Apostille Services

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An apostille (pronounced uh-paw-stee) is a standardized certificate used by and in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

An apostille authenticates the origin of a public document so it can be accepted for use abroad. It does not verify the content of the document.

Apostilles are issued for documents for use in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Certificates of Authority (legalization) are issued for documents for use in countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention. To simplify the wording, most people will say either Hague or Non-Hague countries.

Depending on the country that will be using your documents, during our review process, we would refer to the status table which is list of countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention that is maintained by the HCCH. We will always communicate what our findings show.

If your document is signed by the following officials: 

• U.S. federal official 
• U.S. consular officer 
• Foreign consul registered with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Protocol
• Military notary or judge advocate 

Yes, we can accept documents from all 50 states. Since apostilles and certificates of authority must be issued by the authority where the document originated, we will coordinate the correct process for out-of-state documents. Additional fees will apply.

It depends on the document. Some documents need to be notarized and some need to be issued as certified originals. We will review each document and advise you before submission.

It depends on the document type: 

• Vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates) must be certified copies issued by the appropriate state authority.
• Corporate documents may need to be state-issued or properly notarized.
• Personal documents often require notarization before apostille.

We review documents before submission to ensure they meet requirements.

Notaries in Illinois cannot certify copy documents. A Certified Copy by Document Custodian is possible, which puts the  responsibility on the signer and not the notary or school; however, most receiving countries prefer an actual notarization from the school's registrar and not the signer. We can work with you to make that possible.

Yes. Include a trackable shipping label for both ways, a copy of your ID, and any original certified vital records required by the state. If it requires notarization first, complete that with a notary prior to mailing out. RON services are available for an additional fee. 

Rejections typically occur due to:

• Improper notarization
• Incorrect document format
• Expired or outdated certificates
• Submission to the wrong authority

Our document qualification process significantly reduces the risk of rejection by reviewing documents before submission.

If your document is rejected by a competent authority due to any Synergy Notary Services processing issue, we will reprocess at no cost to you.

No, we do not store copies of apostilles or full legalization documents. We can provide your apostille number to verify it against state or federal records.

Synergy Notary Services LLC are not attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois and may not give legal advices or accept fees for legal advice. Please consult with a licensed attorney if you have legal questions about your documents, need law interpretation, or want advice on the legal effects of your documents. Our services are strictly limited to assisting with the notarization, authentication, and apostille process based on the information provided.