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Power of Attorney Apostille
A power of attorney is a private document, so it must be notarized before it can be apostilled. We can notarize and apostille it in one order, including mobile notary service nationwide.
Apostille from $119 per document, state fee included. You see the exact total before you pay. Notarization can be added to the same order.
- Notarization and apostille in one order
- Mobile notary available nationwide
- State fee included, nothing added at checkout
- We check the document before it is submitted
- Tracked, insured return shipping, worldwide
Rather talk it through? Call (771) 777-4807 and we will tell you what your document needs before you pay for anything.
Current processing times
State apostille (Standard)
7+ business days
State apostille (Rush)
Under 7 business days
State apostille (Same Day)
Same business day
Counted in business days from when we have a usable document, not including return shipping. Rush and same-day depend on the state. Tight deadline? Call us and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
A power of attorney lets someone act on your behalf: selling property abroad, managing a bank account, signing on your behalf at a closing, handling an inheritance, or representing you in a foreign court. For a foreign authority to accept it, the document almost always needs an apostille.
Unlike a birth certificate, a power of attorney is a private document that you sign yourself. That means it cannot go straight to the Secretary of State. A notary has to witness your signature first, and only then can the state apostille the notary’s commission.
This is the single most common reason powers of attorney get rejected. People sign the document at home, mail it in, and find it cannot be processed because the signature was never witnessed. Do not sign it before you meet the notary. Bring it printed and unsigned, along with valid government-issued photo ID.
We can handle both halves in one order. Come into one of our offices in California, New York, Arizona, Utah, or Washington, D.C., or book a mobile notary who travels to you anywhere in the country. Once the signature is witnessed we send the document straight on for its apostille.
At a glance
What people use an apostilled power of attorney for
| Purpose | Usually needs | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Selling property abroad | Apostille + translation | Many countries want the specific property named |
| Managing a foreign bank account | Apostille | Banks often set their own expiry, commonly 6 to 12 months |
| Handling an inheritance | Apostille + translation | Often needed alongside a death certificate |
| Representation in a foreign court | Apostille + translation | Wording is usually dictated by the lawyer there |
| Child travel consent | Apostille | Both parents normally sign, so two signatures |
| Company signing authority | Apostille | May need corporate records apostilled too |
Ask whoever will receive the document to send you their required wording before you draft anything. A power of attorney rejected for its content still cost you the notarization, the apostille, and the wait.
What gets a power of attorney rejected
- Signing it before the appointment. The notary has to witness the signature. A pre-signed document cannot be notarized and has to be reprinted.
- Expired ID. A non-expired government photo ID is required, and the name has to match the document.
- Wording the destination will not accept. Countries differ on what powers must be spelled out. This is decided abroad, not here.
- A missing signer. Each signature is witnessed and billed separately. Tell us how many people will sign when you book.
- No translation. Most non-English-speaking destinations require a certified translation of both the document and the apostille.
- Leaving blanks to fill in later. Anything added after notarization can void it, and consulates do check.
Start your power of attorney apostille. Exact price in about two minutes.
How it works
Step 1
Book with notarization
Choose an office appointment in a state where we have runners, or a mobile notary who comes to you anywhere in the U.S.
Step 2
Bring it printed and unsigned
The notary has to witness the signature, so sign only at the appointment. Bring valid, non-expired photo ID.
Step 3
Notarize, then apostille
Once notarized, we submit to the Secretary of State in the state where the notarization took place.
Step 4
Back to you
Shipped tracked and insured, or scanned and emailed as soon as it is ready.
Power of Attorney Apostille: common questions
Can I sign the power of attorney before my appointment?
No. The whole point of notarization is that the notary witnesses you signing. If it is already signed, the notary cannot notarize it and you will need to print a fresh copy. Bring it printed and unsigned.
Do I need to come to one of your offices?
Not necessarily. We have offices in California, New York, Arizona, Utah, and Washington, D.C., and we also send mobile notaries anywhere in the United States. Mobile service carries a flat travel fee on top of the per-signature notary fee.
What ID do I need?
A valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. The name must match the name on the document. An expired ID cannot be accepted and the appointment will have to be rescheduled.
My power of attorney is already notarized. What now?
Then it is ready for apostille as-is. Choose the “already notarized” option when booking and we will send it straight to the Secretary of State in the state where it was notarized.
Which state issues the apostille?
The state where the notarization happened, not where you live or where the property is. If your notary was commissioned in Arizona, the apostille comes from Arizona.
Can two people sign the same document?
Yes, but each signature is notarized separately and billed per signature. Tell us how many signers there will be when you book so the appointment and the price are right.
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.
U.S. Dept. of State, apostille requirements
Ready to get started?
Book notarization and apostille together, and we will confirm the appointment details before you pay.
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