Apostille Notarized
Documents Florida

What Are Notarized Documents for Apostille?

Notarized documents are private documents that have been signed before a licensed Florida notary public. The notary verifies the identity of the signer, confirms the signature was made voluntarily, and affixes their official seal and signature to certify the act.

When these notarized documents must be used in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the document may require an apostille certificate — issued by the Florida Department of State — to confirm the authenticity of the notary public's signature.

It's important to understand the sequence: notarization must happen before apostille. The apostille does not authenticate the document itself — it authenticates the notary public's signature on the document. This means the notarial certificate must be complete and correct before the document can be submitted to the State.

Common Notarized Documents That Require Apostille

Many types of private documents must be notarized before apostille authentication can be issued. Below are the most common document types we assist with.

Requirements for Apostille on Notarized Documents

Before a notarized document can receive an apostille from the Florida Department of State, the notarial certificate must be complete and correct. Incomplete or improperly prepared notarial certificates are one of the most common causes of apostille delays.

We review every notarial certificate before submission to confirm all required elements are present. A single missing element can result in the apostille being rejected, requiring you to have the document re-notarized before resubmitting.

How to Obtain an Apostille for Notarized Documents

The process follows the same two-step sequence for all notarized documents — notarization first, then apostille submission. Here is what each step looks like in practice:

• Prepare the document to be notarized Draft or gather the document that requires international use. Do not sign it yet — the signature must be witnessed by the notary in person. For online notarization, the signing occurs during the remote session.
• Sign the document before a Florida notary public Appear before a licensed Florida notary with a valid government-issued photo ID. The notary will verify your identity, witness your signature, and complete the notarial certificate. MK Notary offers both in-person and online (RON) notarization.

  MK Notary provides in-person & online notarization
• Confirm the notarial certificate is complete We review the completed notarial certificate to ensure all required elements — signature, seal, commission details, county, and wording — are present and correct before any submission to the State.
• Confirm destination country requirements Some countries require specific language in the notarial certificate, certified translations, or additional documentation. We verify your destination country's requirements before preparing the apostille submission packet.
• Submit to the Florida Department of State We prepare and submit the complete apostille request packet locally in Tallahassee — near the State office — for efficient in-person processing. Local submission can be significantly faster than mailing, which can take 21+ days.

  MK Notary handles preparation & submission
• Receive your apostilled document Once the Florida Department of State issues and attaches the apostille certificate, your document is returned via your selected delivery method — fully authenticated and ready for international use.

Common Uses for Apostilled Notarized Documents

Apostilled notarized documents are required across a wide range of international personal, legal, and business situations in Hague Convention member countries.

Why Choose MK Notary Services

For notarized document apostilles, MK Notary offers a genuine advantage: we handle both steps. You don't need to find a notary, then find a separate apostille service. We notarize your document and submit it for apostille — under one roof, with consistent quality review at each stage.

• We handle both notarization and apostille submission — the complete two-step process from a single provider
• We review every notarial certificate before submission to catch errors that would cause the apostille to be rejected
• Located near the Florida Department of State for local, in-person apostille submission
• Online notary (RON) available for clients anywhere in Florida who cannot appear in person
• We confirm destination country requirements — including whether translation is needed alongside the apostille
• Transparent service fees and realistic timelines — no misleading promises about State processing speed

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Apostille & Notary Services

MK Notary Services assists with notarization and apostille preparation across a wide range of Florida documents.