Apostille FAQ: straight answers for Massachusetts documents.

Massachusetts can certify the original signature of a Massachusetts notary public, justice of the peace, city or town clerk or assistant clerk, court clerk or assistant clerk, or the Registrar of Vital Records. In practice that covers certified birth, marriage and death certificates, court records, and anything properly notarized in Massachusetts, such as a power of attorney, an affidavit or a school registrar’s statement.

Not a plain photocopy. The Commonwealth can only certify original signatures, so a photocopied signature can’t be apostilled. For a vital record, get a new certified copy from the city or town clerk or the Registry of Vital Records. For a passport, diploma or ID, a Massachusetts notary can make a notarized certified copy ($30 per document), and the notary’s signature is then apostilled. Check that the receiving country accepts that route.

A certified copy issued and signed by the Massachusetts city or town clerk where the birth was recorded, or by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester. Hospital certificates and decorative copies can’t be apostilled. Don’t have one? We can get it for you, from $75. Birth, marriage and death certificate apostille.

Yes, once it carries a signature Massachusetts can certify. Usually the school registrar signs a statement in front of a Massachusetts notary, or a notary certifies a copy of the diploma. We tell you which route fits your school and country. Diplomas and transcripts.

No. Each state apostilles only its own officials’ signatures, so a document issued or notarized in New York or Florida is apostilled by that state. Two exceptions help: a private document such as a power of attorney can be signed again in front of a Massachusetts notary, and federal documents such as FBI checks go to the U.S. Department of State from any state.

With us, Standard is ready 7–10 business days after we receive your document, Express 2–3 business days, Next business day the day after (in our hands by 3 PM ET), and Same day by 5 PM (in our hands by 11 AM ET). Return shipping is on top. If you mail the state yourself, the Commonwealth’s turnaround is two to three weeks plus mail time. Processing times compared.

Choose Same day and get your documents into our hands by 11 AM Eastern on a business day. We file at the Boston counter and they are ready by 5 PM. The counter processes up to three documents in one visit, so orders of four or more are ready the next business day and priced at the Next business day rate ($199). Same day is $249 per document with FedEx Ground return included. Same-day apostille.

If we miss the time for a reason within our control, you pay the Standard price.

The apostille itself has no expiry date. The authority receiving it may still want a recently issued document, for example a background check or birth certificate issued within the last few months. Ask them before you order, so you don’t apostille a copy they will refuse as too old.

It depends on who signed it. Certified copies signed by a Massachusetts town clerk, court clerk or the Registrar of Vital Records go straight to the apostille. Private documents, such as a power of attorney, affidavit, consent letter or company resolution, must be notarized by a Massachusetts notary first. We notarize for $30 per document. Notarized and business documents.

Often, if the receiving country does not use English. Some authorities want the translation done after the apostille so the apostille is translated too; some also want the translator’s statement notarized and apostilled. Check with the authority, then tell us what they asked for. We coordinate the certified translation from $45 per page and can apostille it too. Certified translation.

Yes. When a document needs notarizing before the apostille, we do both in the same order, and you see both charges before you place the order. If it must be signed in front of a notary, we arrange the signing with you after you order.