South Carolina apostille services.
Get South Carolina documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in South Carolina, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on a South Carolina document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In South Carolina, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Office in Columbia.
South Carolina's rules are straightforward, but there's one that trips people up: a birth or death certificate can't be notarized. It has to be a certified copy from the state on official security paper, endorsed with the seal and signature.
We prepare, submit, and track your South Carolina apostille from start to finish — routing each document correctly — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in South Carolina.
One partner for every South Carolina 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.
South Carolina requirements
What South Carolina documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in South Carolina. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Vital records can't be notarized
A South Carolina birth or death certificate must be a certified copy from the state Department of Public Health's Vital Records section, on official security paper with the seal and an authorized signature — it cannot be notarized, and a notarized photocopy is rejected. Marriage and divorce records can come from the county Probate Court or Clerk of Court, or the state. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Notarized documents go straight to the state
A power of attorney or affidavit notarized by a commissioned South Carolina notary goes directly to the Secretary of State — there's no county-clerk step — as long as the notarial certificate is complete. We notarize your document correctly for you.
Corporate records — the Certificate of Existence
South Carolina's proof of good standing is the Certificate of Existence from the Secretary of State's Business Entities division. Because it's signed by the Secretary of State, it goes straight to apostille. We obtain it and apostille it together.
Documents we apostille in South Carolina
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 South Carolina to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in South Carolina.
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Tell us your South Carolina document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of South Carolina
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in South Carolina — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
South Carolina apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in South Carolina?+
It depends on the document and how fast you need it. In South Carolina, a vital record must be a state certified copy — it can't be notarized — which is a separate input. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
Do South Carolina birth certificates need anything special?+
Yes. A South Carolina birth or death certificate must be a certified copy from the state Department of Public Health's Vital Records section, on official security paper with the seal and an authorized signature — it cannot be notarized, and a notarized photocopy is rejected. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Does a South Carolina notarized document need a county step?+
No. A document notarized by a commissioned South Carolina notary goes straight to the Secretary of State — there's no county-clerk step — as long as the notarial certificate is complete. We notarize your document correctly for you.
How long does a South Carolina apostille take?+
The Secretary of State's office takes documents by mail, courier, and walk-in (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Columbia). Processing times vary, so we confirm the current turnaround and route your document the fastest way for your deadline.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in South Carolina?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by South Carolina — even if you live in South Carolina. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get a South Carolina apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve all of South Carolina — Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, 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 South Carolina apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.