Document review, before you file

Filing for a Washington apostille yourself, or not sure your document is the right one? Send me a photo and I'll tell you whether the Secretary of State will take it, and exactly what to fix if not. You find out before you mail your original or make the drive.

What I check

The things that get documents turned away at the counter:

• Is it the right version? A certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate, not a photocopy, a hospital keepsake, or an informational printout.
• Was it issued in Washington? The Secretary of State can only apostille Washington documents. If yours belongs to another state or the federal government, I'll tell you where it goes.
• Is the notarization complete? For anything notarized: the notary's signature, stamp, commission dates, the date and place, and the certificate wording. A missing piece is the most common reason for rejection.
• Is the signature one the state can verify? The official or notary who signed has to be on file with the Secretary of State.
• Does your destination country take an apostille? If it isn't a Hague Convention country, the document needs a different process, and I'll flag that.

What you get back

An email within one business day of payment, in plain words: this will be accepted, or this won't and here is what to fix. If it needs a new certified copy or a corrected notarization, I tell you which and where to get it.

What this isn't

This is not legal advice. I check a document's form for apostille purposes; I don't review what it says, whether it does what you need legally, or whether it's drafted correctly. I can't promise the office abroad will accept it, and a photo can't show everything, so the Secretary of State still makes the final decision. The review fee isn't refundable once I've sent your answer.