Served 123 LLC handles apostille and authentication for U.S.-issued documents going overseas — coordinated with the right Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, and returned with the issuing authority's certificate attached and ready to present.
Tell us the destination country, which document(s) need certifying, and your deadline — submit what you have and we'll follow up. Prefer email? Reach us at info@served123.com.
An apostille isn't a stamp you buy at the post office. It's a certificate from a specific authority — usually the issuing state's Secretary of State, or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents — that authenticates the signature on the underlying document so it's recognized abroad. We coordinate that chain on your behalf, end to end.
Most apostille work falls into one of three buckets. State-issued documents — birth and marriage certificates, court judgments — go to the Secretary of State of the issuing state. Federally-issued documents — FBI background checks, FDA and USDA certificates, naturalization paperwork — go to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. Notarized private documents — powers of attorney, corporate resolutions, affidavits, transcripts — go through the Secretary of State in the state where the notarization happened.
Where apostille work goes wrong is usually one step earlier. The document might need to be certified by a county clerk first before the Secretary of State will touch it. The notary's commission might have expired. The document might be a copy when the destination country wants the original. We catch those issues at intake, before the file leaves your hands — not after it's been rejected and mailed back.
Once the apostille is attached, the document is generally ready for direct use in any Hague Convention member country. For destinations that aren't Hague members, an additional step called embassy legalization is required — we flag that at intake and coordinate the next step or refer you to the appropriate consulate.
For state-issued and notarized documents — processed through the Secretary of State of the state where the document was issued or notarized. Turnaround varies by state from a few business days to several weeks.
For federally-issued documents (FBI checks, FDA and USDA certificates, immigration documents, federal court orders) — processed through the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office in Washington, DC.
For destination countries not party to the Hague Convention — the document needs U.S. Department of State authentication followed by embassy or consulate legalization. We coordinate the U.S. side and refer the consulate step.
Quoted timing reflects the issuing authority's published turnaround — we don't promise faster than the Secretary of State or Department of State actually processes. Federal holidays and government backlogs can affect any route and are flagged at intake.
Routine state Secretary of State processing for state-issued or notarized documents. Best when your destination accepts apostilles and the deadline isn't urgent.
Rush state processing for states that offer an expedited tier (CA, FL, NY, TX and several others). Shaves days off standard timing for an additional state fee, disclosed up front.
U.S. Department of State Authentications Office processing for federally-issued documents. Current DOS turnaround runs roughly 8–12 business days plus shipping; we coordinate intake and tracked return.
For destinations outside the Hague Convention. We coordinate the U.S. Department of State authentication, then refer the embassy or consulate legalization step with prepared documentation.
State and federal authentication fees are passed through at cost. Prep work, expedited tiers, and shipping are disclosed line-by-line in your written quote — never added after the fact.
A predictable workflow built around the issuing authority's actual process — no shortcuts, no surprises.
You send the document type, destination country, and deadline. We confirm the correct authority (state vs. federal), flag any prep work needed, and quote the all-in cost in writing.
If the document needs notarization, county-clerk certification, or a certified copy from the issuing agency, we arrange that first. An apostille on the wrong version is a wasted apostille.
Submitted to the correct Secretary of State or the U.S. DOS with the right cover sheet, fee, and return instructions. We track status and handle any flags so you don't restart from zero.
We verify the certificate is properly affixed and the document intact, then ship tracked to the address you specify — your office, your client, or directly to the destination country.
Four things that separate a professional apostille service from a forms processor.
Apostilles for Hague Convention destinations and authentication coordination for non-Hague countries that require embassy legalization. We tell you which path applies before any work begins.
We check for the issues that get apostilles rejected — expired notary commissions, missing county certifications, photocopies where originals are required — before submitting, not after.
Both routes handled end to end — Secretary of State filings for state documents and U.S. Department of State Authentications for federal ones. One intake, the right route automatically.
If notarization or county certification is needed first, we arrange it — you don't chase three offices. Completed documents ship tracked to any U.S. or international address.
Different reasons, different documents — the same disciplined chain, realistic timing, and a written quote up front.
Counsel on international matters — Hague service of process, foreign court filings, cross-border probate, transnational estate work — with apostilled exhibits returned ready for foreign court use.
In-house teams apostilling articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, board resolutions, and signature authority for foreign subsidiaries, distribution deals, and overseas registrations.
Attorneys and accredited reps handling the document side of consular processing — FBI checks, single-status affidavits, birth and marriage certificates — apostilled to consulate specifications.
Adoption attorneys and adoptive families assembling Hague-compliant document packages — home studies, court orders, financial and medical certifications — apostilled in the order destination authorities require.
Medical device, pharmaceutical, and food-grade exporters apostilling FDA Certificates to Foreign Government, USDA Certificates of Free Sale, and corporate authorizations for foreign import registration.
Anyone moving abroad, marrying internationally, applying for foreign work permits, enrolling children in foreign schools, claiming inheritance, or obtaining dual citizenship — we handle the document side.
Not here? Email info@served123.com or use the form above.
Submit the order form and we'll confirm the route, flag any prep, and quote the all-in cost in writing — usually within minutes during business hours.
This content is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. Served 123 LLC is not a law firm. Apostille and authentication requirements vary by destination country, document type, and issuing authority. State and federal authentication fees are passed through at cost. Issuing-authority turnaround times reflect published or observed processing windows and are subject to change due to government backlogs, federal holidays, severe weather, and other factors flagged at intake when applicable.
