Indiana Apostille Services — Birth, Marriage, Diplomas, FBI & Business

Need to use anIndiana document in aforeign country? Most consulates,ministries, universities, and overseasemployers will ask for anapostille. This one-pagecertificate confirms the authority of theofficial who signed or sealed your record sothat a foreign authority can trust itwithout performing local checks. Without theapostille, even anIndianapolis birth certificate, aMarion County marriage record, aNotre Dame diploma, orArticles of Incorporation from theIndiana Secretary of Statemay be rejected abroad.

This Indiana guide is written in apractical, wiki style and tuned forlocal SEO so your searcheslike “apostille near me Indiana,”“Indianapolis apostille service,” “FortWayne apostille,” “Purdue diplomaapostille,” and “Indiana birth certificateapostille same day” surface clear,trustworthy answers. We explainwho issues apostilles in Indiana, which documents qualify, the differencebetween state and federal routes, realistictimelines, specific readiness steps, and howourexpedited in-person filingminimizes risk and delays.

Quick Answer

Authority: For documentsthat originate in Indiana—certified vital records, court judgments,properly notarized documents, universityrecords, business filings—theIndiana Secretary of Stateissues the apostille. Forfederal documents such as anFBI Identity History Summary(background check), IRS Form 6166,or FDA/USDA/USP certificates, theapostille must come from theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C.

Speed: DIY mail-in oftentakes weeks. With our compliance pre-checkand in-person filing,many Indiana state documents can becompleted in ~24 hours. We always provide asame-day scan of yourapostilled document; shipping the originalis optional.

Flat Rate:$145 per document —government fees included.Scans are always included.Optional $20 U.S. shipping;international shipping available by quote.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is astandardized certificate used among membersof theHague Apostille Convention (1961).It does not change or translate your record;it certifies the authority of the signatureor seal on your document so that a foreignorganization can accept it withoutadditional local verification. If yourdestination country participates inthe Hague Convention, the apostille isusually the final step. If itdoes not (non-Hague), your documentfollows anauthentication path andthenembassy/consular legalization. We handle both routes.

Who Issues Apostilles in Indiana?

ForIndiana-origin documents—like a certifiedbirth certificate from the IndianaDepartment of Health or county healthdepartment, amarriage certificate from MarionCounty, a divorce decree certifiedby a clerk of court, apower of attorney notarized by anIndiana notary,Articles of Incorporationregistered with the Secretary of State, ordiplomas/transcripts verified byyour registrar—the issuing authority for theapostille is theIndiana Secretary of State.

Federal records (e.g.,FBI background checks) must beapostilled by theU.S. Department of State.Submitting federal documents to Indiana willbe rejected and can add weeks of delay. Whenin doubt, follow this memory aid:follow the issuer. Indiana issuer →Indiana Secretary of State. U.S. federalissuer → U.S. Department of State.

When Hoosiers Need an Apostille

Typical Indiana scenarios requiring anapostille include:

• Immigration & visas —Apostilled birth certificates,marriage certificates, andFBI background checks forresidence or work permits abroad.
• University admission or facultyplacement— Apostilleddiplomas & transcripts fromIndiana University (IU),Purdue University,University of Notre Dame,Ball State, Butler,Valparaiso,Indiana State, IUPUI,and others.
• Professional licensing —Apostilled licenses,education records, and sometimesFBI reports for nurses, teachers,engineers, accountants, attorneys workingoverseas.
• Dual citizenship & familyregistry— Apostilled vital records andcourt orders for Italian, Irish,Polish, Portuguese, or Latin Americanconsular filings.
• Business & banking —ApostilledArticles of Incorporation,Certificates of Good Standing,board resolutions, andPOAs to open foreignsubsidiaries, bank accounts, or bid oncontracts.
• Marriage or adoption abroad— Apostilledbirth/marriage certificates andcourt judgments for recognitionoverseas.

DIY Mail-In vs. Our Expedited Service(Comparison)

Factor	DIY Mail-In	Our Expedited Service
Timeline	~2–6+ weeks by mail; longer duringbacklogs or for errors	As fast as 24 hoursfor many Indiana state documents withreadiness
Risk of Rejection	Higher (wrong route, stalecertificate, notary defects, missingfees)	Lower (expert pre-check, correctrouting, compliant packaging)
Status Visibility	Limited once mailed	Proactive monitoring +same-day scan on issuance
Effort	Self-prepare, mail, track,troubleshoot returns	Handled end-to-end: review, in-personfiling, monitoring, scan, optionalshipping
Best For	Flexible timelines, DIY comfort	Deadlines, visas, onboarding,closings, stress-free handling

Pricing & ETA (Shipping Optional, ScansAlways Included)

Document Readiness in Indiana

Getting “apostille-ready” is the differencebetween a smooth 24-hour turnaround andweeks of delay. For Indiana, readinesstypically means:

Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, Death)

Use certified copies fromtheIndiana Department of Health (IDOH)or the appropriatecounty health department/clerk.Photocopies and scans cannot be apostilled.If your certificate is old, damaged, or hardto read, order a new certified copy beforefiling. For birth and death records destinedabroad, ensure they include the registrar’ssignature and visible seal.

Court Documents

Divorce decrees,name change orders,adoption rulings,probate orders, orguardianship letters must becertified by the clerk of court. Plain copies or web printouts arerejected. If you only have a plain copy,request a certified or exemplified copy fromthe clerk before apostille.

Notarized Documents

Powers of attorney, affidavits, travelconsents, permission letters, and corporateresolutions must be notarized by anIndiana notary public.Check for complete venue, date, the signer’sname, notary signature, printed name,commission number/expiration, and legiblestamp. If you used remote onlinenotarization (RON), confirm the destinationcountry accepts it; many still preferwet-ink notarizations.

Education Records

Diplomas and transcripts fromIU Bloomington,Purdue West Lafayette,Notre Dame (South Bend),Ball State (Muncie),Butler (Indianapolis),Indiana State (Terre Haute),IUPUI (Indianapolis), and otherIndiana colleges frequently requireregistrar verification or asealed packet. Each campushas its own process; we coordinate the rightformat before filing so yourdiploma or transcript apostillesails through.

Business & Trade Documents

Articles ofIncorporation/Organization,Certificates of Existence/GoodStanding, board resolutions,bylaws/operating agreements, andcommercial invoices/Certificates ofOriginmay require certified copies from theIndiana Secretary of State or propernotarization. Tell us the destination anduse case (opening a bank account, tender,cross-border sale) and we’ll structure thepacket accordingly.

Step-by-Step: Indiana Apostille Process

High-level overview; we protect clientprivacy and our proprietary workflow.

1. Classify the document —Indiana state vs. U.S. federal.Follow the issuer.
2. Readiness pre-check —Certified copies, clerk certifications,registrar verifications, notarizationquality, plus destination path (Hagueapostille vs.authentication/legalization).
3. Submission — In-personfiling at the Indiana Secretary of Statefor state documents; federal filing inWashington, D.C. for U.S. agency records(e.g.,FBI background check apostille).
4. Monitoring — We trackstatus continuously, fix issues quickly,and prevent re-mail loops.
5. Issuance & delivery —You receive asame-day scan when theapostille is issued; original shipping isoptional ($20 U.S.; international byquote).

Document Playbooks (Vital, Education,Notarized, Corporate, Federal/FBI)

Birth Certificate Apostille (Indiana)

Abirth certificate apostilleis typically requested forresidency abroad,dual citizenship,marriage overseas, orschool enrollment. Use acertified copy issued bythe IDOH or county health department. Wepre-check formatting, file with the IndianaSecretary of State, and provide a same-dayscan upon issuance.

Marriage Certificate Apostille (Indiana)

For spousal visas,marriage registration abroad, orname changes, obtain acertified marriage certificatefrom the county clerk/recorder where themarriage was recorded (e.g.,Marion County,Hamilton County,Lake County). We handle theapostille filing so yourmarriage certificate apostilleis accepted abroad.

Divorce Decree Apostille (Indiana)

Remarriage, inheritance, or certainresidence permits require adivorce decree apostille. Request acertified copy from theclerk of court, then we apostille it withthe Indiana Secretary of State. Plain copiesor docket printouts are not acceptable.

Death Certificate Apostille (Indiana)

Estates, pensions, or transfer of assetsoverseas often need adeath certificate apostille. Use acertified copy from theIDOH or county. We confirm the certificatemeets apostille standards before filing.

Diplomas & Transcripts (IU, Purdue,Notre Dame & more)

Employers and universities abroad frequentlyrequire an apostille on academiccredentials. Our team coordinates registrarverification for IU,Purdue, Notre Dame,Ball State, Butler,Indiana State, IUPUI,Valparaiso, and others, and thenfiles for apostille. See our detailed guideto theapostille for diplomas &transcripts.

Notarized Documents (POA, Affidavits,Consents)

Many international transactions rely onpowers of attorney (POA),sworn statements, or parental travelconsents. We check notarial wording, correctany certificate issues, and file forapostille—orauthentication + consularlegalizationfor non-Hague destinations. Learn more aboutnotarized documents apostille.

Corporate & Trade Documents (IndianaBusinesses)

Opening a branch abroad, bidding on atender, or onboarding with an overseas bank?We apostilleArticles ofIncorporation/Organization, Certificates of Good Standing,board resolutions, POAs,and trade paperwork. Tell us yourdestination and use case; we’ll prepare thecorrect sequence and wording to avoid costlyreturns.

FBI Background Check Apostille (Federal)

AnFBI Identity History Summaryis a federal record; theIndiana Secretary of State cannotapostille it. We route it to theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C. and provide a same-day scanupon issuance. If you are still securingyour report, start here:FBI background check apostille (serviceoverview).

Indiana Use Cases & Scenarios (AmericansUsing Records Abroad)

• Hoosiers relocating for work— Apostilled birth certificates,marriage records,diplomas, andFBI checks for employeronboarding and residence permits in theEU, UK, Canada, Australia, the Gulf, andAsia.
• Graduate admissions andpost-docs— Apostilled IU orPurdue transcripts/diplomas forprograms in Germany, France, Netherlands,Spain, Japan, or Korea.
• Healthcare professionals— Apostilled licenses,education records, and sometimesFBI checks for credentialing inthe Middle East and Europe.
• Teachers & TEFL placements— Apostilled diplomas andstate background checks/FBI forschools in the UAE, Qatar, China, Korea,and Latin America.
• Dual citizenship —Apostilled birth,marriage, anddeath certificates for Italian,Irish, Polish, Portuguese, and Mexicanconsulates.
• Indiana companies —Apostilled Good Standing andPOAs to open foreign bankaccounts, sign local contracts, orregister subsidiaries.
• International marriage oradoption— Apostilled vital records and courtjudgments recognized by foreign registrarsand courts.

Indiana Cities We Serve (Local Coverage)

We file at the state level and serve clientsstatewide—urban, suburban, and rural.Frequent requests come from:

• Indianapolis Area —Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers,Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville,Greenwood, Lawrence, Beech Grove
• Northeast Indiana — FortWayne, New Haven, Auburn, Angola,Kendallville
• North-Central — SouthBend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Goshen, Granger
• Northwest Indiana — Gary,Hammond, East Chicago, Merrillville,Valparaiso, Portage
• Wabash & Lafayette —West Lafayette, Lafayette, Monticello,Attica
• East-Central — Muncie,Anderson, Richmond, New Castle
• South-Central —Bloomington, Columbus, Seymour, Bedford
• West-Central — TerreHaute, Greencastle, Brazil
• Southwest & Ohio River— Evansville, Newburgh, Jasper, Washington
• Southeast —Jeffersonville, Clarksville, New Albany,Madison

County & Campus Coverage

We routinely process records fromMarion,Lake,Allen,Hamilton,St. Joseph,Elkhart,Tippecanoe,Vanderburgh,Monroe,Delaware,Madison,Hendricks,Johnson,Porter,LaPorte, and all othercounties. Campus work spansIndiana University,Purdue University,University of Notre Dame,Ball State, Butler,IUPUI, Indiana State,Valparaiso,University of Southern Indiana, andmore.

Hague vs. Non-Hague: Embassy LegalizationPath

If your destination country is aHague member, a state orfederal apostille is the final step. If yourdestination isnon-Hague (e.g., UnitedArab Emirates, China, Egypt,Vietnam—policies change), we follow anauthentication path and then secureembassy/consulate legalization.Requirements vary by country and documenttype; we will route your file correctly fromthe start to avoid returns.

Timelines, Risks & Contingency Planning

Government workloads fluctuate. Mail-inpackets can sit for weeks; any error (wrongfee, outdated certificate, flawednotarization, incorrect cover letter)triggers a return. To protect your timeline:

• Front-load readiness —Obtain fresh certified copies, correctnotarization, and registrar packets beforefiling.
• In-person filing — If youhave fixed dates (visa appointment, schoolstart, onboarding, closing), avoid mail-inrisks.
• Leverage scans — Manyconsulates/schools accept asame-day scan to beginprocessing while the original ships.
• Parallel tracks — If yourcase needs both Indiana and federal work(e.g., diploma + FBI), we can run themconcurrently.

Top Indiana Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong authority —Submitting an FBI report toIndiana or anIndiana county record to the U.S.Department of State.
• Uncertified or old vitalrecords— Photocopies, faded stamps, or outdatedformats are rejected.
• Notary defects — Missingseal, wrong venue, incomplete certificate,or RON not accepted by the destination.
• Skipping registrar steps— Diplomas/transcripts withoutverification or a sealed packet.
• Late starts — Mail-inplus re-mail cycles blow up timelines;expedite if you have deadlines.
• No destination check —Hague vs. non-Hague dictates the entirepath; confirm before filing.

Readiness Checklist (Indiana)

• Is your documentstate (Indiana) orfederal (U.S. agency)?
• For vital/court records, do you have acertified copy (not aphotocopy)?
• For notarized items, is the notarizationIndiana-compliant (venue,date, signature, seal, propercertificate)?
• For diplomas/transcripts, has theregistrar provided anyrequired verification or sealed packet?
• Is the destinationHague (apostille) ornon-Hague (authentication+ legalization)?
• Do you have adeadline that meritsin-person filing and tracked handling?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues apostilles for Indianadocuments?

TheIndiana Secretary of Stateissues apostilles for Indiana-origindocuments (vital, court, notarized,education, corporate).

Can Indiana apostille my FBI backgroundcheck?

No. The FBI report is afederal document; it must be apostilled bytheU.S. Department of Statein Washington, D.C.

How fast can an Indiana apostille becompleted?

DIY mail-in takes weeks. With readinessand in-person filing,~24 hours is possible formany Indiana state documents.

Do apostilles expire?

The apostille itself does not expire, butmany consulates/universities prefer recentissuances (often within 90 days). Iftiming matters, expedite.

Is shipping required to get my apostille?

No.Shipping is optional. Wealways provide asame-day scan. U.S.shipping is $20 flat; internationalshipping is quoted.

Do you provide certified translations?

Yes—when requested by the destination. Wecan coordinate certified translationsafter the apostille is issued sothe translation reflects the finaldocument set.

Can you coordinate multi-state or complexfiles?

Yes. We routinely coordinate multiplestate filings and run parallelstate/federal tracks to compress totaltimelines.

Are you a government office?

No. We are a private service thatprepares, files, monitors, and deliversapostilled and legalizeddocuments—end-to-end.

Mini-Glossary

• Apostille — Astandardized certificate used among Haguecountries to authenticate a publicdocument’s signature or seal forinternational use.
• Certified Copy — Anofficial copy issued by the proper agencyor court; not a photocopy or scan.
• Authentication — Theverification pathway used for non-Haguedestinations prior to consularlegalization.
• Consular Legalization — Aforeign embassy/consulate certifies yourdocument for acceptance in non-Haguecountries.
• Registrar Verification —A university registrar confirms andpackages academic records for apostillepurposes.
• RON (Remote OnlineNotarization)— Notarization conducted online; checkdestination acceptance and Indianacompliance.

Related Guides & Tools

• Academic Diplomas & TranscriptsApostille— Indiana university records (IU, Purdue,Notre Dame, Ball State, Butler, etc.).
• Death Certificate Apostille— For estates, pensions, and insurancematters abroad.
• Power of Attorney & NotarizedDocuments Apostille— POAs, affidavits, parental consents,corporate resolutions.
• Marriage Certificate Apostille— Spousal visas and marriage recognitionabroad.
• Divorce Decree Apostille— Remarriage, inheritance, and courtprocess acknowledgment abroad.
• Birth Certificate Apostille— Dual citizenship, immigration, schoolenrollment overseas.

Disclaimer: Requirements and timelinescan change without notice. We advise basedon current guidance from the IndianaSecretary of State and the U.S. Departmentof State at the time of your order.