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Authenticated • Compliant • Hague + Non-Hague
Served 123 LLC handles apostille and authentication processing for U.S.-issued documents destined for use abroad — coordinated with the correct state Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, returned with the issuing authority's certificate attached and ready to present at the destination country.
Tell us the destination country, which document(s) need an apostille, and your deadline. Don't have everything yet — submit what you have and we'll follow up promptly. Or email info@served123.com.
An apostille isn't a stamp you can buy at the post office. It's a certificate issued by a specific authority — usually the state's Secretary of State for state-issued documents, 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 of our apostille work falls into one of three buckets. State-issued documents — birth certificates, marriage certificates, court judgments — go to the Secretary of State of the issuing state. Federally-issued documents — FBI background checks, FDA certificates, USDA certificates, naturalization paperwork — go to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. Notarized private documents — powers of attorney, corporate resolutions, affidavits, school 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 returned.
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'll 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 / 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. Severe weather, federal holidays, and government backlogs can affect any route and are flagged at intake when applicable.
Routine state Secretary of State processing for state-issued or notarized documents. Best when your destination country accepts apostilles and the deadline isn't urgent.
Rush state apostille processing for states that offer an expedited service 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. Standard DOS turnaround is currently around 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.
A predictable workflow built around the issuing authority's actual process — no shortcuts, no surprises.
You submit the document type, destination country, and your deadline. We confirm the correct issuing authority (state vs federal), flag any prep work needed (county certification, notarization), and quote the all-in cost in writing.
If the document needs to be notarized, certified by a county clerk, or replaced with a certified copy from the issuing agency, we arrange that step first. An apostille on the wrong version of a document is a wasted apostille.
The document is submitted to the correct Secretary of State or to the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office — with the right cover sheet, fee, and return instructions. Tracked outbound shipment.
The issuing authority verifies the underlying signature against their records and attaches the apostille certificate. We track the file's status and update you on any flags or rejections so they can be corrected without restarting from zero.
Once the apostille is attached, the document comes back to us. We verify the certificate is properly affixed and the underlying document is intact before forwarding — not just dropping the package straight back into transit.
The completed document is shipped tracked to the address you specify — your office, your client, an attorney abroad, or directly to the destination country. International tracked shipping arranged on request.
Apostille processing through the Secretary of State of every U.S. state plus the District of Columbia, and U.S. Department of State Authentications for federal documents. Hague Convention apostilles for the 120+ member countries; authentication coordination for non-Hague destinations.
Six 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 the document for the issues that get apostilles rejected — expired notary commissions, missing county certifications, photocopies where originals are required — before submitting, not after.
Both processing routes handled end-to-end — Secretary of State filings for state-issued documents and U.S. Department of State Authentications for federal documents. One intake, the right route automatically.
If the document needs notarization, county certification, or a certified copy from the issuing agency before the apostille can attach, we arrange that step first — you don't have to chase three offices yourself.
Completed documents shipped tracked to any U.S. address or coordinated for international delivery to the destination country. You get the tracking number; we monitor handoff.
State and federal authentication fees passed through at cost. Prep work, expedited tiers, and shipping disclosed line-by-line in your written quote — no after-the-fact additions.
Different reasons, different documents — same disciplined chain of custody, same realistic timing, same written quote up front.
Counsel handling international matters — Hague Convention service of process, foreign court filings, international child custody, transnational estate work, and cross-border probate. Apostilled exhibits returned ready for foreign court use.
In-house teams apostilling articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, board resolutions, and signature authority documents for foreign subsidiaries, distribution agreements, and overseas registrations.
Immigration attorneys and accredited representatives handling the document side of consular processing — FBI background checks, single-status affidavits, birth certificates, marriage certificates — apostilled to consulate specifications.
Adoption attorneys and adoptive families assembling Hague-compliant document packages — home studies, court orders, financial certifications, medical documentation — apostilled in the order destination authorities require them.
Medical device, pharmaceutical, and food-grade exporters apostilling FDA Certificates to Foreign Government, USDA Certificates of Free Sale, and corporate authorization documents required for foreign import registration.
Anyone moving abroad, marrying internationally, applying for foreign work permits, enrolling children in foreign schools, claiming foreign inheritance, or obtaining dual citizenship — we handle the personal-document side of those journeys.
If your question isn't here, just email info@served123.com or use the form above.
Submit the order form above or reach out directly. Most apostille orders are quoted within minutes during business hours, with the actual processing time matching the issuing authority's published turnaround.
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.
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