The Role of the Secretary of State in Apostille Processing
The Secretary of State is the designated apostille authority for state-issued documents in the United States. Understanding what the Secretary of State does — and does not do — in the apostille process prevents the most common submission errors.
The Secretary of State as Competent Authority
Under the Hague Apostille Convention, each member country designates one or more "competent authorities" to issue apostilles. In the United States, each state's Secretary of State is the competent authority for documents issued within that state. The US Department of State is the competent authority for federal documents.
What the Secretary of State Apostilles
The Florida Secretary of State apostilles:
- Documents issued by Florida state agencies (birth certificates, marriage certificates, corporate filings)
- Documents issued by Florida county and local government offices (court records, property records)
- Documents notarized by a Florida notary public (diplomas, powers of attorney, affidavits)
What the Secretary of State Does NOT Apostille
The Florida Secretary of State cannot apostille federal documents. Documents issued by the FBI, US Department of Justice, federal courts, USPTO, IRS, Social Security Administration, or any other federal agency must be apostilled by the US Department of State. Submitting a federal document to the Florida Secretary of State results in rejection.
What the Apostille Actually Certifies
The Secretary of State's apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and seal of the public official who signed the document — not the content of the document itself. For a notarized document, the apostille certifies the notary's signature and commission. For a government-issued document, the apostille certifies the government official's signature.
The Florida Secretary of State's Office
The Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, processes apostilles at its Tallahassee office. Documents can be submitted in person, by mail, or through an authorized agent. Miami Dade Apostille submits documents as an authorized agent and offers expedited processing for urgent requests.
Processing Times
Standard processing at the Florida Secretary of State's office takes 3–5 business days from receipt. Expedited same-day and next-day processing is available through Miami Dade Apostille for urgent requests, including 24-hour emergency service.
Let us handle the Secretary of State submission
Send us a scan of your document for a free review. We'll confirm the correct authority and submit on your behalf.
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