Power of Attorney & Notarized Documents Apostille: Complete State-by-State Guide

Powers of Attorney (POA),affidavits,consent letters,corporate resolutions, andmany other documents signed before a notaryare frequently needed overseas. Banks,property registries, immigration offices,schools, and courts abroad often require anapostille (or embassylegalization for non-Haguecountries) so your notary act is recognizedas valid. This guide explains how to makeanynotarized documentapostille-ready—including the right notary wording, whencounty certification is needed, which stateto use, processing times, and how to avoidthe mistakes that cause returns. You’ll alsofindstate-by-state links so youcan move forward immediately.

What Is an Apostille for NotarizedDocuments?

An apostille is acertificate used by countries that belong tothe Hague Apostille Convention. Itverifies thesignature and capacity of thenotary public and the seal on yourdocument so it can be accepted abroadwithout further authentication. Forcountries that are not in theConvention, the process isauthentication + legalization: the state authenticates the notary’ssignature first; then the destinationcountry’s embassy or consulate legalizes thedocument.

Important: the apostille doesnot validate what your documentsays. It validateswho notarized it and that thenotarization is genuine under U.S. law.

Common Use Cases & POA Types

International scenarios that frequentlyrequire a notarized document with apostilleinclude:

• General or Special Power ofAttorneyto sell property, manage a bank account,or act before a notary abroad
• Real estate closings,title, and land registry filings
• Banking & investments(account opening/closing, beneficiarychanges)
• Corporate filings (boardresolutions, incumbency certificates,officer authorizations)
• Consent letters (minortravel, parental authorization for schoolor relocation)
• Affidavits & declarations(identity, status, single status/“noimpediment” statements)
• Medical & guardianshipauthorizations
• Academic forms (consentto release records, degree verificationwhen notarized)

Notary Certificates That Work(Acknowledgment vs. Jurat)

The state issues an apostille for thenotary certificate attachedto your document. The two most common are:

Certificate Type	What It Means	Best For	Key Elements
Acknowledgment	Signer personally appeared, wasidentified, and acknowledged signingthe document.	Powers of Attorney, corporateresolutions, banking forms, realestate documents.	Venue (State/County), date, notarystatement, signer name, notarysignature, stamp, commissionexpiration.
Jurat	Signer personally appeared, wasidentified, and swore/affirmed thecontents are true; signed in thenotary’s presence.	Affidavits, declarations, statementsof fact, status letters.	All acknowledgment elementsplus wording aboutoath/affirmation and signed before thenotary.

Other forms includesignature witnessing andcopy certifications (wherepermitted). If your notary isn’t sure, askfor a standard state acknowledgment or juratand attach your document behind it.

Which Notarized Documents Qualify?

Any document properly notarized by a U.S.notary public can usually be apostilled,provided it doesn’t violate state rules (forexample, vital records or passportsgenerally cannot be “copy certified” by anotary). The apostille verifies thenotary, not the document’s content.

Document Type	Eligible for Apostille?	How to Prepare	Notes
Power of Attorney (General or Special)	Yes	Attach an acknowledgment;signer appears before notary with ID.	If multiple signers, ensure each isnotarized or use separatecertificates.
Affidavits / Declarations	Yes	Use ajurat (oath/affirmation) ifthe destination requires swornstatements.	Include specific facts the receivingauthority requested.
Corporate Resolutions / Incumbency	Yes	Officer signs before a notary; includetitle and company info in thecertificate or in the body.	Some destinations also ask for astate-issued good standing certificate(handled separately).
Consent Letters (Minors, School,Travel)	Yes	Notarize with acknowledgment or juratper instructions.	Include parent/guardian ID details;some countries specify exact language.
Translations (Translator’sCertificate)	Yes	Translator signs anotarized certificate ofaccuracy.	The apostille is on the translator’snotarized statement, not on thetranslation itself.

Step-by-Step: How to Apostille a POA orNotarized Document

1. Draft the document or usethe form provided by the receivingauthority. Confirm whether you need anacknowledgment or ajurat, and whether atranslation is required.
2. Notarize correctly.Appear before a notary (in person orapproved RON). Ensure the certificateincludes venue (state/county), date,signer name, notary signature, stamp, andcommission expiration. For jurats, sign infront of the notary afterswearing/affirming.
3. County certification (ifrequired). In some states, the county clerk mustcertify the notary’s signature before thestate will issue an apostille. We’lladvise if your state requires this step.
4. Submit to the correct state. The apostille is issued by theSecretary of State where the notary iscommissioned. Include the request form, fee, and aprepaid, trackable return envelope ifmailing.
5. Receive the apostille.The state attaches a certificatevalidating the notary’s signature andseal. If your destination is not a Haguecountry, proceed to the relevantembassy/consulate forlegalization.
6. Translate if needed. Ifthe destination requires a certifiedtranslation, arrange it in parallel orafter apostille per the receivingauthority’s rules.

State vs. Federal: Where to Send It

Notarized documents (including Powers ofAttorney) arestate matters. They areapostilled by theSecretary of State wherethe notary is commissioned. Donot send notarized documents to theU.S. Department of State in Washington, DC(that office handlesfederal records only).

Document	Who Signs	Apostille/Authentication Authority
POA / Affidavit / Consent / CorporateResolution	U.S. Notary Public	Secretary of State (same state asthe notary)
FBI, USDA, USPTO, CRDA, etc.	Federal official/agency	U.S. Department of State(Washington, DC)

Do You Need County Certification?

Some states require a two-step chain forcertain notarizations: thecounty clerk firstcertifies the notary’s signature, then theSecretary of State issuesthe apostille. Other states let you gostraight to the Secretary of State. Weverify the requirement for your state beforesubmission so your packet isn’t returned.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) &e-Notary

Many states permit RON orelectronic notarization. Whether theapostille office will accept it depends onstate rules and the specific certificateformat. Some foreign authorities stillpreferwet-ink notarization. Iftiming is tight or the destination isstrict, choose wet-ink notarization tominimize risk. If you use RON, make sure thenotary adds any required technology providerdetails and follows your state’s e-notarystandards.

Timing, Fees & Shipping

Turnaround varies by state and submissionmethod:

• Mail-in: Often 1–4 weeks.Errors (missing fees, wrong state, flawedcertificate) lead to returns withoutprocessing.
• Walk-in: Faster whereavailable; lines and hours vary.
• Courier submission:Generally fastest. We pre-checkeligibility, deliver in person, and pickup immediately when ready—then sendsame-day scans.

State fees are charged per document. Addshipping and any county certification feeswhen applicable. Professional handlingavoids rejections and compresses timelines,which matters for closings, court dates,banking windows, and visa appointments.

Translations & Multi-Country Use

Many destinations require acertified translation ofyour apostilled document. Some countriesinsist on sworn/court-certified translators.If multiple authorities will requestoriginals, prepareduplicate notarized originalsor separate notarized copies and apostilleeach one so you can file in parallel.

Special Cases (Corporate, Real Estate,Minors, Medical)

Corporate & Banking

When a company grants a POA or executes aresolution, make sure the signer’stitle is shown and that thenotary acknowledges the capacity (e.g.,“Jane Smith, as Chief Financial Officer ofABC, Inc.”). Foreign banks often request anincumbency/authority letteron letterhead, notarized and apostilled,alongside the resolution.

Real Estate Abroad

Property registries typically require aspecial POA stating parcelnumbers, property address, and specificpowers (sell, sign deed, appear beforenotary). Use the registry’s template whereprovided and attach an acknowledgment.Consider preparingtwo original POAs andapostilling both: one for thenotario/solicitor and one for the registry.

Minors & School Matters

For travel or school consent, list thechild’s full name, DOB, passportdetails(if requested), destination, dates, andcontact info. Both parents usually sign andmust be notarized individually unless acourt order states otherwise.

Medical & Guardianship

Healthcare POAs and guardianship affidavitsare often jurats (sworn). Include contactdetails for the agent and any limits. Somecountries ask forcopy ID pagesattached—check local rules.

Pre-Submission Checklist

• Document drafted or provided by receivingauthority; required powers or statementsincluded
• Correctnotary certificateattached (acknowledgment or jurat)
• Certificate showsvenue, date, signer name, notarysignature, stamp, commissionexpiration
• Names match IDs and the document body;titles shown for corporate signers
• County certification obtained if yourstate requires it for this notary
• Submitting to thestate where the notary iscommissioned
• State request form completed;fee enclosed; prepaidtrackable return envelope included
• Translation arranged (certified or swornas required)
• Extra notarized originals prepared ifmultiple authorities need originals

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing or incomplete notarycertificate(no venue, no commission expiration,illegible stamp)
• Using the wrong state—apostille must come from the notary’sstate, not where you live
• Skipping county certificationwhen the state requires it
• Assuming RON is always accepted—some states or foreign authorities won’taccept it for certain filings
• Submitting photocopies without propernotarized copy certification(or for documents that cannot be copycertified)
• Forgetting translationsor using the wrong translation format
• Expecting same-day stateservice—availability is limited and varies bystate

State-by-State Quick Links

Select the state where yournotary is commissioned toview state-specific instructions fornotarized documents and POAs.

Alabama Apostille Services	Alaska Apostille Services	Arizona Apostille Services
Arkansas Apostille Services	California Apostille Services	Colorado Apostille Services
Connecticut Apostille Services	Delaware Apostille Services	District of Columbia ApostilleServices
Florida Apostille Services	Georgia Apostille Services	Hawaii Apostille Services
Idaho Apostille Services	Illinois Apostille Services	Indiana Apostille Services
Iowa Apostille Services	Kansas Apostille Services	Kentucky Apostille Services
Louisiana Apostille Services	Maine Apostille Services	Maryland Apostille Services
Massachusetts Apostille Services	Michigan Apostille Services	Minnesota Apostille Services
Mississippi Apostille Services	Missouri Apostille Services	Montana Apostille Services
Nebraska Apostille Services	Nevada Apostille Services	New Hampshire Apostille Services
New Jersey Apostille Services	New Mexico Apostille Services	New York Apostille Services
North Carolina ApostilleServices	North Dakota Apostille Services	Ohio Apostille Services
Oklahoma Apostille Services	Oregon Apostille Services	Pennsylvania Apostille Services
Rhode Island Apostille Services	South Carolina ApostilleServices	South Dakota Apostille Services
Tennessee Apostille Services	Texas Apostille Services	Utah Apostille Services
Vermont Apostille Services	Virginia Apostille Services	Washington Apostille Services
West Virginia Apostille Services	Wisconsin Apostille Services	Wyoming Apostille Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state should issue the apostille formy POA?

The state where thenotary is commissioned.If you notarized in New York, theapostille must come from New York—even ifyou live in another state.

Is remote online notarization (RON)acceptable for apostille?

Often yes, but acceptance depends on thestate’s rules and the destination country.When in doubt or under time pressure, usea traditional wet-ink notarization.

Do I need county certification?

Some states require the county clerk tocertify the notary before the state issuesthe apostille. We confirm whether yourstate and your notary need this extrastep.

Can I apostille a photocopy?

Only if it’s accompanied by a propernotarized copy certification(where permitted) or a notarized statementreferencing the attached copy. Theapostille verifies the notary’s signature,not the copy itself.

How long does it take?

Mail-in is often 1–4 weeks; walk-invaries; courier handling is usuallyfastest because issues are correctedbefore submission and pickup is immediatewhen ready.

What does it cost?

Fees vary by state and are charged perdocument. Add any county certification andshipping. Professional handling coversreview, prep, submission, scans oncompletion, and secure return.

My destination is not in the HagueConvention—what now?

Follow theauthentication + legalizationpath: state authentication, thenembassy/consulate legalization for thedestination country.

Can two principals sign the same POA?

Yes, but each signature typically needs tobeseparately notarized (twocertificates) unless your notary caninclude both signers properly on onecertificate.

Do I need a translation?

Many countries require a certifiedtranslation of the apostilled document.Some require sworn/court-certifiedtranslators. Arrange translation inparallel to avoid delays.

Helpful Resources

• Hague Apostille Convention — Country List:HCCH Status Table
• Federal Authentications (for federaldocuments only):U.S. Department of State —Authentications
• Popular State Pages:California•Florida•New York•Texas
• Related Guides:Marriage Certificates•Divorce Decrees•Death Certificates•Academic Diplomas & Transcripts

Get Help Today

International filings move faster when thenotary certificate is perfect, theright state office is used,and any county step ortranslation is handled inthe same workflow. We check your POA ornotarized document, prepare the requiredcertificates, submit to the correctSecretary of State, sendsame-day scans on completion, andship your originals securely—so you can meetclosings, court filings, and consularappointments on time.

Disclaimer: This guide provides generalinformation. State rules, fees, andprocessing times can change withoutnotice. Always follow current stateinstructions or ask us to confirm them foryou.