Maryland apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in Annapolis. If your document was issued in Maryland, or notarized by a Maryland-commissioned notary, Maryland is the authority that certifies it, wherever you happen to live now.
Maryland sits next to Washington, D.C., and that proximity causes the most common mistake we see here. A federal document does not go to Annapolis, however close it was issued. An FBI background check, an IRS letter, or a federal court record goes to the U.S. Department of State instead, and a Maryland submission is refused.
Vital records come from the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, or from the clerk of the circuit court for marriage records. What gets apostilled is a certified copy with the seal, never a photocopy and never a hospital souvenir certificate.
A large share of Maryland work is federal-adjacent: security clearances, contractor paperwork, and academic documents from the state’s universities heading abroad. Tell us the destination country when you book, because that decides whether one apostille finishes the job or the document needs the full legalization chain.
At a glance
Our addresses in Maryland
- 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814
Please don’t post documents to these addresses. Mail-in orders go to the address in your booking confirmation, and we’ll confirm it before you send anything.
Maryland documents we apostille most often
| Document | Where it comes from | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | MD Division of Vital Records | Not required |
| Marriage certificate | Clerk of the circuit court | Not required |
| Death certificate | MD Division of Vital Records | Not required |
| Divorce decree | Circuit court clerk | Not required, needs court seal |
| Power of attorney | You | Required, Maryland notary |
| Diploma or transcript | Your school | Usually required |
| Corporate records | MD Dept. of Assessments and Taxation | Depends on the document |
| FBI background check | FBI | Federal, goes to the U.S. Dept. of State |
Maryland-specific things worth knowing
- Proximity to D.C. does not make a document federal, or the reverse. Who issued it decides where it goes. A Maryland notary means Annapolis; a federal agency means the U.S. Department of State.
- Marriage records come from the circuit court clerk in the county where the licence was issued, not from Vital Records.
- The notary must be Maryland-commissioned. A document notarized across the line in Virginia or D.C. goes to that jurisdiction instead, even if everyone involved lives in Maryland.
- Certified copies only, with the issuing office’s seal. Photocopies and informational copies are refused.
- University documents usually need a registrar’s notarized statement rather than the diploma alone. See diploma and transcript apostille for the routes.
How it works
Step 1
Send us the document
Post the original in, or book a mobile notary who travels to you anywhere in Maryland. We can also retrieve a certified copy for you.
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
Secretary of State apostille
We submit to Annapolis and pay the 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.
Maryland Apostille: common questions
Who issues apostilles in Maryland?
The Secretary of State, based in Annapolis. Maryland documents and documents notarized by a Maryland notary go there.
My document is federal but I live in Maryland. Where does it go?
To the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., not to Annapolis. An FBI check, IRS letter, USDA certificate or federal court record is federal wherever you live. See federal apostille.
Do you have an office I can visit in Maryland?
We hold an address in Bethesda, but we are not taking documents in person there yet. Post your document in or book a mobile notary who comes to you, which is usually simpler anyway.
Can a mobile notary come to me?
Yes, anywhere in Maryland. That is the straightforward route for a power of attorney or affidavit, since the signature has to be witnessed rather than done beforehand.
How long does a Maryland apostille take?
Typically four to seven business days once we have a correct document, plus shipping. See processing times.
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.
Maryland Secretary of State, authentications · Maryland Vital Records
Ready to get started?
Book online for an exact price, including the Maryland state fee.
Related: Washington, D.C. apostille · Virginia apostille · Federal apostille · Processing times