top of page
Tifini Goebel, California notary public and apostille services in San Mateo County and Santa Clara

Tifini Goebel, Notary Public & Apostille Services

Apostille Services in San Mateo, California

Need an apostille in San Mateo, CA? I provide mobile notary and California apostille services for documents being used internationally. I can notarize eligible documents at your home, office, hospital, or other convenient location in San Mateo, then coordinate submission to the California Secretary of State in Sacramento for apostille processing. Once completed, your documents are securely returned with tracking. Certified record retrieval, certified translation, embassy legalization, and international shipping are also available when needed.

Call or text (650) 675-7760 · WhatsApp for international clients

Apostille Services in San Mateo, California

Apostille services in San Mateo are commonly needed for international legal, academic, business, and personal matters. I help simplify the process by confirming document requirements, completing mobile notarization when needed, and coordinating submission for apostille certification through the California Secretary of State.

How the Apostille Process Works in San Mateo

  1. Document review and eligibility check

  2. Mobile notarization in San Mateo (if required)

  3. Submission to the California Secretary of State in Sacramento

  4. Secure return delivery with tracking

Need documents authenticated for international use?
Call/Text (650) 675-7760 or

request a quote. 

Tifini Goebel, California Notary

California Apostille Services in San Mateo, CA

More Information For Apostille & Mobile Notary Services In San Mateo, California

Common Apostille Requests in San Mateo

San Mateo clients frequently request apostille services for:

  • Birth certificates and marriage certificates (certified copies)

  • Powers of attorney for overseas legal matters

  • School transcripts and diplomas for international universities

  • Corporate documents for international business

  • Notarized affidavits and consent letters

Do I Need Notarization Before an Apostille?

Some documents require notarization before apostille, while certified vital records typically must be certified copies and are not notarized. I’ll confirm the correct preparation for your specific document before submission.

Non-Hague Countries and Embassy Legalization

If your document is going to a country that is not part of the Hague Convention, it may require authentication and embassy or consulate legalization instead of an apostille. I can guide you based on the destination country’s requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is an apostille and how does it work in California?

An apostille is a certificate issued by the California Secretary of State that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document, making it legally recognized in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. In California, the process works like this: your document must first be in the correct form, either a certified government record or a properly notarized document, and then it is submitted to the California Secretary of State, who attaches the apostille. The Secretary of State does not verify the content of your document; it only certifies the authenticity of the signature. Once the apostille is attached, the document is ready for use in any of the roughly 125 Hague Convention member countries.

How do I get an apostille in San Mateo? What are the steps?

The process has three main stages. First, confirm your document is eligible: it must be an original certified record from a California county or a document signed before a commissioned California notary public. Second, submit the document to the California Secretary of State, either by mailing it to the Sacramento office or presenting it in person in Sacramento or Los Angeles. Third, the Secretary of State attaches the apostille certificate and returns your document. If you work with Tifini, she handles stages two and three for you: reviewing your document for eligibility before submission, traveling to the Sacramento Secretary of State office, and shipping the completed apostille back to you domestically or internationally.

What documents can be apostilled in California?

The California Secretary of State can apostille documents that carry an eligible California public official's signature. Common examples include birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates issued by a California county; court-certified orders and judgments; notarized documents signed before a California notary; corporate documents such as certificates of good standing; and power of attorney documents. The Secretary of State cannot apostille documents issued by another state or a federal agency. Those require a separate process through the appropriate state's authority or the U.S. Department of State. If you are unsure whether your document qualifies, call or text Tifini at (650) 675-7760.

How long does it take to get a California apostille?

Standard service is completed in 5 to 7 business days for all eligible documents, including court documents, powers of attorney, trust documents, corporate records, other notarized documents, and certified vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates).

Expedited service for any eligible document type is 1 to 2 business days. Turnaround starts once I have the eligible document in hand; shipping time is not included.

How much does a California apostille cost?

Service fees:

• Standard apostille (including birth, marriage, and death certificates): $185 for the first document, $75 for each additional document in the same order. Completed in 5 to 7 business days.

• Expedited apostille (any eligible document): $245 for the first document, $75 for each additional document in the same order. Completed in 1 to 2 business days. Government fees, billed in addition to the service fee:

• California Secretary of State fee: $20 per apostille

• Special handling / signature verification fee: $6 per apostille If your document needs notarizing first, notarization is $15 per signature ($20 starting January 1, 2027, per California law), plus a travel fee for pickup or drop-off.

Return shipping is billed at cost via FedEx or DHL, and shipping upgrades are additional.

Where do I submit documents for a California apostille?

The California Secretary of State processes apostilles at two offices: Sacramento at 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, and Los Angeles at 300 South Spring Street. Both offices accept walk-in requests Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on a first-come, first-served basis. Mail-in submissions are accepted only through the Sacramento office. There is no Secretary of State apostille counter in the Bay Area or San Francisco, which is one reason Bay Area and Peninsula clients work with Tifini, who handles the Sacramento drop-off on their behalf.

Can I get a California apostille without going to Sacramento?

Yes. You do not need to travel to Sacramento yourself. You can mail your documents to the Secretary of State's Sacramento office, or you can work with Tifini, who submits documents in person on your behalf. Clients ship their documents to her Burlingame office, and she handles the Sacramento submission, retrieval, and return shipping. For Bay Area and Peninsula clients who need a reliable turnaround, this is almost always the more practical choice.

Can you help if I need the certified record first?

Yes. If you need a certified California birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, divorce decree, or court record before obtaining an apostille, I provide California Certified Record Retrieval Services for eligible requesters.

Detailed Notary map highlighting San Mateo, California, with Burlingame shown as the general base. San Francisco is not served.

I provide apostille services and mobile notary appointments throughout San Mateo County and the Peninsula, with same-day service available when scheduling permits.

Schedule Mobile Notary

​

Call/Text: (650) 675-7760
Email: tifini@detailednotary.net

Tifini Goebel · Commissioned California Notary Public

· Certified Apostille Support Specialist · Apostille and Federal Authentication Services

· Bonded · $1M Errors & Omissions Insurance

bottom of page