How to Get an Apostille in Alabama

Educational information, not legal advice. Fees, addresses and processing times reflect the Alabama Secretary of State and can change. Confirm current details on the official sos.alabama.gov page before you mail anything.

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Who issues apostilles in Alabama?

Apostilles in Alabama are issued by the Secretary of State's Authentication Division in Montgomery. The office confirms the authenticity of the signatures, seals and official capacity on documents issued or notarized within Alabama, and it issues an apostille for Hague Convention countries or a certification for the rest. As in every state, Alabama only authenticates its own documents; anything issued in another state must go to that state's authority. A private document such as a power of attorney has to be notarized by an Alabama notary first, because the Secretary of State authenticates the notary's commission rather than your own signature.

How much does an Alabama apostille cost?

An Alabama apostille costs $5 per document, and helpfully that single fee applies regardless of page count, so a long multi-page document is still $5. Pay by check or money order made out to the Alabama Secretary of State, or by credit card. As always, the $5 is only the government charge, and a private service adds its own handling on top, which is the larger part of any flat rate you are quoted. Because the fee is low and flat, Alabama is one of the cheaper states to do yourself when you have a single, correctly prepared document. Fees are revised occasionally, so confirm the current one before filing.

How long does an Alabama apostille take?

A mailed Alabama apostille is commonly processed in about five business days from the date the office receives it, not counting shipping in each direction. A walk-in at the Montgomery office can be handled the same day over the counter during business hours. Because you are sending original, hard-to-replace documents, use a trackable service and include a prepaid return envelope so the certificate comes back to you securely. If a foreign deadline is tight, the in-person route or overnight shipping on both legs removes the most uncertainty.

How do you get an apostille in Alabama, step by step?

You complete the request form, submit the document with the $5 fee, and the Secretary of State returns it with the apostille attached. The route below is the standard process.

1. Check the document is Alabama's: issued in Alabama or notarized by an Alabama notary.
2. Notarize private documents first: a power of attorney or affidavit needs an Alabama notary before submission.
3. Complete the request form: name the destination country and include your contact details.
4. Submit with payment: mail or walk in with $5 per document and a prepaid return envelope.
5. Receive it: about five business days by mail, or same day for a Montgomery walk-in.

Can Alabama apostille an FBI background check?

No, Alabama cannot apostille an FBI background check, because it is a federal document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Sending a federal report to Montgomery means it comes back unprocessed and you lose time. The Alabama Secretary of State authenticates documents issued or notarized in Alabama, such as an Alabama birth certificate or a power of attorney notarized by an Alabama notary. Federal and out-of-state records are authenticated by their own offices, not this one.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Alabama Secretary of State, Authentication Division (sos.alabama.gov). Always double-check the current fee and mailing address before you send anything.