Notarization comes first
A notarization is about your signature: the notary verifies who you are, watches you sign, and completes a certificate. It happens in minutes and can be done online or in person.
It is the foundation. Without a proper notarization there is nothing for an apostille to authenticate.
The apostille comes second
An apostille certifies that the notary's signature and seal are genuine, so another country can accept the document without investigating. In Florida it is issued by the Department of State, not by any notary.
It is a paper process with a state fee, and it takes days or weeks depending on the season and on whether the package is mailed or filed in person.
When you need neither, or only one
- Document staying in Florida: usually notarization only, if the receiver asks for it.
- Document going to another U.S. state: notarization only.
- Document going to a Hague Convention country: notarization, then apostille.
- Document going to a country outside the Convention, such as Cuba: notarization, then the longer consular legalization chain instead of an apostille.
- Birth or marriage certificate going abroad: no notarization at all. You need a certified copy from the issuing office, and then an apostille on that.
The mistake that costs the most
Notarizing a photocopy of a public record. A notary cannot certify a copy of a birth certificate, and the Department of State will not apostille it either. The certified copy has to come from the county or from Vital Statistics.
Ask the receiving office, in writing if possible, which document they need and in what form. Then the order of steps is obvious and nothing gets paid for twice.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I get an apostille without a notarization?
- For documents you sign, no: the apostille authenticates the notarization. For public records, yes, because it authenticates the issuing office instead.
- Who issues apostilles in Florida?
- The Florida Department of State. No notary, agency or website issues them; they can only help you file.
- Does an apostille expire?
- It does not carry an expiry date, but many receiving offices only accept recent documents, often within three to six months.
- Does it need translating?
- Often, into the destination's language. Ask whether they want the translation before or after the apostille, because the order matters to them.