Many USA states do have an e-Register. The e-Register is an online application that allows one party to check the authenticity and validation of an Apostille via the "document number." Access to this search is usually on the website of said competent authority.

TIMING ASSUMPTIONS

TRANSLATION ASSUMPTIONS

The process of obtaining an apostille, authentication or attestation of a document is properly defined as legalization. Even though the words apostille, authentication and attestation each have a specific meaning and function, they are often used interchangeably with the same goal in mind; to execute the legal steps required for a document to be presented and accepted in a foreign country.

Major factors that determine the processing sequence are the country of destination for the document and the type of document. All non-government documents must be first notarized, and all county, state  and federal government documents must have the proper signature and seal ( and certification if required) of said government sector before being presented to the office of the Secretary of State. Because states differ in their rules relative to recordable documents, such as vital statistics and other recordable documents,  it is important to make sure that your document meets all posted requirements.

Most non-federal documents are ready for presentation after having been legalized by the office of the Secretary of State of the state where the document was notarized/certified. However, always remember that federal documents can ONLY be legalized by the USDOS.

However, if the destination country is a Non-Hague country, several additional steps are required for federal and non-federal documents. These steps will differ according to the country and thusly result in different processing times. Some may require legalization by the U.S. Department of State and the Embassy/Consulate of the destination country and  attached Power of Attorney. Others may additionally require a translation and/or legalization by a third party. You can execute all of these steps by yourself or utilize the services of a trusted Apostille Agent or Apostille Company. The Mobile California Apostille Company has trained professionals and has provided Southern California with apostille services over the past 15 years. They have the expertise to correctly and promptly execute all legalization requirements with their “1-Stop Mobile Service.”

When it comes to document legalization (apostille, authentication, attestaton), navigating the rules can feel like a maze, especially for non-Hague countries. Most of these nations require that your documents get the green light from the U.S. Department of State before they can be accepted back home. However, there are some notable exceptions that can make your life a bit easier. For instance, countries like Vietnam and Iraq have their own unique processes that bypass the usual authentication U.S. Department of State requirements. Both of these countries only require a state legalization for non-federal documents before being presented to the respective consulates or embassy. This means you might not have to jump through all the hoops that others do, saving you time and potential headaches. So, if you're dealing with documents for these and like countries, it’s good to know that the rules can be a little more flexible, and that's where experts like the Mobile California Apostille Company come in handy to help you navigate these quirks without the usual delays or errors.  Not being aware of these the rules for your Non-Hague country of destination  will definitely result in longer processing time and more expensive processing fees.

Please be careful! There are apparently a few apostille processing companies that state they only do RON notarization in their apostille processing  and they include California among the states that they process. This is true if the document is not a California vital statistics document or does not require a California Apostille. Out-of-California RON agents can offer RON services for the state of California if RON is authorized in the state where the notary public is commissioned and the document is being notarized and legalized by said state, not the state of California. i.e.  A California notarization or Apostille can not currently be issued electronically by a notary in a different state.  For example,  #1. An out-of-state RON notary public can not legalize via apostille a California vital statistics document via its own Secretary of State's legalization. This type of document can only be legalized with a California Apostille. The RON would, via courier or in person, physically present  a paper certified vital statistics document to the California Secretary of State.  #2. As of this date of this post, it is our understanding that  California will not legalize a photo or electronic copy of any California vital statistics document. However, if the non-federal document is not a California vital statistics, state or county document and does not specifically require a California notarization or apostille, RON is an applicable option.