California Apostille · Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County Apostille.

Los Angeles County is our home base. We handle California Apostille orders across all 88 LA County cities — from Long Beach and Compton up through the San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley, and the Santa Clarita Valley. Same-day service is available for qualifying documents through the California Secretary of State Los Angeles office at 300 South Spring Street.

  • Same-Day California Apostille Available
  • Full mobile service — we come to you
  • Hague and non-Hague destinations worldwide

This page covers California-issued documents from Los Angeles County. Federal documents (FBI, USCIS, NARA, federal court) go through the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC — see the Washington DC federal Apostille page.

How Los Angeles County Apostille works

Los Angeles County documents, apostilled through the California SoS.

LA County includes the California Secretary of State Los Angeles walk-in office at 300 South Spring Street, one of only two SoS Apostille counters in the state (the other is in Sacramento). Documents received before 4:30 PM are typically processed within 30 minutes at the counter. Population ~9.7 million. Every California Apostille order from Los Angeles County runs the same route: (1) we verify the document has the correct California official's signature, (2) we route it through the California Secretary of State — walk-in Los Angeles counter for same-day, or mail-in Sacramento for longer lead times — and (3) we return the apostilled document to you by tracked mail or courier, anywhere in the world.

Los Angeles County Apostille Turnaround Options

Same-Day Available

Same Business Day

Qualifying California-issued documents hand-carried through the California SoS Los Angeles counter. Documents received before 4:30 PM are typically processed within 30 minutes at the counter. Call or text early in the day to confirm availability.

Standard

3–5 Business Days

Standard California state Apostille for notarized documents, vital records, corporate resolutions, and other qualifying state-issued documents. Includes pickup and return delivery.

Mail-In (Sacramento)

~5 Weeks

California SoS Sacramento mail-in queue is currently running about 5 weeks. We recommend LA walk-in for anyone with a real deadline — same fee, dramatically faster.

California SoS charges $20 per document plus a $6 special-handling fee per document for in-person submissions. Consular legalization for non-Hague countries follows a separate timeline that varies by country.

Common Los Angeles County Apostille orders

Which Los Angeles County documents get apostilled.

Vital records

California birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates issued by Los Angeles County County Recorder or CDPH Vital Records. Certified copies with a raised seal are required — photocopies are not eligible.

Notarized documents

Powers of attorney, affidavits, consent letters, statutory declarations, and any other document signed in front of a California Notary Public. As a mobile Notary service, we notarize on-site anywhere in Los Angeles County and route the document straight to Apostille.

Corporate documents

California corporate resolutions, articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, and officer certifications for foreign subsidiaries, joint ventures, and international contracting.

School records

Diplomas, degrees, and transcripts from California high schools, colleges, and universities. Registrar signatures typically need California Notary verification before Apostille — we coordinate the full chain.

Court records

California court judgments, divorce decrees, and certified court records with a Court Clerk certification. Adoption records, name changes, and judgment liens are common types.

International adoption support

LA County is one of the largest sources of adoption home studies and background checks bound for Hague and non-Hague adoption authorities abroad.

Entertainment industry contracts

Film, music, and licensing agreements signed in LA and used in Europe, Asia, or Latin America regularly require Apostille certification.

Higher-education transcripts & diplomas

Graduates of UCLA, USC, Loyola, Pepperdine, and dozens of other LA institutions frequently need Apostilled transcripts for foreign study or employment.

Los Angeles County service area

Cities we cover in Los Angeles County.

  • Los Angeles
  • Long Beach
  • Glendale
  • Santa Clarita
  • Lancaster
  • Palmdale
  • Pomona
  • Torrance
  • Pasadena
  • El Monte
  • Downey
  • West Covina
  • Norwalk
  • Burbank
  • Inglewood
  • South Gate
  • Whittier
  • Compton
  • Carson
  • Hawthorne

Not on the list? We cover the entire county — call or text if your city isn't shown.

How it works

From Los Angeles County pickup to apostilled document in hand.

Call, text, or book online

Tell us the document type, destination country, and deadline. We confirm eligibility and quote the exact turnaround before any work starts.

Mobile pickup in Los Angeles County

We come to your Los Angeles County home, office, hospital, or facility. If notarization is also needed, we handle that on-site during the same visit. No trip to our office required.

California SoS Apostille

We hand-carry to the California SoS Los Angeles counter for same-day service, or route to Sacramento by mail if that suits your timeline better. You get status updates until the Apostille is issued.

Return delivery worldwide

Tracked return delivery to any Los Angeles County address, anywhere in the U.S., or internationally by tracked courier. Non-Hague country? We coordinate consular legalization as the next step.

Los Angeles County Apostille FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Do I have to drive to Sacramento to get an Apostille from Los Angeles County?

No. The California Secretary of State has two Apostille walk-in counters — Sacramento and Los Angeles (300 South Spring Street). Every county in Southern California, including Los Angeles County, uses the LA counter for same-day service. We coordinate LA counter service for Los Angeles County clients so you don't need to drive it yourself.

How much does a California Apostille cost?

The California Secretary of State charges $20 per document, plus a $6 special-handling fee per document for in-person walk-in submissions. Our service fee is separate and covers pickup, notarization if needed, LA counter service, tracking, and secure return delivery. Call or text with your document type and destination country for an exact quote.

How long does a California Apostille take?

Walk-in at the California SoS Los Angeles office is same-day for qualifying documents received before 4:30 PM — typically processed within 30 minutes at the counter. Mail-in through the Sacramento office is currently running about 5 weeks. We recommend LA walk-in for anyone with a real deadline.

What documents from Los Angeles County can be apostilled?

Any California-issued document with a proper California official's signature. That includes California birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates issued by California county recorders or CDPH Vital Records; documents notarized by a California Notary Public; California court documents certified by the clerk; California corporate documents from the California Secretary of State Business Programs Division; and California school transcripts and diplomas. Federal documents (FBI reports, USCIS certificates, NARA records) are apostilled separately by the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC, not the California SoS.

Can you pick up my documents from my home or office in Los Angeles County?

Yes. As a mobile Notary service, we come to you throughout Los Angeles County. We can notarize any documents that need a Notary first, pick up already-notarized documents or certified vital records, and handle the entire Apostille process from your address to your final delivery address.

Do I need consular legalization in addition to the California Apostille?

Only if your destination country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. For Hague countries (most of Europe, Latin America, Japan, South Korea, and dozens more), the Apostille alone is sufficient. For non-Hague countries (some Gulf States, several Southeast Asian and African nations), the document also needs consular legalization at the destination country's consulate — typically in Los Angeles or San Francisco. We coordinate the full chain when required.

Can I combine my Apostille order with Notary or translation services from Los Angeles County?

Yes. We routinely combine mobile Notary, certified translation, and Apostille into a single order for Los Angeles County clients. That's usually the fastest path — one team handles notarization, certified translation (24-hour standard for up to 10 pages; up to 72 hours for larger jobs), and Apostille certification, so nothing falls through the cracks between vendors.