaimer: Requirements and timelinescan change without notice. We base ourguidance on current practices of theDelaware Secretary of State and the U.S.Department of State at the time of yourorder.