Legalization & Authentication
Complete Legalization, Apostille and Authentication Services
Serving clients nationwide from Washington DC Recognized by the U.S. Department of State and foreign embassies
Fast Reliable Apostille and Embassy Legalization Services
Fast reliable Apostille and Embassy Legalization services for documents used outside the United States.
We handle every step of the authentication process — including Secretary of State Certification, U.S. Department of State Authentication, and Embassy Legalization — ensuring documents meet international requirements for both Hague Convention and non-Hague Convention countries. Whether you need an Apostille for overseas use or full legalization for countries requiring embassy approval, our team delivers compliant, court-ready, and government-accepted documentation for global business, immigration, education, and commercial export.
For Priority Processing and Rush Service - Contact us
Hague Convention Countries — Apostille
All documents for use in Hague Convention Countries require an apostille stamp from the Secretary of State or the US Department of State, depending on the type of document. This includes corporate documents signed and notarized by a Notary Public, or documents issued by a federal entity such as the FDA, USDA, USPTO, EPA, FBI, or the US Department of Homeland Security. We can obtain the apostille for documents issued by these federal entities directly from the US Department of State.
Cost: Send an email with the document type, number of documents, and we will quickly reply with cost and time frames for both rush and regular service. Email us at orders@certifiedpatentcopies.com
Non-Hague Convention Countries
All documents for use in Non-Hague Convention Countries — countries not part of the Hague Apostille Convention — require a multi-step authentication and legalization process. This ensures the document is recognized as valid by foreign governments, courts, and ministries.
Secretary of State Certification
The document must first be certified by the Secretary of State in the state where it was issued. This step verifies:
- The authenticity of the signature
- The authority of the signer
- The seal of the issuing office
U.S. Department of State Authentication
After state certification, the document must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications. This step confirms:
- The legitimacy of the Secretary of State's certification
- That the document meets federal authentication standards
Embassy or Consulate Legalization
The final step is legalization by the embassy or consulate of the destination country. This step confirms:
- The document is fully authenticated
- It is legally acceptable for use in that specific country
- All prior certifications are valid and properly issued
Cost: Call or send us an email with the document type, number of documents, and country needed. We will quickly reply with cost and time frames for both rush and regular service. Call (202) 999-0222 or email orders@certifiedpatentcopies.com
Additional Requirements May Apply — Depending on the document type and issuing authority, additional steps may be required.
Send Your Documents
Send orders and files by email to orders@certifiedpatentcopies.com