What is an apostille and why would I need one in Indiana?

An apostille is a certificate from the Indiana Secretary of State that makes your documents valid for international use, often required for birth certificates, marriage records, or powers of attorney.

Can I get an Indiana apostille the same day?

Yes — I hand-deliver documents in Indianapolis and provide same-day apostille service, saving you weeks of waiting by mail.

Which documents can be apostilled in Indiana?

Birth, marriage, and death certificates, divorce decrees, powers of attorney, school records, adoption papers, and business documents can all be apostilled.

Can my document be in Spanish or another language?

Yes, the document can be in any language, but the notarial certificate must be in English under Indiana law.

Do I need to notarize my document before getting an apostille?

Some official records don’t need notarization, but others like a power of attorney or diploma must be notarized first by an Indiana notary.

How much does it cost to get an apostille in Indiana?

The Indiana Secretary of State charges $2 per apostille, plus my service fee for notarization (if needed), same-day delivery, and return.

How long does it take to get an apostille in Indiana?

By mail it can take 2–3 weeks, but with my service, you can have your apostille completed the same day.

Can you help if I live outside Indiana but need an Indiana apostille?

Yes — you can ship documents to me, and I’ll hand-deliver them for apostille and return them securely with priority shipping.

What’s the difference between an Indiana apostille and a federal apostille?

Indiana apostilles are for state-issued or Indiana-notarized documents, while federal apostilles come from the U.S. Department of State for federal documents like FBI background checks.

Can I apostille a copy of my document, or does it have to be the original?

Vital records and court documents must be certified originals, but some other documents may use a notarized copy certification.

Do I need a translation for my apostilled document?

The Indiana Secretary of State will apostille the document as-is, but some countries may also require a certified translation.

How do I get an Indiana birth certificate apostilled?

Request a certified copy from the Indiana Department of Health or your county health department, then I can take it for same-day apostille.

Can a Power of Attorney (POA) be apostilled in Indiana?

Yes — as long as it’s notarized correctly by an Indiana notary with an English notarial certificate, it can be apostilled the same day.

Can a Remote Online Notarized Document Be Apostilled?

Mar 4

Written By Kerrie Smith

Yes, in many cases a document notarized through Remote Online Notarization can receive an apostille. However, there are a few important requirements that must be met before the apostille can be issued.

If you are preparing documents for international use, understanding how remote notarization and apostilles work together can save time and prevent delays.

What Is Remote Online Notarization?

Remote Online Notarization allows a document to be notarized through a secure video session instead of meeting with a notary in person.

During the session, the notary verifies the signer’s identity, witnesses the signature, and applies a digital notarial seal.

Many people use Remote Online Notarization for:

Power of Attorney documents
Affidavits
Business agreements
Real estate documents
Authorization forms

This process allows documents to be notarized even if the signer is located in another state or another country.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official certificate that verifies the authenticity of a notarized or government-issued document so it can be used in another country.

Apostilles are recognized by countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.

In Indiana, apostilles are issued by the Indiana Secretary of State.

The apostille confirms that the notary or official who signed the document is properly commissioned.

When Can a Remote Online Notarized Document Be Apostilled?

A document notarized online can usually be apostilled if the notarization follows the legal requirements of the state where the notary is commissioned.

For example, if the notary is commissioned in Indiana, the document may be eligible for an Indiana apostille.

The document must include:

A valid digital notarial certificate
The notary’s electronic seal
Verification that the notarization was performed according to state law

Once those elements are confirmed, the document can move forward in the apostille process.

Common Documents That Use Online Notarization and Apostilles

Many international documents follow this process.

Examples include:

Power of Attorney for international property matters
Affidavits for foreign legal proceedings
Business authorization documents
International adoption paperwork
Financial authorization documents

Using Remote Online Notarization allows these documents to be signed quickly, even if the signer is outside the United States.

Common Issues That Can Delay an Apostille

Some documents cannot be apostilled if the notarization is incomplete or formatted incorrectly.

Common issues include:

Missing notarial language
Incorrect notary information
Improper document formatting
Submitting the document to the wrong state office

These issues can cause delays and require the document to be notarized again.

How the Process Works from Start to Finish

For many clients, the process looks like this:

Step 1
The document is notarized through a Remote Online Notary session.

Step 2
The notarized document is reviewed to confirm it meets apostille requirements.

Step 3
The document is submitted to the Indiana Secretary of State.

Step 4
The apostille certificate is attached.

Step 5
The completed document is returned to the client for international use.

Need Help with Remote Notarization and Apostilles?

If you need a document notarized online and apostilled for international use, the process can often be completed quickly with the right guidance.

Signature Move Notary Services assists clients across the United States and internationally with Remote Online Notarization and Indiana apostille services.

Whether you are located in another state or another country, the process can be coordinated step by step.

Signature Move Notary Services
Indianapolis Notary You Can Trust

Kerrie Smith