Introduction
Hey there! If you’ve had a document notarized and now need it to be legally recognized abroad, you’ve probably been told that you need to apostille the notarized document first.
Every week at Virtual Same Day Marriage, I help clients from across the U.S. — especially in popular hubs like:
👉 Apostille Miami
👉 Apostille Houston
👉 Apostille Chicago
I can tell you — this process doesn’t have to be stressful if you know the steps! In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to apostille a notarized document — and how we can help you do it faster and easier.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is an official government-issued certificate that makes U.S. documents legally recognized in other countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
👉 Without an apostille, many foreign governments, banks, courts, and schools will not accept your notarized U.S. documents — even if they were notarized correctly.
Common documents requiring apostille include:
✅ Apostille notarized documents (affidavits, powers of attorney, contracts, agreements)
✅ Business documents
✅ Academic records
✅ Court documents
✅ Vital records
Why You Might Need to Apostille a Notarized Document
Here are some of the most common reasons our clients request an apostille notarized document:
✅ International real estate transactions
✅ Immigration cases and family sponsorships
✅ Marriage or divorce recognition abroad
✅ International banking or finance matters
✅ Foreign legal proceedings
✅ Enrolling children in foreign schools
👉 If you’re working with a foreign government, embassy, or legal body — you’ll almost always need to apostille the notarized document first.
How to Apostille a Notarized Document — Step by Step
1️⃣ Get Your Document Properly Notarized
Before you can apostille a notarized document, it must be notarized properly:
👉 Use a licensed notary public in your state.
👉 Make sure the notary includes their seal, signature, and date.
👉 Double-check that all required sections of the notary block are completed.
👉 We see clients in Miami, Houston, and Chicago run into issues when using out-of-date or incomplete notarizations — so this step is critical!
2️⃣ Submit to Your State Secretary of State
Next, submit your notarized document to your state’s Secretary of State office for apostille processing:
👉 For apostille Miami, submit to the Florida Department of State.
👉 For apostille Houston, submit to the Texas Secretary of State.
👉 For apostille Chicago, submit to the Illinois Secretary of State.
👉 Most states allow for in-person submission or mail-in service — but we recommend using a trusted apostille service to avoid delays and mistakes.
3️⃣ Know Which Documents Need Apostille
Not all documents require apostille — only those being sent to a country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Common types of notarized documents we process include:
✅ Apostille power of attorney
✅ Apostille affidavit
✅ Apostille corporate documents
✅ Apostille court documents
✅ Apostille medical records
✅ Apostille school transcripts
👉 If you’re unsure whether your document needs apostille, just ask — we’re happy to advise!
Why Use a Professional Apostille Service?
I’ll be honest — while you can try to handle this yourself, here’s what clients tell us happens when they do:
❌ Incorrect notarization
❌ Missing forms or incorrect submissions
❌ Rejected documents
❌ Long delays — especially in Miami, Houston, or Chicago, where state offices can be backlogged
✅ When you use Virtual Same Day Marriage, here’s what you get:
✅ We verify that your document is ready for apostille.
✅ We handle all paperwork and submission.
✅ We process apostille Miami, apostille Houston, and apostille Chicago requests daily.
✅ We offer fast turnaround, including expedited services.
✅ We provide real-time updates and tracking.
How Long Does It Take?
👉 Standard processing: 1–3 weeks
👉 Expedited processing: 3–5 business days
👉 With our apostille Miami, apostille Houston, and apostille Chicago services, we can often complete notarized document apostilles in as little as 1–3 business days depending on readiness.
How Much Does It Cost?
👉 State fee: $10–$20 per document (varies by state)
👉 Professional service fee: $75–$300 depending on processing speed and document complexity
👉 See our full guide: How Much Does an Apostille Cost?
Internal Link Suggestions
👉 How to Apostille a Divorce Decree
👉 How to Apostille a Passport Copy
👉 How to Apostille School Transcripts
👉 How Much Does an Apostille Cost?
External Link Suggestions
👉 Florida Department of State — Apostille and Authentication
👉 Texas Secretary of State — Authentication Unit
👉 Illinois Secretary of State — Apostille & Certification Services
👉 Hague Apostille Convention — Official Country List
FAQ Section
1. How do I apostille a notarized document?
First, get your document properly notarized. Then submit it to your state’s Secretary of State — or use a professional apostille Miami, apostille Houston, or apostille Chicago service for faster processing.
2. How long does it take to apostille a notarized document?
Standard processing takes 1–3 weeks. Expedited options (such as apostille Miami, apostille Houston, or apostille Chicago) can process in 3–5 business days or faster.
3. What documents can I apostille?
We regularly process apostille notarized documents, apostille court documents, apostille affidavits, apostille corporate documents, and more.
4. Can I apostille a notarized document myself?
Yes — but mistakes are common. We recommend using a professional service to ensure correct notarization and submission, especially in busy states like Florida, Texas, and Illinois.
5. Can Virtual Same Day Marriage help with my apostille request?
Absolutely! We handle apostille Miami, apostille Houston, apostille Chicago, and other requests daily — fast, accurate, and professional.
Conclusion
If you need to apostille a notarized document, don’t risk delays or rejections. Whether it’s for business, legal matters, immigration, or personal reasons — accuracy and speed matter.
👉 We provide trusted apostille services for notarized documents of all types.
👉 We offer apostille Miami, apostille Houston, and apostille Chicago services for fast local processing.
👉 We guide you through the entire process — and handle the paperwork so you don’t have to.
👉 Ready to get started? Contact Virtual Same Day Marriage today — we’ll help you get your notarized document apostilled quickly and correctly.
Alt Text Suggestions
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