Maryland apostille services.
Get Maryland documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the Maryland 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 Maryland.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in Maryland, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on a Maryland document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In Maryland, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Certification Desk in Annapolis.
Maryland's walk-in service is same-day, but the state draws a sharp line between document types: a sealed government record goes straight to the Secretary of State, while a notarized document first has to be authenticated by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Missing that step is the usual reason a filing comes back.
We prepare, submit, and track your Maryland apostille from start to finish — handling the Circuit Court step where it's needed — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Maryland.
One partner for every Maryland 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.
Maryland requirements
What Maryland documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in Maryland. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Notarized documents need the Circuit Court Clerk first
A power of attorney or affidavit is notarized by a Maryland notary, then authenticated by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where that notary is commissioned — and only then does it go to the Secretary of State for the apostille. Sealed government records skip this step; notarized ones don't. We handle the Circuit Court certification for you.
Vital records go straight to the state
A Maryland birth, death, or marriage certificate must be a certified copy from the Department of Health's Division of Vital Records, carrying the official raised seal and authorized signature. Because it already bears a government seal, it goes directly to the Secretary of State — a hospital “souvenir” copy or plain photocopy is rejected. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Corporate records — the Certificate of Status
Maryland's proof of good standing is the Certificate of Status, issued by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), not the Secretary of State. We obtain it from SDAT and then apostille it at the Secretary of State, in one order.
Documents we apostille in Maryland
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 Maryland to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in Maryland.
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Tell us your Maryland document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of Maryland
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in Maryland — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
Maryland apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in Maryland?+
It depends on the document, whether it's notarized (and so needs the Circuit Court step first), and how fast you need it. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins — with no hidden fees, and no obligation.
Why does my Maryland notarized document need the Circuit Court?+
Maryland requires a notarized document to be authenticated by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the notary is commissioned before the Secretary of State will apostille it. Sealed government records — vital records and corporate certificates — skip this step, but notarized ones don't. We handle the Circuit Court certification for you.
How long does a Maryland apostille take?+
In person at the Annapolis Certification Desk (open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) it's same-day; by mail it's about a week, and faster if you send it by FedEx or UPS. We route your document the fastest way for your deadline.
Do Maryland birth certificates need anything special?+
A Maryland birth, death, or marriage certificate must be a certified copy from the Department of Health's Division of Vital Records, with the official raised seal and signature. Because it's a sealed government record, it goes straight to the Secretary of State — a hospital 'souvenir' copy or photocopy is rejected. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in Maryland?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by Maryland — even if you live in Maryland. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get a Maryland apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve all of Maryland — Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring, Annapolis, 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 Maryland apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.