An Apostille is a specialized legal certificate issued by a government authority (like the State of Michigan) that authenticates the seal and signature of the public official or notary on your document. It ensures your U.S. documents will be recognized as legally valid in foreign countries that belong to the Hague Convention Treaty.

No. An apostille only validates the signature and authority of the official or notary who signed or sealed the document. It does not certify or approve the actual contents of the document itself.

• Hague Countries: Over 120 nations participate in the Hague Apostille Convention. For these countries, a single Apostille certificate from the State is all you need.• Non-Hague Countries: Countries that do not participate require a multi-step process called Chain Authentication or Embassy Legalization. The document must go to the Michigan Secretary of State, then the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C., and finally to that country's specific Embassy or Consulate for approval.

No. Only government authorities can issue apostilles. In Michigan, they are issued by the Office of the Great Seal in Lansing. As your professional facilitator, we review your files for legal compliance, correct any notary errors, manage the government applications, pay the state fees, and physically courier or track your files so you don't have to deal with the logistics or risk a rejection.

No. We cannot process photocopies, digital printouts, or notarized copies of vital records (Birth, Death, Marriage, or Divorce Certificates). The State of Michigan requires an original certified copy recently issued by either the County Clerk or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) State Registrar.

Yes, but the State of Michigan requires all foreign-language documents to be accompanied by a certified English translation. The translator must sign an accuracy affidavit in front of a notary public before we can submit the package to Lansing.

• Expedited Walk-In Service: We physically drive your files to Lansing for hand-delivery. This typically takes 1 to 2 business days depending on our current courier schedule.• Standard Mail-In Service: We audit and ship your files safely via tracked courier. This typically takes 2 to 3 weeks depending on current state processing backlogs.