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 and authorize its acceptance abroad.
Understanding the sequence is critical: 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.
The Two-Step Process
Every apostille for a notarized document follows the same two-step sequence. MK Notary Services handles both steps — you don't need to coordinate between a notary and a separate apostille service.
Notarization by a Florida Notary
Your document is signed before a licensed Florida notary public. The notary verifies your identity, witnesses the signature, and completes the notarial certificate with their official signature and seal.
Apostille via Florida Dept of State
The notarized document is submitted to the Florida Department of State, which verifies the notary's credentials and attaches an apostille certificate confirming the notary's authority.
MK Notary Services does not issue apostilles
That authority belongs solely to the Florida Department of State. We provide the notarization (Step 1) and prepare and submit your document packet to the State (Step 2) — handling the full process so you don't have to coordinate multiple providers.
Common Notarized Documents That Require Apostille
Many types of private documents must be notarized before apostille authentication can be issued. These are the most common document types MK Notary Services assists with in Tallahassee and throughout Florida.
Power of Attorney
Granting authority to act on your behalf in another country — general, durable, or limited POA.
Affidavits & Sworn Statements
Notarized declarations for use in foreign legal proceedings or government applications.
Business Agreements & Contracts
Contracts and agreements for international business transactions requiring foreign authentication.
Corporate Authorizations
Corporate resolutions and authorizations for use abroad, including international entity transactions.
Permission Letters for Minors
Parental consent for a child traveling internationally or relocating abroad without one parent.
Financial Authorization Documents
Bank authorizations and financial declarations for international use or foreign account access.
Personal Declarations
Notarized statements of facts for foreign authorities, embassies, or legal proceedings abroad.
Other Notarized Private Documents
Any private document requiring Florida notarization before it can be submitted for international use.
Have a document that needs notarization + apostille?
Tell us your document type and destination country — we'll confirm what's needed.
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 rejection and delays.
What the Notarial Certificate Must Include
- The notary's full signature on the notarial certificate
- The notary's official seal or stamp
- The notary's commission expiration date (if applicable)
- The county of notarization stated on the certificate
- The correct notarial wording for the type of act performed
- Submission to the FL Dept of State with the correct fee and form
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 the document to be re-notarized before resubmitting.
How to Obtain an Apostille for Notarized Documents
The process follows the same two-step sequence for all notarized documents. Here is what each step looks like in practice for clients in Tallahassee, Leon County, and across Florida.
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Prepare your document — do not sign yet Draft or gather the document that requires international use. Do not sign it in advance — the signature must be witnessed by the notary. For online notarization (RON), the signing occurs during the live remote session.
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Sign 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 (Tallahassee) and online (RON) notarization for clients anywhere in Florida.Online notarization available statewide via secure video session
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We review the completed notarial certificate Before any submission, we confirm all required elements — signature, seal, commission details, county, and correct notarial wording — are present. This review step prevents rejection by the Florida Department of State.
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We 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 — so nothing is missed.
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We 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 is typically significantly faster than mailing, which can take 21+ business days.Local in-person submission · Faster than mail
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You receive your fully 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 in any Hague Convention member country.
What Clients Say
"I never met a notary with such competence, professionalism and humanity. I had a knotty international problem requiring notarial services and an apostille. Melissa dissolved what appeared an insurmountable problem in a matter of days. I recommend her without reserve!"
"Thank you so very much for your help notarizing and completing apostilles. You were truly a lifesaver! Your professionalism, responsiveness, and guidance through the entire process made all the difference."
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. Common situations where Tallahassee and Florida clients need this service include:
Why Choose MK Notary Services
For notarized document apostilles in Tallahassee and throughout Florida, MK Notary offers a genuine advantage: we handle both steps under one roof, with consistent quality review at each stage.
Both Steps, One Provider
We handle notarization and apostille submission — no need to find a notary and then a separate apostille service. One point of contact, no gaps.
Certificate Review Before Submission
We review every notarial certificate before it goes to the State — catching errors that would cause rejection and require costly re-notarization.
Local FL Dept of State Submission
Based in Tallahassee near the Florida Department of State. Local in-person submission is significantly faster than mailing, which can take 21+ days.
Online Notary Statewide
Clients across Florida who can't appear in person can use our Remote Online Notarization (RON) service — notarized by video, apostille handled locally.
Serving Tallahassee, Leon County & All of Florida
MK Notary Services is based in Tallahassee — Leon County — near the Florida Department of State offices responsible for apostille authentication. This location provides a direct advantage for clients needing fast local submission.