Authentication
Get a Maryland Apostille Without the Trip Downtown
An apostille certifies that a Maryland document — a birth certificate, power of attorney, diploma, or business record — is authentic for use in another country. Every Maryland apostille is issued by one office: the Maryland Secretary of State's Certification Desk, located in downtown Annapolis. Because we're based right here, we can notarize your document, handle any county certification it needs, and hand-carry it to the Secretary of State's office for you, so you never have to fight the morning walk-in window or downtown parking yourself.
How the Maryland Apostille Process Works
1. Notarization
Most privately signed documents, like a power of attorney, affidavit, or consent form, must be properly notarized before they're eligible for an apostille. We handle this at your home, office, or wherever is convenient.
2. County Certification, If Required
Depending on the document, it may first need to be certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Certified copies of official records, like birth or marriage certificates, follow their own path. We confirm exactly what your document needs before anything is submitted.
3. Maryland Secretary of State Apostille
The document is then submitted to the Secretary of State's Certification Desk at 16 Francis Street in Annapolis. The state fee is $5 per document. Walk-in service runs 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with a limit of 15 documents per customer per day.
4. Ready for Use Abroad
With the apostille attached, your document is recognized in any country that's a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, with no further embassy legalization needed.
Three Ways to Get Your Maryland Apostille
Walk In Yourself
Fastest if you can make the morning window. Arrive well before 1:00 PM, bring no more than 15 documents, and make sure everything is notarized and certified first. Read our Annapolis Apostille Checklist before you go.
Mail It In
The state accepts mailed requests with a check or money order to the Secretary of State and a prepaid return envelope. It's convenient, but mail adds days in each direction.
Let Us Hand-Carry It
We notarize your document, take care of any county certification, and deliver it to the Secretary of State's office in person, saving you the trip, the parking, and the risk of a rejected submission.
Planning a walk-in visit yourself? Read our Annapolis Apostille Checklist first.
Why a Rejected Apostille Submission Costs You More Than Time
The Maryland Secretary of State's office will reject a submission for small, easily missed reasons — an incorrectly worded notarial certificate, a signature that doesn't match the notary's commission exactly, or a document type that needs a different authentication path entirely. Each rejection means resubmitting, which can mean another trip downtown, another wait, and in some cases another notarization fee. Getting the notarization and paperwork right on the first attempt is the difference between a document that's ready to send abroad and one that's stuck in a resubmission cycle right when you need it most.
Common Documents We Help With
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Power of attorney documents
- Diplomas and academic transcripts
- Business and corporate records
Need a Maryland Apostille?
Call 443-332-3559 or request an appointment and we'll walk you through exactly what your document needs.
Start Your Apostille RequestFrequently Asked Questions
How much does an apostille cost in Maryland?
The Maryland Secretary of State charges $5 per document for an apostille. If your document needs notarization, county certification, or courier delivery, those services are priced separately. We'll quote the full cost upfront when you book.
Where do I get an apostille in Maryland?
All Maryland apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Certification Desk at 16 Francis Street, Wineland Building, Annapolis, MD 21401. Walk-in hours are 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday, or you can submit by mail.
How long does the apostille process take?
Notarization can typically be completed the same day we meet. Walk-in submissions to the Secretary of State are generally processed the same day, while mailed requests take longer because of shipping time in both directions. We'll walk you through current turnaround expectations when you book.
Does every document need to be notarized before it can get an apostille?
Most do, but not all. Some government-issued records, like certified birth or marriage certificates, may already qualify without additional notarization. We can help you confirm what your specific document needs before you start the process.
Will an apostille work for any country?
An apostille is recognized by any country that's a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which covers most, but not all, countries. If your destination country isn't a member, a different authentication process called legalization is required instead, and we can help you determine which applies to your situation.