Maryland Secretary of State apostille
We file your Maryland documents with the Secretary of State in Annapolis on the day they arrive and ship them back with the apostille attached.
What the Maryland apostille is
An apostille is the certificate that makes a US public document valid in the countries that signed the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. For documents signed by Maryland officials and notaries, the apostille is issued by the Maryland Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State can only apostille documents that were issued or notarized in Maryland. Federal documents go to the US Department of State, and documents from other states go to that state.
Documents that go straight to the Secretary of State
- Certified copies from Maryland Vital Records: birth, death and marriage certificates
- Certified copies from a Circuit Court clerk: divorce decrees and other court records
- Certified copies from SDAT: articles of incorporation and good standing certificates
Documents that need the Circuit Court first
Anything notarized in Maryland, such as a power of attorney, an affidavit or a notarized diploma copy, must be certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court before the Secretary of State will apostille it. We include that step.
How fast it is
Documents that arrive by 10:00 a.m. on a business day are filed at the Secretary of State the same day. Documents that need court certification usually take one more business day. Return shipping is added on top.
How it works
Order online
Fill in the order form. We confirm the price and send mailing instructions.
Send the certified copy
Mail or drop off the certified copy issued by the Maryland office.
Same-day filing in Annapolis
Documents received by 10:00 a.m. are filed at the Secretary of State that day.
Shipped back to you
Your apostilled document is shipped with tracking, anywhere in the world.
Questions
Who issues apostilles for Maryland documents?
The Maryland Secretary of State in Annapolis issues apostilles for documents signed by Maryland officials and notaries. Federal documents, such as FBI background checks, are apostilled by the US Department of State instead.
Why does my notarized document need a Circuit Court certification?
Maryland requires the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the notary is commissioned to certify the notary's signature before the Secretary of State will issue the apostille. We handle this step for you.
How long does a Maryland apostille take?
We file at the Secretary of State on the same business day we receive your documents, as long as they arrive by 10:00 a.m. and do not need the Circuit Court step. Documents that need court certification usually take one extra business day. Shipping time is added on top.
Do I need to send the original document?
Yes. The apostille is physically attached to the original certified copy or notarized document. Photocopies cannot be apostilled.
Can you apostille a document from another state?
No. Each state apostilles only documents issued or notarized in that state. If your document comes from Virginia, Pennsylvania or another state, that state's Secretary of State must issue the apostille.