Which state apostilles my power of attorney?

The Secretary of State of the state where the notary who notarized it is commissioned. A Texas apostille can't be issued on a POA notarized by a California notary.

Can I apostille a copy of my power of attorney?

Usually you need the original. Texas allows a notary-certified copy of a POA that isn't filed with a government office, and California notaries can certify copies of POAs under Probate Code section 4307. A plain photocopy isn't accepted.

How much does a power of attorney apostille cost?

Texas charges $15, California $20 (plus $6 per official's signature in person), and Florida $10 per document. Notary, translation, shipping, and courier fees are extra.

How long does it take?

It depends on the state. As posted in late October 2026, California was processing mail received 10/19/2026 and Florida apostille requests received 10/16/26; Texas quotes about two weeks by mail. All three offer same-day in-person service.

Can a remotely notarized POA be apostilled?

Texas accepts online notarizations with the notary's ledger entry and a certificate stating it was done by two-way audio and video. Some countries don't accept online notarizations even with an apostille, so check with the receiving party.

Does the apostille expire?

The apostille itself has no expiration date, but many foreign banks, courts, and land registries only accept a POA signed within a recent window. Ask them before you sign.

My destination country isn't in the Hague Convention. What changes?

After the state authenticates the POA, you'll likely need authentication from the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications and then legalization by that country's embassy or consulate.

Does the POA have to be in English?

The notarial certificate should be in English for California and Florida. The rest of the document can be in another language in California. Many countries want a certified translation as well.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page is informational only. Rules change, so verify on the official state pages linked below or talk to a qualified professional.

How to get an apostille on a U.S. power of attorney

Updated 2026-10-29

A power of attorney (POA) is a private document, so the apostille doesn't certify the POA itself. It certifies the notary who took your signature. That one fact drives everything: the apostille comes from the Secretary of State of the state where the notary is commissioned, the notarial certificate has to be complete and correct, and the receiving country decides whether it accepts the wording and form. This guide covers the general steps and the verified Texas, California, and Florida rules. It's informational only, not legal advice.

Quick answer

Sign the POA in front of a notary. The apostille will come from the Secretary of State of the state where that notary is commissioned, not the state where you live or where the property is.
Send the original notarized POA, not a photocopy. Texas and California can also apostille a notary-certified copy of a POA in limited cases (details below).
State fees per apostille: Texas $15, California $20 (plus $6 per official's signature in person), Florida $10.
Hague Convention country: the state apostille is usually the last step. Non-Hague country: you'll likely also need the U.S. Department of State and the destination country's embassy or consulate.
Ask the receiving bank, registry, or lawyer abroad about wording, translation, and how recently the POA must be signed before you notarize it.

Step by step

Get the POA text right first. Many countries expect specific powers, a bilingual version, or witnesses. Settle this with the receiving party or a lawyer in that country before you sign, because changes after notarization mean starting over.
Sign in front of a notary public (in person or, where accepted, by remote online notarization). The notary attaches a complete notarial certificate with signature, seal, and date.
Send the original to the Secretary of State in the notary's state with that state's request form or cover sheet, the fee, and a return envelope or prepaid label. Name the destination country.
If the country isn't in the Hague Apostille Convention, send the state-authenticated document to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications, then to the country's embassy or consulate if they require it.
Add a certified translation if the receiving country asks for one. In Texas and Florida, translations are notarized separately, and in Florida the translator can't be the notary.

Texas, California, and Florida compared

The rules below come from each state's official apostille pages, checked October 29, 2026.

	Texas	California	Florida
Apostille fee	$15 per document	$20 per apostille, plus $6 special handling per official's signature in person (not by mail)	$10 per document
What to send	Original POA notarized by a Texas notary with a true and accurate notarial certificate	Original notarized document; a photocopy isn't acceptable. Notarization must be in English	Document notarized by a Florida notary with a full notarial statement in English
Certified copy option	A Texas notary may certify a copy of a POA that isn't filed with a state, county, or city office	A California notary may certify a copy of a POA (Probate Code section 4307); notary fee up to $15	Florida notaries can attest copies only of documents that aren't public records; recorded documents and court filings can't be notary-copied
Online (remote) notarization	Accepted with the notary's ledger entry and a certificate stating it was done by two-way audio and video	Check with the SOS before relying on it	Check with the DOS before relying on it
Mail backlog (as posted)	About two weeks from receipt	Mail requests received 10/19/2026 being processed (updated 10/28/2026)	Apostille requests received 10/16/26 being processed (updated 10/28/26)
Same-day option	Walk-in or appointment in Austin	Sacramento and Los Angeles counters, typically within 30 minutes; arrive by 4:30 p.m.	Walk-in at 2415 N. Monroe St., Suite 810, Tallahassee; no expedited mail

Texas power of attorney rules

Texas lists powers of attorney as non-recordable documents a Texas notary public can notarize. The notary must use a true and accurate notarial certificate with signature, seal, and date. Texas also warns that a notary can't make statements on behalf of a signer, giving a POA as the example, so the POA's statements must come from you, not the notary. Documents that say "Notario Publico" or show a notary acting outside their authority are rejected. If your POA has been recorded with a county clerk, a notary can no longer certify a copy of it; get a certified copy from the clerk instead. The fee is $15 per document by mail with Form 2102 or in person in Austin. See the Texas guide for the address and walk-in schedule.

California power of attorney rules

California will apostille an original notarized document but not a photocopy. The notarization has to be in English, though the rest of the POA can be in another language. California is one of the few states where a notary can certify a copy of a power of attorney: the notary compares the copy with the original and attaches a certificate saying it's a true and correct copy, which has the same force and effect as the original (Probate Code section 4307). The notary fee for that is capped at $15, and the cap for an acknowledgment is $15 per signature. Expect the notary to take your right thumbprint in their journal, because California requires it for POAs. The apostille is $20, plus a $6 special handling fee per official's signature when you submit in person.

Florida power of attorney rules

Florida's Department of State verifies the notary's name, commission number, and expiration date against its notary database, so the commission has to be valid on the date of signing. The notarial statement must be a full statement in English, following the examples in the Governor's notary manual. Florida doesn't offer expedited mail service, but most walk-in requests at the Tallahassee office are finished while you wait. The fee is $10 per document. If you need a translation, the translator and the notary must be different people.

Common reasons a POA apostille gets rejected

The notary is commissioned in a different state from the Secretary of State you sent it to.
The notarial certificate is missing, incomplete, or not in English, or the seal or date is missing.
You sent a photocopy instead of the original (or a properly certified copy where the state allows one).
The notary added statements or wording beyond a notary's authority.
The receiving country rejected the form, wording, or an online notarization even though the apostille was valid. Confirm acceptance with them first.

Signing outside the United States

If you're already abroad, keep in mind that a state Secretary of State only apostilles documents notarized by its own commissioned notaries, so it can't apostille a POA notarized by a foreign notary or at a U.S. embassy. Ask the receiving party what they accept, such as signing before a local notary under that country's rules or a U.S. embassy or consulate notarization, and get the answer in writing before you sign.

Related state guides

FAQ

Which state apostilles my power of attorney?: The Secretary of State of the state where the notary who notarized it is commissioned. A Texas apostille can't be issued on a POA notarized by a California notary.
Can I apostille a copy of my power of attorney?: Usually you need the original. Texas allows a notary-certified copy of a POA that isn't filed with a government office, and California notaries can certify copies of POAs under Probate Code section 4307. A plain photocopy isn't accepted.
How much does a power of attorney apostille cost?: Texas charges $15, California $20 (plus $6 per official's signature in person), and Florida $10 per document. Notary, translation, shipping, and courier fees are extra.
How long does it take?: It depends on the state. As posted in late October 2026, California was processing mail received 10/19/2026 and Florida apostille requests received 10/16/26; Texas quotes about two weeks by mail. All three offer same-day in-person service.
Can a remotely notarized POA be apostilled?: Texas accepts online notarizations with the notary's ledger entry and a certificate stating it was done by two-way audio and video. Some countries don't accept online notarizations even with an apostille, so check with the receiving party.
Does the apostille expire?: The apostille itself has no expiration date, but many foreign banks, courts, and land registries only accept a POA signed within a recent window. Ask them before you sign.
My destination country isn't in the Hague Convention. What changes?: After the state authenticates the POA, you'll likely need authentication from the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications and then legalization by that country's embassy or consulate.
Does the POA have to be in English?: The notarial certificate should be in English for California and Florida. The rest of the document can be in another language in California. Many countries want a certified translation as well.
Is this legal advice?: No. This page is informational only. Rules change, so verify on the official state pages linked below or talk to a qualified professional.

Official sources

State apostille offices

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