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Apostille & Document Authentication

Eastern Panhandle & Nationwide

As a Certified Apostille Services Facilitator® (CASF), I help individuals and businesses authenticate documents for use in Hague Convention countries — birth certificates, powers of attorney, business documents, academic records, and more. Available in person, mobile, or remote.

Pricing

Standard Apostille (WV-Issued Document) $85
Rush Apostille (WV-Issued, add-on) +$100
Federal Apostille $120
Out-of-State Apostille (document issued by a state other than WV) $75 + state filing fee
Out-of-State Mailing & Coordination Fee (per state) $35 + shipping
Additional State Document (same order, same state) $45
Additional Federal Document (same order) $55
Initial Consultation (credited toward total if you proceed) $45
Domestic Return Mailing (WV documents, if mailed rather than picked up) $55 flat
Notary Service (if document isn't already notarized) $30
Witness (if required) $30 each
International Coordination & Tracking $45 + shipping

Turnaround Times

WV documents are typically hand-couriered to the Martinsburg SOS hub and process same-day to a few business days. Out-of-state documents depend entirely on that state's Secretary of State processing time — some are fast, others take 1–3 weeks. Federal apostilles process through the U.S. Department of State on a fixed timeline and cannot be expedited.

Delivery Options

Option 1 — Domestic Apostille Only

I process your apostille and return it to you domestically (pickup or standard return mailing). You handle sending it to its final international destination.

Option 2 — Domestic Apostille + International Delivery

I process your apostille and ship it directly to its final international destination, with tracking throughout. Adds a $45 International Coordination & Tracking Fee, plus actual international shipping cost, passed through at cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an apostille, and do I need one?

An apostille authenticates a document for use in another country that's a member of the Hague Convention — commonly needed for international adoptions, dual citizenship, overseas employment, or business transactions abroad.

My document is going to a non-Hague Convention country — can you still help?

Apostilles only apply to Hague Convention member countries. Non-Hague countries require a different process called document authentication/legalization. I'm trained in both — reach out and I'll walk you through what your destination country requires.

How long does an apostille take?

See Turnaround Times above — it depends on whether your document is WV-issued, out-of-state, or federal.

Does my document need to be notarized first?

Some documents do, some don't — this is part of what we confirm during your consultation.

Can this be done remotely?

Yes. I offer both in-person/mobile and fully remote apostille consultations.

What types of documents typically qualify for an apostille?

Most commonly: birth, marriage, and death certificates; court judgments; diplomas and academic records from public institutions; notarized documents and powers of attorney; and business or corporate documents. If you're not sure your document qualifies, ask during your consultation.

Can I use an apostille in the same country that issued my document?

No. An apostille is only for using a document in a different country than the one that issued it.

What if my apostille gets rejected once I get where I'm going?

This is rare. A properly issued apostille must be accepted by any Hague Convention country. If a receiving office has questions, they can verify it directly with the issuing authority — I'll provide that contact information.

Once I have my apostille, do I need anything else?

No — the apostille itself is the only additional certification required. No further authentication or embassy step is needed for Hague Convention countries.