A notarization is the first step, not the whole answer. Here is the chain, who issues what, and where to check before you pay for anything.
When a US document needs to be used in another country, that country generally will not accept it at face value. It wants proof the document is authentic — that the notary who stamped it was real, that the signature is legitimate, that the seal is genuine. An apostille is the certificate that answers this.
It is a separate certificate attached to the underlying document, and it is issued by a Secretary of State. In effect it says: the notary who stamped this document is genuinely commissioned by our state, and here is our verification.
Worth saying plainly, because it is the thing people most often get wrong. Smoothquill handles the notarization. We do not issue apostilles and we do not file for one on your behalf.
Notarization is step one of the chain below. The apostille is issued by a government office, and the notarized document is submitted there separately — by you, or by a service you choose for that purpose. If someone quotes you a single price for "an apostille," ask which parts of the chain it covers.
A normal notarization is one level of authentication. An apostille is the second level, confirming the first is real.
Whether an apostille is even the right instrument depends on the destination. Countries party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention accept an apostille. Countries that are not go through legalization instead — a longer route that usually involves the US Department of State plus that country's embassy or consulate.
Membership changes often enough that any list published on a page like this one would be wrong within a year. There is a single authoritative source, published by the Hague Conference itself and last updated 30 June 2026. Check your destination there before you pay for anything.
HCCH — official Apostille Convention status table →
Requirements are set by the issuing authority and the office that will receive the document. Confirming before you submit is the difference between a week's turnaround and a rejection.
There are two separate charges, and they are not billed by the same party. The notarization is a notarial act — your state sets — and in most states caps — that fee, and the notary sets a travel fee to come to you. You see the itemized price before you approve the booking — no "call for a quote." See what notaries can legally charge in your state →
The apostille is a separate fee charged by the Secretary of State that issues it. It varies by state and we do not set it or collect it — check your state's Secretary of State for the current amount, accepted submission methods, and turnaround.
Not certain whether your document needs an apostille, or whether notarization is the right first step for it? Tell us what you have and where it is going, and we'll tell you whether a notarization is what you need.
Email support →No. Smoothquill connects you with a commissioned mobile notary, and notarization is the first step in the chain — not the apostille itself. The apostille is issued by a state Secretary of State, and the notarized document is submitted to that office separately. We are not an apostille service and do not file on your behalf.
Notarized documents such as a power of attorney generally can. Vital records like birth, marriage and death certificates usually need a certified copy from the county or state first. Diplomas often need to be notarized by the university registrar, corporate records may need a certificate of good standing, and a photocopy has to be notarized as a true and correct copy. The requirements are set by the issuing authority, so confirm before you submit.
Two separate charges. The notarization is a notarial act, and your state sets — and in most states caps — that fee. The apostille itself is a separate fee charged by your Secretary of State, which varies by state and is not set by us — check your state's Secretary of State for the current amount and submission options.
It depends on whether that country is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Membership changes, so check the destination against the official status table published by the Hague Conference on Private International Law rather than relying on a list. If the country is not a party, the document goes through legalization instead, which usually involves the US Department of State and that country's embassy or consulate.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Whether your document needs an apostille or legalization, which preliminary certifications apply, and what the issuing office charges are set by that office, by your state, and by the country receiving the document — confirm with them or an attorney. A notary verifies identity and witnesses signatures; they do not prepare, interpret, or advise on documents, and they do not issue apostilles.
Related: notary costs by state · business documents · what a mobile notary is
Booking is open. You'll see the itemized price — travel and your state's notarial fee, line by line — before you approve the booking.