Louisiana documents are apostilled by the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division in Baton Rouge. If your document was issued in Louisiana, or notarized by a notary commissioned in Louisiana, that is the only office that can certify it, wherever you live now.
Louisiana apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State’s Commissions Division in Baton Rouge, at $20 a document. Louisiana has parishes rather than counties, and marriage records sit with the clerk of court in each parish, except Orleans Parish, where the state Vital Records Registry holds them.
We handle Louisiana orders by mail from anywhere in the country, and a mobile notary can come to you anywhere in Louisiana when a document needs signing first. The state fee is already inside our price, along with the submission and return shipping.
At a glance
Louisiana documents we apostille most often
| Document | Where it comes from | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | The Louisiana Department of Health, Vital Records Registry | Not required, certified copy |
| Marriage certificate | The clerk of court in the parish where the licence was issued, or Vital Records for Orleans Parish | Not required, certified copy |
| Death certificate | The Louisiana Department of Health, Vital Records Registry | Not required, certified copy |
| Divorce decree | Clerk of the court that granted it | Not required, needs court seal |
| Power of attorney, affidavit | You | Required, Louisiana notary |
| Diploma or transcript | Your school | Usually required |
| Company documents | LA Secretary of State | Certified copies, or notarized if company-issued |
| FBI check, IRS, USCIS | Federal agency | Federal, goes to the U.S. Dept. of State |
Not sure which you have? Send it through the free review and we will tell you before you pay. No usable copy? We can order a certified copy.
Louisiana-specific things worth knowing
- Parishes, not counties. Marriage and court records come from the parish clerk of court.
- Orleans Parish is the exception for marriage records, which come from the state Vital Records Registry.
- Civil-law notaries. Louisiana notaries have wider powers than elsewhere in the U.S., but the apostille only certifies the notary’s commission, as in any other state.
- The notary must be commissioned in Louisiana. A document notarized across a state line goes to that state instead.
- Federal documents never go to LA Secretary of State. An FBI background check, IRS letter or naturalization certificate is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. See federal apostille.
How it works
Step 1
Send us the document
Post the original in, book a mobile notary who comes to you anywhere in Louisiana, or have us retrieve a certified copy.
Step 2
We check it first
We confirm the copy is certified, correctly sealed, and notarized where needed, before any state fee is paid.
Step 3
Apostille from LA Secretary of State
We submit to Baton Rouge and pay the $20 state fee, which is already included in your price.
Step 4
Back to you
Shipped tracked and insured, or scanned and emailed as soon as it is issued.
Louisiana Apostille: common questions
Who issues apostilles in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division, in Baton Rouge. Documents issued in Louisiana, or notarized by a Louisiana notary, go there.
How much does a Louisiana apostille cost?
The state charges $20. Our price starts at $99 per document and already includes that fee, so there is nothing extra to pay the state. See pricing.
Does Louisiana need a county certification first?
No. Louisiana certifies its notaries and officials directly, so a correct document goes straight to the state.
My document is federal. Can Louisiana apostille it?
No. An FBI background check, IRS letter, USCIS document or federal court record carries a federal signature, so it goes to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., whichever state you live in. See federal apostille.
I live outside Louisiana. Can I still get a Louisiana apostille?
Yes. The state that issued the document decides the office, not where you live. Post it to us from anywhere and we submit it in Baton Rouge.
How long does a Louisiana apostille take?
It depends on the state’s current queue plus shipping. See processing times for what we are seeing now, and ask about rush if you have a deadline.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division, apostilles · CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records
Ready to get started?
Book online for an exact price, including the Louisiana state fee.
Related: Apostille by state · Texas apostille · Mississippi apostille · Arkansas apostille · Federal apostille