Alabama apostille services.
Get Alabama documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the Alabama Secretary of State for state records, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones like FBI background checks. In person at our two San Diego offices, or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Alabama.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in Alabama, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on an Alabama document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In Alabama, most apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Authentication Division in Montgomery — but vital records take a separate path through the Department of Public Health.
That split is the thing to get right: a notarized or corporate document goes to the Secretary of State, while a birth or death certificate is ordered as an apostille copy directly from the state health department, which handles the certification for you.
We prepare, submit, and track your Alabama apostille from start to finish — routing each document to the correct office — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Alabama.
One partner for every Alabama document
State or federal, we route each document to the right authority the first time — and handle the county certification, notarization, or translation it needs along the way.
Alabama requirements
What Alabama documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in Alabama. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Vital records go through the health department, not the county
An Alabama birth or death certificate for an apostille must be ordered from the state Department of Public Health, bearing the current State Registrar's signature and issued within the last five years — county health departments can't produce an apostille copy. The health department obtains the Secretary of State's certification for you as a bundled service. We handle that order for you.
Notarized documents go straight to the Secretary of State
For a Hague-country apostille, a document notarized by a currently commissioned Alabama notary goes directly to the Secretary of State's Authentication Division — no probate-judge step. (For non-Hague countries, a county authentication is needed first.) We route yours the right way for its destination.
Corporate records — the Certificate of Existence
Alabama's Certificate of Existence is issued by the Secretary of State's Business Entities division, then apostilled by the same office. We obtain the certificate and apostille it together.
Documents we apostille in Alabama
From vital records to corporate filings — routed to the correct authority. Don't see yours? We almost certainly handle it.
Related: Certified translation · Certificate of Good Standing · Mobile notary · FBI apostille
From anywhere in Alabama to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in Alabama.
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Tell us your Alabama document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the Alabama Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, and give you a flat price.
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Send it or let us obtain it
Mail your Alabama document with our prepaid, tracked label — or we obtain the certified copy from the issuing agency for you.
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We authenticate it
We submit it to the correct authority — the Alabama Secretary of State for state documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones — and track it through.
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Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled Alabama document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of Alabama
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in Alabama — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
Alabama apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in Alabama?+
It depends on the document — notarized and corporate documents go through the Secretary of State, while vital records take a separate path through the health department — and how fast you need it. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
Why are Alabama birth certificates handled differently?+
In Alabama, a birth or death certificate for an apostille is ordered from the state Department of Public Health, bearing the current State Registrar's signature and issued within the last five years — county health departments can't produce an apostille copy. The health department obtains the Secretary of State's certification for you. We handle that order.
Does an Alabama notarized document need a county step?+
For a Hague-country apostille, no — a document notarized by a currently commissioned Alabama notary goes straight to the Secretary of State's Authentication Division. (For a non-Hague country, a county probate authentication is needed first.) We route yours the right way for its destination.
How long does an Alabama apostille take?+
The Secretary of State asks that you allow about five business days for mail, and walk-in service is available in Montgomery. We confirm the current turnaround and route your document the fastest way for your deadline.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in Alabama?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by Alabama — even if you live in Alabama. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get an Alabama apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve all of Alabama — Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile, and beyond — by secure, tracked mail, and you're welcome at either of our two San Diego walk-in offices.
Apostille in other states
We handle apostilles from all 50 states and D.C. — here are our in-depth state guides.
Get your Alabama apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.