Apostille Services – Notary of Lewis Center

What is an Apostille?

An Apostille is a form of authentication issued to documents so they can be recognized in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It certifies the origin of a public document (such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, notarized affidavit, or power of attorney) for international use. Without an apostille, many foreign authorities will not accept your U.S. documents.At Notary of Lewis Center, we simplify the process of obtaining apostilles for both personal and business documents. Whether you need to send documents to India, Europe, or

anywhere abroad, we guide you through the entire process from notarization to state or federal apostille.

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Documents That Commonly Require Apostille

• Vital Records: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates

• Education Documents: Diplomas, transcripts, degrees

• Legal Documents: Power of Attorney, affidavits, court orders, adoption papers

• Business Documents: Certificates of incorporation, contracts, bylaws

If you are unsure whether your document needs an apostille, our team will help you determine the correct process.

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How Our Apostille Process Works

1. Document Review – We verify your document type and eligibility for apostille.

2. Notarization – If required, we notarize your document.

3. Submission – We guide you through Secretary of State or U.S. Department of State procedures.

4. Delivery – You receive your completed apostilled document, ready for international use.

 

Apostille Services Fee:

1. Example Ohio-born Children (Birth Certificate Apostille):
    • Standard — up to 7 business days — $45
    • Priority — 3–4 business days — $75
    • Expedited — same day or next business day* — $125

2. Children Born Outside of Ohio (Birth Certificate Apostille):
    • Standard Service Only — processing time is typically 10 business days or longer
    • Fee varies by state — please contact us for details

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Understanding Apostilles

Q. What is an Apostille and do I need one?
An Apostille is a special certificate issued by the Secretary of State that authenticates the signature and seal of a public official on a document, allowing it to be recognized in another country.

• Apostille vs. Authentication:

  • Apostille → for countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.

  • Authentication (sometimes called a “gold seal”) → for non-Hague countries, followed by Embassy or Consulate legalization.

• How do I know if I need an Apostille?
  The first step is to check if the country where the document will be used is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. If it is, you need an Apostille. If it isn’t, you need Authentication + Embassy/Consulate legalization.

Eligible Documents

Q. What documents can be Apostilled in Ohio?
Examples include:

• Vital Records: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees

• Educational Documents: Diplomas, transcripts, degrees

• Business Documents: Articles of incorporation, bylaws, certificates of good standing, contracts

• Legal Documents: Powers of attorney, affidavits, notarized copies of passports or driver’s licenses, adoption papers, court orders

The Process

Q. What is the process for getting an Apostille in Ohio?
We make the process simple and stress-free:

1. Document Preparation – Some documents (like a Power of Attorney or passport copy) must be notarized first. We provide this service.

2. Submission to the Ohio Secretary of State – We deliver or courier your documents directly to the Secretary of State’s office in Columbus.

3. Return of Apostilled Documents – Once completed, we return your Apostilled documents to you by hand, courier, or mail.

Q. What about documents that are not from Ohio or are federal documents?

• Other states: The Ohio Secretary of State can only Apostille documents issued in Ohio. For documents from another state, you must work with that state’s Secretary of State. We can coordinate this for you.

• Federal documents: Items such as FBI background checks, IRS forms, or documents from federal courts require an Apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We can guide you through this process.

Q. Can I Apostille a notarized copy of a document?
Yes, but it depends on the document:

• Allowed: A notarized copy of a diploma, passport, or driver’s license can be Apostilled.

• Not allowed: Vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates) must be certified originals from the issuing authority. Photocopies — even notarized ones — will be rejected.

Practical Considerations

Q. I live outside Ohio — can you still help me get my documents Apostilled in Ohio?
Yes. We regularly assist clients across the U.S. and abroad with Apostille services for Ohio-issued documents. Here’s how it works:

• Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, Death Certificates):
  You must obtain a certified original copy directly from the issuing authority (such as the Ohio Department of Health or county vital records office). These cannot be notarized photocopies. Once you send us the certified original, we can complete the Apostille process for you.

• Educational or Notarized Documents (Diplomas, Transcripts, Powers of Attorney, Affidavits, Passport Copies):
  These documents often require notarization before Apostille. If you are outside Ohio, we can perform a Remote Online Notarization (RON) with you. After the notarization is completed following Ohio’s RON standards (including ID verification and video session), we can submit the notarized document to the Ohio Secretary of State for Apostille.

Q. How much does an Apostille cost?

• Ohio Secretary of State fee: $5 per document

• Our service fees vary based on speed (standard, priority, expedited) and whether the document is from Ohio, another state, or a federal agency. We are always transparent with pricing.

Q. How long does the Apostille process take?

• Standard service: 7–14 business days

• Priority service: 3–4 business days

• Expedited service: Same day or next business day (where available)
  We’ll give you a timeline estimate before we start.

Q. Will my Apostille work in all countries?

• Yes, if the country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

• For non-Hague countries (like UAE, Qatar, or China), Embassy or Consulate legalization is required after state authentication.

Q. Do I need an Apostille for India-related applications (OCI, Visa, Marriage, etc.)?
Yes. India is a Hague member country, so U.S. documents used for OCI, visas, education, or marriage must be Apostilled.

• For OCI, common examples include a child’s birth certificate and the parents’ U.S. marriage certificate.

Q. What if my Apostille request is rejected?
Common rejection reasons include:

• Incorrect or missing notarization

• Submitting uncertified photocopies instead of official copies

• Missing seals or signatures

We pre-review all documents to minimize the risk of rejection.

Q. Can you notarize and Apostille my documents at the same appointment?
Yes. We are a one-stop solution — we can notarize your documents (if required) and then submit them for Apostille, saving you time and ensuring compliance.

Q. Do you handle Remote Online Notarizations (RON) for Apostilles?Yes. Notary of Lewis Center provides secure Remote Online Notary (RON) services. If you’d like to book a remote notarization appointment, simply click here to schedule.

Q. Can you help with translations?

Yes. At Notary of Lewis Center, we work closely with trusted translation services. They can provide certified translations and have the translation notarized. Once notarization is complete, we can handle the Apostille process for the translated document on a case-by-case basis.

Q: My document is in Russian. Can you notarize it and get an apostille?

A: Yes. We can notarize your Russian document by verifying your identity and witnessing your signature, even though the document is in a foreign language. The Ohio Secretary of State will then issue an apostille for our notarization.

If a translation is required, you must provide a certified translation. We can also notarize the translator’s affidavit if the destination country requests it.

Q: I live outside of Ohio and have a document notarized in my state. Can I send it to you to get an Ohio Apostille?

The Ohio Secretary of State's office can only issue an apostille for a document that has been notarized by a notary public with an active commission in Ohio. Therefore, we cannot get an apostille for a document notarized outside of Ohio.

However, we can still help! We can re-notarize your document in Ohio, which then makes it eligible for an Ohio Apostille. This is a common situation, especially for clients with documents from other states, such as a Power of Attorney or a copy of a birth certificate.

The apostille from the State of Ohio will then certify the authenticity of the Ohio notary's signature, allowing your document to be used internationally.

How to get started:

1. Contact Us: Send us a copy of your document for a free review.

2. Notarization: We will guide you through the process of getting the document properly notarized by an Ohio Notary.

3. Apostille: Once the notarization is complete, we will handle the rest of the apostille process for you.