RESOURCES
Notary, Apostille and Translation Guides
Plain-language answers to the questions we hear every day: which document you need, which office issues it, how long it takes and what to avoid. Written by the team that files with the Secretary of the Commonwealth every week.
Guides
How to Apostille a Massachusetts Birth Certificate
Which copy you need, where it comes from and the steps to an apostille.
Apostille vs. Authentication vs. Embassy Legalization
What each term means and how to tell which one your country needs.
How Long Does a Massachusetts Apostille Take?
Realistic timelines by document type, and how to plan around a deadline.
Documents That Need Certified Translation
Which documents need a certified, notarized or sworn translation, and when you need an apostille too.
Certified Translation for USCIS: What You Need to Know
What USCIS means by a certified translation, and how to avoid delays.
How to Get an FBI Background Check Apostilled
Ordering the right version and getting the federal apostille.
Can a Notary Certify a Copy of a Document in Massachusetts?
Which documents a notary can certify, and when you need the issuing office.
Signature by Mark: When Someone Can’t Sign Their Name
How Massachusetts handles signers who can’t write their name, and who must witness.
Notary Visits at Boston Hospitals: A Family Guide
Visiting hours, check-in and parking at 14 Boston hospitals and rehab centers.
Signing a Power of Attorney in the Hospital: What Families Should Know
How bedside notarizations work, and how to prepare.
Using a U.S. Power of Attorney Abroad
Wording, notarization, apostille and translation for foreign POAs.
Corporate Documents Going Abroad: A Checklist for Paralegals and In-House Teams
A practical checklist for authenticating corporate documents for foreign use.
More guides are on the way. Have a question we haven't answered? Call 617-203-8755 or request a quote, and we'll answer it for you.
More quick answers
- Notary FAQs: Answers to the questions we hear most.
- What Is a Mobile Notary?: How mobile notarization works.
- Does an FBI Check Need Notarization?: Short answer: usually not.
- Notarizing CORI Request Forms: For Massachusetts background checks.
- Massachusetts Birth Certificate Apostille: Quick Answers: The essentials in brief.
- Marriage Certificate Apostille: Massachusetts marriage records.
- Death Certificate Apostille: For estates and inheritance abroad.
- Certified Translations for USCIS: Our USCIS translation service.
- Partner Program: For agencies and firms that refer clients.
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