Secretary of State Information

All adoption programs require that your documents have either an apostille (Russia) or a state seal (certification - China) affixed from the appropriate state office, commonly the Secretary of State office. Listed below are the apostille/state seal government offices for each state. If you find out that we have an outdated address, telephone number, fee, etc. for a particular state, please contact us so that we can update this page accordingly.

If you send your documents to the state government office, remember to:

1.      Call the office first to confirm the information listed below is correct.

2.      Send your documents via Federal Express, UPS, or other overnight carrier that utilizes a tracking system.

3.      Include a return FedEx, UPS, etc., envelope pre-addressed to you.

4.      Include a cover letter advising from what country you are adopting. This is very important, as there is more than one type of apostille/seal and only one of them is the right one for your country.

5.      Send the required fee (if applicable) in a money order or certified check for faster service. Never send cash and only send a personal check if you have verified that this is acceptable with the Secretary of State.

Also, before the state government office will place an apostille or state seal on any document, it must be notarized or a certified copy of a court document. Keep in mind that some states, including Ohio, Kentucky and others, require that after a document is notarized and before it is sent to the Secretary of State's office, the notary must be verified by your County Clerk. Please check with the state government office to learn whether this is a requirement for their particular state.
 

Lastly, if you were born or married in a different state than where you're currently residing, then those required certificates must have the apostille or state seal from the other state(s), not your current state of residence.

 

Note: Apostilles are necessary for documents that are going to Russia. State certifications are necessary for documents that go to Vietnam, China and Guatemala. You can obtain both from the offices below.

 

Alabama
Alabama Secretary of State
Authentication Section
600 Dexter Avenue Room E-204
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: 334-242-7210 or 800-274-8683 (Notary Division)
334-242-7200 (General Info)
$5.00 per document

 

Alaska
Lt. Governor's Office
P. O. Box 110015
Juneau, AK 99811-0015
Attention: Shannon Hasty
Phone: 907-465-3509 (Notary Division)
907-465-3520 (General info)

 

Arizona
Office of the Secretary of State Public Services
1700 W. Washington Street Suite 103
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2808
Phone: 602-542-4086 (Notary Division)
602-542-4285 or 800-458-5842 (General Info)
$3.00 per document

 

Arkansas
Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol Building Room 026
Little Rock, AR 72201-1094
Attention: Leana Godley
Phone: 501-682-3451 (Apostilles/Seals)
501-682-5070 (General Info)
$5.00 per certification
$10.00 per apostille

 

California
If sending documents via US Mail:
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Public Section
P. O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
If using a courier service:
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Public Section
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-653-3595
Authentication (apostille or certification) is also available in the Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco branch offices.
$20.00 per document

 

Colorado
Department of State
1560 Broadway Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-894-2680 (Licensing Division)
303-894-2200/2203 (General Info)
$2.00 per document

 

Connecticut
Secretary of the State's Office Records " Legislative Services Documents Authentications
30 Trinity Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-509-6135 (Document Auth)
860-509-6000 (General Info)
$5.00 per document

 

Delaware
If sending documents via US Mail:
Office of the Secretary of State Division of Corporations
P.O. Box 898
Dover, DE 19903
If using a courier service:
Office of the Secretary of State Division of Corporations
401 Federal Street Suite 4
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: 302-739-3073
$20.00 per certification
$10.00 per apostille

 

District of Columbia
Authentication Office U.S. Department of State
518 23rd Street NW State Annex 1
Washington, DC 50220
$5.00 per document

 

Florida
Department of State
Division of Corporations
Apostille Certification
Tallahassee, FL 32314
Phone: 850-245-6945
$10.00 per state certification
$20.00 per apostille

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Georgia
For those adopting from "Hague Countries" (requiring Apostilles)
Georgia Superior Court
Clerk's Cooperative Authority Notary Division
1875 Century Blvd, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30345
Phone: 404-327-6023
Note: You must request "pen in hand"
$3.00 per Apostille

For those adopting from "Non-Hague Countries" (requiring State Seals)
Elections Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite 1104, West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: 404-656-2871
$10.00 per State Seal
Contact person: Sue Moreland

 

Hawaii
Lt. Governor's Office
P. O. Box 3226
Honolulu, HI 96801
Phone: 808-586-0255
$1.00 per document

 

Idaho
If sending via U.S. Mail:
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Department
P. O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0080
Attn: Debbie Farnsworth
If using a courier service:
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Department
700 W. Jefferson, Room 203
Boise, ID 83702
Attn: Debbie Farnsworth
Phone: 208-332-2810 (Notary Dept)
208-334-2300 (General Info)
$10.00 per document

 

Illinois
Springfield Office:
Office of the Secretary of State
Index Department
111 East Monroe
Springfield, IL 62756
Attn: Kathy Lebshier
Phone: 217-782-7017
$2.00 per document

Chicago Office: Walk-In Service Only
Office of the Secretary of State
17 North State Street Suite 1137
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-793-2556
$2.00 per document

 

Indiana
Office of the Secretary of State
State House, Room 201
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Attention: Authentications
Check the names of your notaries against official Secretary of State records at the IN Sec. of State Web Site.
Phone: 317-232-6531
No charge

 

Iowa
Office of the Secretary of State
Lucas Building, 1st Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: 515-281-5204 (Apostille)
515-281-8993 (General Info)
$5.00 per document

 

Kansas
Secretary of State
1st Floor - Memorial Hall 120 SW 10th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66612
Attention: Georgia
Phone: 785-296-2239 (Certification Unit)
785-296-2744  (General Info)
$5.00 per document

 

Kentucky
Office of the Secretary of State
700 Capitol Building Suite 156, State Capitol
Frankfort, KY 40601
Attn: Tina Bates
Phone: 502-564-7330, option 1 (Apostille)
502-564-3490 (General Info)
$5.00 per document

 

Louisiana
Office of the Secretary of State
333 State Capitol Drive 19th Floor,
Commissions Department
P. O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
Apostilles/seals can also be obtained at the New Orleans satellite office.
Phone: 225-342-4980/4981 (Commissions Dept)
225-925-4479 (General Info)
$5.00 per document

 Maine
Office of the Secretary of State Division of Rules, Commissions, and Administration
101 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0101
Attn: Judy Leavitt
Phone: 207-287-4181 (Commissions Division)
207-624-7650 (General Info)
$10.00 per document

 

Maryland
Office of the Secretary of State
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401
Attention: Regina Jewett
Phone: 410-974-5521 or 888-874-0013
$5.00 per document

 

Massachusetts
Office of Secretary of the Commonwealth Commission Section
One Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, MS 02108
Phone: 617-727-2836/2832
$3.00 per document

 

Michigan
Michigan Department of State
Office of the Great Seal
7064 Crowner Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48918-1750
(if sending by courier service: 48915)
Phone: 517-373-2531
$1.00 per document
Walk-in, same-day service is limited to 4 (four) documents per request (per adoption, per dossier, per family, per group, etc.) each day.  That is, another family member or friend cannot bring in additional document for the same purpose. Appointments are required for 5 (five) documents or more, and require 3 (three) days processing time (not including weekends or holidays).

Please note if you are utilizing a courier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) that adopting parents name should be listed as sender on return courier envelopes enclosed to return the documents to adopting parents - not " The office of the Great Seal."  On sending documents for the seal, adopting parents are also marked as sender.

 

Minnesota
Office of the Secretary of State Certification Section
180 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-297-9102 (Certification Section)
651-296-2803 (General Info)
$5.00 per document

 

Mississippi
If sending the documents via U.S. Mail:
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Division
P. O. Box 136
Jackson, MS 39205-0136
Attention: Nan Ainsworth
If using a courier service:
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Division
Attention: Nan Ainsworth
202 N. Congress, Suite 601
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-359-1633 or 800-256-3494 (Notary Division)
601-359-1350 (General Info)
$2.00 per document

 

Missouri
If sending documents via U.S. mail:
Office of the Secretary of State
Commissions Division State Information Center
P. O. Box 784
Jefferson City, MO 65102
If using a courier service:
Office of the Secretary of State Commissions Division
600 W. Main Room 367
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-4756 (Commission Division)
573-751-4936 (General Info)
$10.00 per document

 

Montana
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Division
P. O. Box 202801
Helena, MT 59620-2801
Phone: 406-444-5379 (Notary Division)
406-444-2034 (General Info)
$2.00 per document

 

Nebraska
If sending documents via U.S. mail:
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Division
P.O. Box 95104
Lincoln, NE 68509
If using a courier service:
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Division
State Capitol Building, Room 1305
1445 K Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 402-471-2558 (Notary Division)
402-471-2554 (General Info)
$10.00 per document

 

Nevada
Office of the Secretary of State
101 N. Carson St., Suite 3
Carson City, NV 89701-4786
Phone: 775-684-5708
$20.00 per document

 

New Hampshire
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Division
State House, Room 204 107 N. Main St.
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603-271-3242 or 603-271-3243
$5.00 per document

 

New Jersey
If sending documents via U.S. mail:
State of New Jersey - Department of Treasury Business Services Bureau — Notary Division
P. O. Box 452
Trenton, NJ 08625
If using a courier service:
State of New Jersey - Department of Treasury Business Services Bureau — Notary Division
225 West State Street, 3rd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608-1001
Phone: 609-633-8257
$5.00 per document ($25 expedited)

 

New Mexico
Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol, Room 420
Santa Fe, NM 87503
Phone: 505-827-3607 (Authentications)
505-827-3600 or 800-477-3632 (General Info)
$3.00 per document

 

New York (except NYC)
Office of the Secretary of State
41 State Street
Albany, NY 12231-0001
Attn: Misc. State Records
Phone: 518-474-4770 (Misc. State Records)
518-474-0050 (General Info)
$10.00 per document

 

New York City
New York State Department of State
Certification Unit, 19th Floor
123 William Street
New York, NY 10038-3804
Phone: 212-417-5684
$10.00 per document

 

North Carolina
Office of the Secretary of State Authentication Section
2 South Salisbury Street Old Revenue Building Complex
Raleigh, NC 27601-2903
Phone: 919-807-2142 (Authentication Section)
919-807-2140 (Shirley Dupree)
919-807-2005 (General Info)
$10.00 per document

 

North Dakota
Office of the Secretary of State
Administrative/Licensing Division
600 E. Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58505-0500
Phone: 701-328-3665 (Admin/Licensing Division)
701-328-2900 or 800-352-0867 (General Info)
$10.00 per document

 

Ohio
Office of the Secretary of State
Elections Division
Attn: Zandra
180 East Broad Street 15th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-2585
$5.00 per document

 

Oklahoma
Office of the Secretary of State
Certification Department
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd, Room 101
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4897
Phone: 405-521-4211 (Certification Dept.)
405-521-3911 (General Info)
$10.00 per certification
$25.00 per apostille

 

Oregon
Office of the Secretary of State
Notary Public Section
Public Service Building 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151
Salem, OR 97310-1327
Phone: 503-986-2593 (Notary Public)
503-986-1523 (General Info)
$10.00 per certification

Pennsylvania
Department of State
Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth
210 North Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-5280 (Notary Public)
717-787-6458 (General Info)
$15.00 per document

 

Puerto Rico
Departmento de Estado de Puerto Rico
Div. de Certificaciones P.O. Box 902 3271
San Juan, PR 00902-3271
Attn: Elba Torres
Phone: 787-723-4343

 

Rhode Island
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Division
State House/ Room 218 100 N. Main St.
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-222-1487 (Notary Division)
401-222-2357 (General Info)
$5.00 per document

 

South Carolina
Office of the Secretary of State Notary Department
P. O. Box 11350
Columbia, SC 29211
Phone: 803-734-2119 or 803-734-2512 (Notary Department)
803-734-2170 (General Info)
$2.00 per document

 

South Dakota
Office of the Secretary of State
Capitol Building, Suite 204 500 E. Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-5077
Phone: 605-773-5666 (Authentication Department)
605-773-3537 (General Info)
$2.00 per document

 

Tennessee
Office of the Secretary of State
Division of Business Services
6th Floor, William Snodgrass Tower
312 Eighth Ave. North
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-3699
$2.00 per document (additional $10.00 fee if using a credit card)

 

Texas
Texas Secretary of State
1019 Brazos
Austin, TX 78701
or
PO Box 13375
Austin, TX 78711
ATTN: Elections Division (for birth certificates, marriage certificates)
ATTN: Notary Public Unit (for notarized documents)
Please Note: Effective November 2003, you are required to include/attach the original notarized document with the official request form and accompanying fee.  Fax requests are no longer accepted. Click here to obtain the Request Form.
Phone: 800-252-8683 (General Info)
512-463-2846 (Elections Division)
512-463-5705 (Notary Public Unit)
$10.00 per document

 

Utah
Lt. Governor's Office
210 State Capitol
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Phone: 801-538-1040, -1513, or -1977
email: lkoehn@gov.state.ut.us
$10.00 per certification
$5.00 per apostille

 

Vermont
Office of the Secretary of State
Redstone Building 26 Terrace Street, Drawer 09
Montpelier, VT 05609-1101
Phone: 802-828-2363
$2.00 per document

 

Virginia
If sending documents via U.S. mail:
Lois Hurst Zakaib
Director, International Authentication Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
P.O. Box 2454
Richmond, VA 23218
If using a courier service:
Lois Hurst Zakaib
Director, International Authentication Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Capitol Square, Old Finance Building
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-786-2441
$10.00 per document

 

Washington
Office of the Secretary of State
801 Capital Way
Olympia, WA  98501
Attn:  Audrey Roos
Phone: 360-586-2268
$15.00 per document

 

West Virginia
Office of the Secretary of State
Notary Clerk
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East Suite 157K
Charleston, WV 25305-0775
Attention: Missy
Phone: 304-558-6000
$10.00 per document

 

Wisconsin
View Wisconsin's Authentication and Apostille Processing Policy and access their Certificate Request Form.

 

Wyoming
Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol Building 200 West 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020
Attention: Jeri Melsness
Phone: 307-777-5407 (Jeri Melsness)
307-777-7378 (General Info)
$3.00 per document