How to apostille a document issued in DC?
If your document is issued in the state of the District of Columbia (DC) and will be used abroad, an Apostille is required. The Apostille may be affixed to documents bearing the official signature and seal of a currently commissioned DC notary public or the current DC State Registrar.
Click here to see what should be included in a properly and correctly notarized document.
In DC, your original document should be signed and stamped by a local notary public if it’s non-recordable, or certified by the public official (the county/court clerk or registrar) if it’s recordable. Then the Apostille is processed by the DC Secretary of State’s Office.
What documents can be apostilled in DC?
Any public, private, or corporate documents issued in DC can be apostilled. These documents include, but not limited to:
Birth Certificates
Death Certificates
Marriage Certificates
Divorce Certificates
Court Documents
State or Local Background Checks
Petition for Name Change
Copy of Driver’s License
Copy of Passport
Single Status Affidavit
Affidavit of One and the Same
Power of Attorney
Diplomas and Transcripts
Proof of Income
Employment Verification Letter
Bank Statement
Tax Returns
Articles of Incorporation/Articles of Organization
Corporate Amendments
Company’s Annual Report/Statement of Information
Bylaws/Operating Agreements
Good Standing Certificate
Business License
Meeting Minutes
Board Resolutions
Corporate Stock Ledger
Contracts and Agreements
How to obtain vital records in DC?
To get an apostille for vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events that occurred within DCD, you must first order a certified copy of the vital record. The fastest and easiest way is to order it online at VitalCheck, which is authorized by the government to provide vital records for individuals in America.
What if my documents are federally issued?
Federal documents (like FBI Background Checks, Certificate of Naturalization, and Trademarks) are not authenticated at the state level. In this case, the service you’ll need is the Apostille of the U.S. Department of State.
Special guidelines for documents in DC
Most documents must be either notarized by a DC notary public or signed by an authorized head of a DC government agency.
Birth and death certificates must be original from the District of Columbia. They must be on letter size (8.5”X11”) paper. If you need these original Birth Certificates or Death Certificates, contact the DC Department of Health. If you need these certificates from another jurisdiction, you must have them authenticated where they were issued.
For the purposes of authentication, marriage certificates and divorce decrees must be certified copies issued by the US Superior Court for the District of Columbia and have the triple seal. A triple seal means there are three signatures on documents from the Superior Court, however, during the COVID-19 health emergency the triple seal is not required. You must still provide the certified copy from the court; these documents may not be notarized.
What’s the apostille process, and what should I provide?
1. Order the Apostille service online. If you prefer to pay by check, make it payable to American Notary Service Center Inc. Fees and processing time can be found here.
2. Mail your documents to our office for processing.
Mailing Address:
American Notary Service Center
7512 Diplomat Drive, Suite 101,
Manassas, VA 20109Besides DC, we can also apostille documents issued from other states, D.C., or the U.S. Federal agencies. The Apostille process can be complicated, time-consuming, and distracting that requires expertise and experience. So just leave it to us! Our experts can provide you with a full range of fast services that allow you to save time and focus on your own careers and key areas.
American Notary Service Center Inc. provides fair, fast, confidential, and professional document notarization and certification services for our clients. We also provide various assistance services to small businesses led by socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Our service helps small businesses obtain federal government contracts, gain a foothold in the market, and boost their sales. For more information, please visit our website at www.usnotarycenter.com, and contact us by calling 202-599-0777 or by email at info@usnotarycenter.com.