FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers about apostille facilitation, mobile notary service, identification, and document preparation in Santa Cruz County.
FAQ
If you have a question that is not answered here, use the booking form and include it in the notes.
An apostille is a certificate issued by the California Secretary of State that authenticates the signature, capacity, and seal of a public official for use in another country. It does not validate a document’s contents.
Yes. We facilitate California documents that are already certified or notarized, beginning with the document, destination country, timing, and return needs. We coordinate the California Secretary of State submission process and prepaid return postage addressed directly to you. We confirm the quote, State fees, delivery, and timing before work begins.
We can facilitate the California Secretary of State step for documents intended for use outside the United States. The receiving organization determines its requirements, and some destinations may require a separate embassy or consular step after the apostille. We do not provide that separate step.
Common examples include a California driver’s license or ID card, or a U.S. passport. These must be current or have been issued within the past five years. Other forms of identification may qualify; ask us before your appointment if you’re unsure.
Mobile appointments are opening soon. Once booking opens, we’ll come to homes, offices, hospitals, care facilities, mobile home parks, escrow appointments, and other convenient locations within the service area.
A notary may notarize signatures on documents when a proper notarial act is required and the legal requirements are met. A notary does not prepare legal documents or provide legal advice.
Mobile notary appointments are opening soon. Use the intake form to let us know what you need, and we’ll follow up when booking opens.
Mobile notary appointments are opening soon. Use the intake form to let us know what you need, and we’ll follow up when booking opens.
Mobile notary appointments are opening soon. Use the intake form to let us know what you need, and we’ll follow up when booking opens.
Once mobile appointments open, the standard travel fee will be $50 within 10 driving miles of Aptos, plus applicable notarial fees. Beyond 10 driving miles, travel is quoted by request.
Yes. A notary can perform an authorized notarial act without providing legal advice. If you need help deciding what a document should say, contact an attorney or other qualified professional.
Not yet. Mobile notary appointments are not open. Apostille facilitation is available now by intake and quote.
No. A notary can explain the difference between authorized notarial acts in a general way, but cannot choose a legal document, select a notarial act for you, or give legal advice. The document recipient, issuing agency, or an attorney can tell you what is required.
For a California notarial act performed by a California notary, the signer must personally appear before the notary. Aptos Notary will provide in-person mobile appointments when booking opens.
Not at this time. California notaries are not currently authorized to perform remote online notarizations by video. The State’s online-notarization system may become operative when its technology project is complete, or by January 1, 2030 unless that deadline is extended. For now, a signer must personally appear for a California notarial act.
Aptos Notary is not a law firm. We cannot prepare or select legal documents, choose a notarial act for you, advise you about the legal effect of a document, or determine whether a document is legally sufficient. For those questions, contact the document recipient, issuing agency, or a qualified attorney.