Most people think the apostille process is straightforward - until they face the reality of complex requirements and costly rejections.
Applications Rejected on First Submission
Months of Additional Delays
Average Cost of Failed Attempts
These aren't just numbers - they represent thousands of frustrated applicants who thought they could handle apostille services themselves.
Documents must be apostilled by the state where they were issued - not where you live. This basic misunderstanding causes 35% of rejections.
❌ Example: Submitting a New York birth certificate to California state office because you live in LA.
Only certified copies or original documents are accepted. Photocopies, scanned documents, or uncertified copies are automatically rejected.
❌ Common mistake: Printing a diploma from a university website instead of requesting an official certified transcript.
Many documents require county clerk authentication before state apostille. This multi-step process confuses most DIY applicants.
❌ Example: Submitting a power of attorney without notarization and county certification.
FBI background checks and other federal documents require U.S. State Department apostille, not state-level processing.
❌ Sending FBI reports to California state office instead of U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C.
Each state has specific submission requirements and document preparation standards.
❌ Improper document preparation and formatting cause automatic processing delays.
Diplomas and transcripts often need university registrar certification before state authentication - a step most people miss.
❌ Submitting a diploma without proper university authentication and state education department verification.
Rush processing attempts without understanding requirements lead to costly mistakes and missed deadlines.
❌ Trying to expedite without meeting basic authentication requirements first.
San Luis Obispo County Apostille Services
Our local expertise combined with state and federal government relationships ensures your documents are processed correctly the first time.
Save time, money, and frustration with professional apostille services that get it right the first time.