Letter of Authorization Apostille and Authentication Service
Need a letter of authorization apostille? SF Notary + Apostille explains how the process works.
What is a letter of authorization?
A letter of authorization “serves as a formal permission tool that delegates authority or power from one party to another,” according to Adobe. “It allows the secondary party to perform crucial actions on the principal party’s behalf. The actions that an individual or an entity can carry out with a letter of authorization can range from financial transactions to making medical decisions.”
A letter of authorization, also called a letter of authority or an authorization letter, is different from a power of attorney mainly in formality and enforceability. A power of attorney is typically multiple pages and written to comply with state laws. A letter of authorization is often just one page long and informally written.
What is a letter of authorization apostille?
In brief, a letter of authorization apostille is a certification process that validates your document for use abroad. Oftentimes, overseas parties require a notarized and apostilled letter of authorization as part of a legal proceeding or business transaction.
In order to give the document legal status overseas, the notarization must be certified by the California Secretary of State’s office. First, the CA SOS checks to ensure that the document was notarized properly by a California-State-commissioned notary public and that the notary’s signature matches the signature they have on file. Afterwards, if everything is in order, the CA SOS adheres an apostille certificate and red stamp to the notarial certificate.
How do I get my letter of authorization apostilled or authenticated?
Step 1: Email us for a price quote
Pricing varies depending on what country it’s going to, your location, the turnaround time needed, and the shipping destination. In order to get a quick price quote, email [email protected] with the following information:
- Your name, address, and phone number
- The name, address, phone number, and email address of the recipient (if you’d like us to ship it to a third party)
- The destination country
- A statement about whether the document is already notarized or needs to be notarized
We will respond with a price quote without delay. Once we’ve agreed upon a price, we will start the apostille/
Step 2: Get the letter of authorization notarized
The principal must sign the document in front of a notary public. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, we can meet you and notarize the letter of authorization. If you are elsewhere in California, you can visit a local notary to get your letter of authorization notarized. For assistance outside of California, please call +1 (415) 655-9455 or email [email protected] to discuss options.
Step 3: Get the letter of authorization to us
If we notarize your document, we will take the notarized document with us and courier it to the Secretary of State’s office on your behalf. If another notary public notarizes it, we can arrange a pickup or drop-off, or we can email you a FedEx Priority Overnight shipping label that you can print and use to ship the notarized document to us.
If you are paying by check, please make it out to “SF Notary + Apostille.” Otherwise, we will send you an invoice by email with a payment link that allows you to pay by credit card.
Step 4: We handle the rest
After notarization, we will obtain an apostille from the Secretary of State in Sacramento. Some countries require apostilles plus additional certifications, details of which we will provide in the price quote. Finally, once the document is apostilled (or apostilled and authenticated/legalized), we’ll ship it according to your instructions via FedEx Priority Overnight Service (USA destinations) or FedEx International Priority Service (overseas destinations).
Contact us
For more information or to place your order, please email [email protected] or call +1 (415) 655-9455.
Disclaimer: Information on this website is for informational purposes only. These instructions are based on our knowledge and experience and are meant to be helpful; however, they might contain errors. Please let us know if you encounter mistakes so that we can promptly correct them. SF Notary + Apostille is not a law firm, and its agents are not attorneys. Please contact a licensed attorney or your local bar association for counsel on legal matters.