APOSTILLE Service

Transatlantic Notary Group

Legal Basis for Apostilles

The Hague Apostille Convention

Apostilles are issued pursuant to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (“Hague Apostille Convention”).

The United States, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and most European countries are contracting states to the Convention

Under the Convention:

An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, and authority of the public official who executed the document

An apostille does not certify the content or legal effect of the document itself. But, apostilles replace traditional diplomatic or consular legalization between contracting states.

U.S. Authority to Issue Apostilles

In the United States, apostilles are issued by:

Secretaries of State (or equivalent authorities) for documents notarized under state law.

The U.S. Department of State for certain federal documents.

Apostilles

Transatlantic Notary Group coordinates apostilles exclusively through the competent issuing authority based on:

The state in which the notary is commissioned.

The jurisdiction governing the notarized document

Hague Convention

The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 simplifies the international use of public documents by replacing traditional consular legalization with a single certification known as an apostille. The apostille confirms the authenticity of the issuing official’s signature and authority, not the document’s content, and is recognized by all contracting states, including the United States, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Scope of Apostille Services

Apostille Coordination for U.S.-Notarized Documents

We coordinate apostilles for documents that have been properly notarized by a U.S. Notary Public, including those notarized through approved Remote Online Notarization (RON) platforms.

Our service includes:

  • Jurisdictional determination of the correct issuing authority

  • Verification that the notarial act is apostille-eligible

  • Preparation of apostille request documentation

  • Submission to the appropriate Secretary of State

  • Monitoring, tracking, and status updates

  • Secure delivery of apostilled documents.

State-Specific Apostille Expertise

Apostille requirements vary significantly by U.S. state. Common differences include:

  • Mandatory county clerk authentication (e.g., New York)

  • State-specific request forms

  • Variations in acceptable notarial certificates

  • Differences in processing time and submission methods.

Transatlantic Notary Group manages these differences on a state-by-state basis, including but not limited to:

  • Michigan

  • New York

  • California

  • Florida

  • Texas

This jurisdictional discipline materially reduces apostille rejection risk.

Apostille Readiness Review (Preventive Compliance)

Before submission, documents are reviewed to confirm:

  • The notarial certificate is complete and compliant

  • The notary’s commission is active and verifiable

  • No post-notarization alterations have occurred

  • The document is eligible for apostille under the Hague Convention.

This review is critical. Many apostille rejections arise not from the issuing authority, but from defective notarization or improper sequencing.

State-Specific Apostille Expertise

Typical Documents Requiring Apostilles

We frequently coordinate apostilles for:

  • Powers of Attorney

  • Affidavits and sworn declarations

  • Corporate and commercial documents

  • U.S. court-related filings

  • Banking and financial compliance documents

  • Probate and estate administration documents

  • IRS and tax-related affidavits

  • Immigration and citizenship-related declarations

  • Document eligibility is confirmed before apostille submission.

What an Apostille Does — and Does Not Do

An Apostille Confirms:

  • The authenticity of the notary’s signature

  • The notary’s authority at the time of notarization

  • The validity of the seal or stamp

An Apostille Does Not:

  • Validate the legal content of the document

  • Confirm the truth of statements made

  • Replace legal review by the receiving authority

  • Guarantee acceptance by a foreign institution.1

  • Understanding this distinction is essential for proper use.

Transatlantic Notary Group operates as a premium apostille service. Our clients engage us when:

  • Document rejection would cause material delay or financial harm

  • Institutional acceptance is critical

  • Cross-border legal or financial matters are involved

  • Precision and documentation quality matter more than speed alone

Our pricing reflects:

  • Jurisdictional expertise

  • Risk mitigation

  • Administrative handling

  • Professional accountability

We do not operate as a bulk or commodity apostille processor.

PRICING Table

Bilingual U.S. Notary Services for German-Speaking Clients Worldwide.
Fast. Legally Valid. Apostille-Ready.

EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL NOTARIZATION

$199

includes:

  • One document notarized

  • Remote Online Notarization

  • Identity verification & recording

  • Pre-session document compliance review

  • +$75 for each additional document

  • Delivery within 24 hours

Best for:
Single affidavits, powers of attorney, bank or court forms.

APOSTILLE-READY

PACKAGE

$280

includes:

  • Notarization of one document

  • Apostille eligibility review

  • Apostille coordination or guided submission

  • Priority handling

Best for:
Documents destined for use in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or other Hague Convention countries.

MULTI-DOCUMENT PACKAGE

$410

includes:

  • 3–6 related documents

  • Priority scheduling

  • Consolidated session

  • Coordination with attorneys or institutions (if required)

Best for:
Corporate matters, real estate transactions, probate files.

SAME-DAY / URGENT SERVICE

$100

surcharge

  • Subject to availability.

  • Reserved for time-sensitive legal or financial matters.

Best for:
Documents destined for use in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or other Hague Convention countries.

PROFESSIONAL / LAW FIRM RETAINER

$1,500 per month

includes:

  • Monthly Flat Fee

  • Priority booking for your clients

  • Reduced per-document pricing

  • Direct coordination

  • Predictable monthly billing

Best for:
Documents destined for use in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or other Hague Convention countries.

Apostille Services

$250

includes:

  • One document

  • 72-Hour Turn Around

  • + $75 for each additional document

  • +Shipping Costs

  • +State Notarization Fee

Best for:
Obtaining your documents and Apostille fast pursuant to the Hague Convention regarding the Legalization of Foreign documents.

All notarizations are performed under U.S. notarial law.

This service does not replace German, Austrian, or Swiss notarial acts where local law requires them.

Clients are advised in advance if a document cannot be notarized under U.S. authority.

Transparency prevents rejection later.a Paragraph Font

Bilingual U.S. Notary Services for German-Speaking Clients Worldwide.

Fast, legally valid U.S. notarizations for clients in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and across Europe completed remotely and apostille-ready.

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