Apostille Services in North Carolina
Getting your documents ready for life overseas
Moving overseas, getting married abroad, or starting school or a new job in another country? Many countries ask for an apostille before they’ll accept your American documents. Aldora handles the whole process for you, from checking your paperwork to hand-delivering it to the Secretary of State in Raleigh.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille (pronounced ah-po-STEEL) is an official certificate that a government office attaches to your document. It tells another country that the signature and seal on your document are genuine, so officials there can accept it without extra checks.
An apostille doesn’t translate your document or change what it says. Think of it as a passport for your paperwork: proof that it came from a real, recognized source.
Apostilles are used between countries that belong to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, an international agreement joined by more than 125 countries. If your document is headed to one of them, an apostille is usually the only certification you need.
Who Issues an Apostille?
- The NC Secretary of State, for documents issued or notarized in North Carolina
- The U.S. Department of State, for federal documents like FBI background checks
- Another state’s Secretary of State, for documents from that state
- Never a notary. A notary can notarize a document so it’s ready for an apostille, but can’t issue one.
Where Your Document Came From Decides Where It Goes
There isn’t one national apostille office. The right office depends on who issued or notarized your document, and we can help with all three.
NC State Documents
Issued or notarized in North Carolina. These go to the Secretary of State in Raleigh, about 75 minutes from our office, so we can deliver them by hand.
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Diplomas and transcripts from NC schools
- Powers of attorney and affidavits
- Business filings and court records
Federal Documents
Signed by a federal agency or official. These go to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and usually take longer than state documents.
- FBI background checks
- IRS letters, like a certificate of U.S. residency
- Other documents signed by federal officials
Out-of-State Documents
Live in North Carolina but have a birth certificate from Ohio or a diploma from Texas? It has to be apostilled by the state that issued it.
- Birth and marriage certificates from other states
- School records from other states
- Documents notarized in another state
Not sure which one you have? Contact us with the type of document and the country it’s going to. We’ll tell you exactly what it needs and what to expect.
Does My Document Need to Be Notarized First?
Not always, and getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons an apostille request is rejected. Here’s the general rule for North Carolina documents.
Documents you sign or copy
These need a North Carolina notary before the Secretary of State will accept them.
- Powers of attorney and affidavits
- Diplomas and transcripts (a school seal alone isn’t accepted)
- Letters, contracts, and consent forms
- Copies, with a notarized “true copy” affidavit
Certified copies from a government office
These already carry an official’s certification and go to the Secretary of State as they are.
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates from NC Vital Records or a Register of Deeds
- Court records certified by the Clerk of Superior Court
- Certified records from other NC state agencies
Before you order copies: some countries only accept vital records issued in the last few months, so ask the receiving office first. We double-check every document against the Secretary of State’s requirements before we submit it. For more detail, read What Notaries Need to Know About Apostilles.
Common Reasons People Need an Apostille
Most of our apostille clients are getting ready for a big step overseas. Choose yours to see which documents are usually involved.
Serving Military Families and Couples Marrying Abroad
Military Assignments at Fort Bragg
Our office is about 5 miles from Fort Bragg (formerly Fort Liberty), and military families are a big part of who we serve. When orders send you overseas, you may need a power of attorney, marriage and birth certificates, school records for your children, or documents for a spouse’s new job, all ready to use in another country.
Aldora has a pass to come on post, so we can meet you where it’s convenient. We also offer a 5% military discount on our full service.
Destination Weddings
Planning a wedding in another country is exciting, and paperwork shouldn’t slow it down. Many countries ask for apostilled birth certificates, a notarized statement that you’re free to marry, or a divorce decree before they’ll issue a marriage license.
We make sure each document is the right type of copy, properly prepared, and apostilled in time for your date, so you can focus on the celebration.
Our Apostille Process, Start to Finish
Tell Us What You Need
Share your document and the country it’s going to. We’ll confirm which office handles it and give you a quote.
We Review and Prepare It
We check that it’s the right type of copy and notarize it if it needs a notarization, so it isn’t rejected.
We Submit It
We hand-deliver NC documents to the Secretary of State in Raleigh and send federal and out-of-state documents to the right office.
You Get It Back
We return your apostilled document to you, ready to use in the country you named.
How long does it take? It depends on the office and how busy it is. At the NC Secretary of State, hand-delivered documents are generally processed faster than mailed ones, and federal apostilles usually take the longest. Contact us for a quote and current turnaround times.
Hand Delivery to the NC Secretary of State
Live outside North Carolina but have a North Carolina document that needs an apostille, like a birth certificate, a diploma from a NC school, or business papers filed in Raleigh? You don’t have to mail your originals to a government office and hope they come back.
We’re about 75 minutes from the Secretary of State’s Authentication Office in Raleigh. Send your document to us, and Aldora will hand-deliver it, collect it once it’s apostilled, and ship it back to you with tracking.
This service is also a good fit for attorneys, title companies, and other notaries who have North Carolina documents and want them in trusted hands.
Why Hand Delivery?
- No appointment needed to drop off at the Authentication Office
- Hand-delivered documents are generally processed faster than mailed ones
- Your originals never sit in a government mailroom
- Tracked shipping back to you
Please note: the NC Secretary of State can only apostille documents issued or notarized in North Carolina. A document from another state has to go to that state’s office.
Is Your Destination a Hague Country?
An apostille only works if the country receiving your document belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention. Most popular destinations do, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Japan, and South Korea.
Countries outside the Convention use a longer process called legalization, which can involve the Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State, and that country’s embassy or consulate. We currently focus on Hague countries. If yours isn’t one, we’ll tell you up front and point you toward the right next step.
The list keeps growing. Vietnam joined in September 2026, and Thailand is set to join in February 2027, so it’s worth checking even if a country wasn’t a member a few years ago.
Questions to Ask the Receiving Office
- Does this document need an apostille?
- Do you need an original or a certified copy?
- Does it need to be issued within a certain time?
- Does it need a translation?
Why Choose Aldora’s for Your Apostille?
75 Minutes From Raleigh
Close enough to hand-deliver your documents to the Secretary of State instead of trusting them to the mail.
Near Fort Bragg
About 5 miles from post, with a pass to meet service members on post and a 5% military discount.
Full Service
We review, notarize when needed, submit, and return your documents. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Checked Before It’s Submitted
We confirm the document type and notarization are right the first time, to help avoid rejections and delays.
Serving NC Since 2009
Aldora brings more than 17 years of notary experience and careful attention to every document.
Plain-Language Help
Apostilles can be confusing. Aldora explains each step in plain terms and answers your questions along the way.
“We entrusted her with very sensitive documents that required notarization and apostille processing through the Secretary of State, and she handled everything flawlessly.”
— Crystal Montz, Realtor (Google review)Meeting clients in person across Cumberland, Harnett, and Lee counties, including Fort Bragg. Hand delivery of North Carolina documents to the Secretary of State is available to clients anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a notary issue an apostille? +
How long does it take to get an apostille? +
How much does an apostille cost? +
Why hire you instead of getting an apostille myself? +
Can you apostille a document from another state? +
Do you handle FBI background checks and other federal documents? +
I live outside North Carolina. Can you help with my NC documents? +
Can you meet me on Fort Bragg? +
Ready to Get Your Documents Apostilled?
Tell us what you have and where it’s going. We’ll take it from there.
Monday–Friday 8am–6pm | Saturday 1pm–6pm | Sunday Closed
