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Apostilles/Authentication of Documents

Current Processing Time - We are currently processing mailed apostille/authentication requests received September 11, 2023.

Corporations Section: Certified copies of business organization documents on file with the Secretary of State, including articles of incorporation, certificates of limited partnership, articles of organization, certificates of merger, assumed name certificates, and applications for registration of trademarks. Additionally, certificates of existence or fact issued by the Secretary of State evidencing facts from the records of the office.
Authentications Unit: The Authentications Unit may issue Apostilles or Certificates for the following types of documents:

Non-recordable documents that have been notarized in English by a Texas Notary Public.You must submit the complete original document for authentication. For information regarding official certificates or apostilles for school records, please see FAQ #23. Request for Official Certificate or Apostille - NOT for use in proceedings relating to the adoption of one or more children - Form 2102.
Recordable documents are issued by a Texas statewide officer. Recordable documents may not be certified by a notary public. This includes certified copies of birth/death certificates, vehicle title histories, etc.; documents issued by a county official including certified copies of marriage licenses, divorce decrees, probated wills, judgments, birth/death certificates, etc.; documents issued by a city or local registrar including certified copies of birth/death certificates. You must submit the complete document for authentication. Originals and/or certified copies submitted for authentication must have been issued within the past five years. Request for Official Certificate or Apostille - NOT for use in proceedings relating to the adoption of one or more children - Form 2102.

Requests Relating to the Adoption of a Child: Requests for Apostilles or Certificates for use in proceedings related to the adoption of a child must be submitted using Form 2103. Request for Official Certificate or Apostille - Adoption Proceedings - for use in proceedings relating to the adoption of one or more children - Form 2103.

In addition to the above requirements, for all certifications or authentications you will also need to provide the following:

The name of the country where the document will be recorded.
The statutory fee of Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) per certificate or apostille unless the certificate or apostille is requested for use in adoption proceedings. * A check or money order drawn on a U.S. Bank and made payable to the Secretary of State of Texas must be submitted with the documents. American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa cards (PDF) are also accepted (subject to a 2.7% convenience fee).
A self-addressed, stamped envelope or pre-paid overnight airbill/envelope.

* If the Certificate/Apostille is requested for use in proceedings related to an adoption, the fee is $10.00 per Certificate/Apostille, and the total fees may not exceed $100.00 for the adoption of each child.

The Secretary of State does not translate documents.

Walk-In Service

Notice: TWC: Service Animals and their Access to Public Places

Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Central Time (call for holiday hours)

Processing time is dependent on the number of Walk-In customers
and the number of documents being processed.

Mail-In Service

Please allow at least twenty-five (25) business days for processing any request received by mail. Current processing time may exceed this timeframe due to demand.

Our office does not offer expedited service for mail-in requests. The use of overnight mail service does not expedite processing time.

Attention: If you decide to visit our office in person, please verify the agency is not closed due to observance of any federal holidays by reviewing our holiday schedule (PDF).

Street Address	P.O. Box Address
Corporations Section:	Corporations Section:
(512) 463-5555 Secretary of State Corporations Section 1019 Brazos Austin, TX 78701 Walk-In Service: Room 105	Secretary of State Corporations Section P.O. Box 13697 Austin, TX 78711-3697
Authentications Unit (Apostilles):	Authentications Unit (Apostilles):
(512) 463-5705 Secretary of State Authentications Unit 1019 Brazos Austin, TX 78701 Walk-In Service: Room 106	Secretary of State Authentications Unit P.O. Box 13550 Austin, TX 78711-3550

Questions not covered by the above information for documents authenticated by the Notary Public
Unit and the Statutory Documents Section may be addressed to: authentications@sos.state.tx.us