Apostille Service After VitalChek: Complete Guide
Many people begin searching for an apostille service after VitalChek once they receive a certified U.S. birth, marriage, or death record.
Ordering a certified copy is only the first step. If your document will be used outside the United States, it must still go through a separate legal authentication procedure known as an apostille.
This guide explains what happens next, why the apostille step remains mandatory, and how to complete the process correctly — helping you avoid rejections, processing delays, and jurisdiction mistakes.
Important disclosure: We are an independent third-party document processing company and are not affiliated with any government agency or record-issuing provider.
Does VitalChek Provide Apostille Services?
The Truth About VitalChek and Document Authentication
VitalChek is an online ordering platform that connects customers with U.S. state and county agencies that issue official vital records. Its role is limited to document ordering and delivery.
This is company does not:
- authenticate documents for international use,
- submit documents for apostille,
- verify foreign legalization requirements.
After you receive your certificate, you must still submit it to the appropriate apostille authority. In rare federal-level cases, this may involve the United States Department of State. For most civil records, however, apostilles are issued at the state level.
This distinction is critical and is the main reason many users later search for a separate apostille service after VitalChek.
Why Do You Need an Apostille After Using VitalChek?
Apostille certification confirms that the signature and seal on your U.S. document are authentic and can be recognized by foreign authorities.
An apostille is typically required when your VitalChek document will be used for:
- international employment or professional registration,
- marriage registration abroad,
- immigration and residency procedures,
- family or civil status registration in another country.
Without this authentication, your document may be refused even if it is an official certified copy.
Apostille Process After VitalChek: Step-by-Step
This is the most important part of the process for anyone searching how to get an apostille after VitalChek.
Step 1: Ordering the Correct VitalChek Birth Certificate
The most frequent request we handle is a VitalChek apostille birth certificate.
When placing your order, you must ensure that:
- the document is a certified copy, not an informational or abstract version,
- it contains the registrar’s original signature and official seal,
- it is issued by the correct state or county office.
Many applicants unknowingly order short-form certificates or non-certified extracts. These formats are commonly rejected by apostille authorities and must be reordered.
Professional pre-review before ordering significantly reduces the risk of rejection.
Step 2: Routing from VitalChek to the Secretary of State for Apostille
After you receive your certified document, it must be submitted to the apostille authority in the same state where the record was issued.
For example, a California birth certificate must be apostilled in California, and a New York marriage certificate must be apostilled in New York. Submitting your document to the wrong state office is one of the most frequent causes of processing delays and returned applications.
We provide apostille after VitalChek for documents issued by state and local authorities and manage the entire post-issuance process with the correct Secretary of State office, including documents issued in:
- New York (NY);
- California (CA);
- Florida (FL);
- Texas (TX);
- Pennsylvania (PA);
- Illinois (IL);
- New Jersey (NJ);
- Georgia (GA);
- North Carolina (NC);
- Virginia (VA) and others.
Our team verifies the issuing jurisdiction, prepares the correct apostille request package, and routes the document to the appropriate authority on your behalf.
Step 3: Our Professional Handling and Final Delivery
Once your document is accepted by the proper apostille office, we continue managing the process until completion.
Our professional handling includes:
- document eligibility checks before submission;
- preparation of state-specific apostille forms;
- controlled courier routing between agencies;
- monitoring processing timelines;
- final quality inspection of the issued apostille.
We also work with digital apostilles. We can send scanned copies where available, providing faster electronic authentication and secure delivery in jurisdictions that support fully digital records.
You receive a fully authenticated document that is ready for legal use abroad.
Common VitalChek Reviews & Apostille Problems
Many users search for VitalChek reviews apostille problems when they encounter difficulties after ordering their records. In most cases, the problems are not caused by the company, but by misunderstandings about apostille requirements.
Delayed Processing and Rejected Documents
The most common rejection reasons include:
- incorrect document format;
- missing or unclear official signatures;
- outdated or incomplete record versions;
- submitting photocopies instead of certified originals.
Even small technical errors can result in a complete rejection and force the applicant to restart the process.
How to Avoid Shipping Mistakes Between Agencies?
Another frequent problem involves incorrect shipping between agencies.
Typical mistakes include:
- sending state-issued documents to federal authorities,
- mailing documents to the wrong Secretary of State office,
- omitting required state forms or payment.
Professional routing eliminates these risks by confirming jurisdiction, office addresses, and submission rules before dispatch.
Ordering a record through VitalChek is only the starting point for international use of U.S. documents. The real challenge begins after you receive the certificate—when accuracy, jurisdiction rules, and submission requirements become critical.
A professional apostille service after VitalChek helps eliminate the most common risks: incorrect office selection, incomplete requests, and procedural rejections that can delay your plans for weeks. By verifying document eligibility, coordinating submissions with the correct state authorities, and managing logistics end-to-end, our specialists ensure that your records are accepted abroad without unnecessary stress.
Frequently Asked Questions About VitalChek Apostille
Can I apostille several VitalChek documents in one submission?
Yes. You may submit multiple documents together, even if they were ordered separately through VitalChek. Each document is processed individually and receives its own apostille.
Do apostille authorities accept notarized copies instead of certified records?
In most cases, no. Civil records ordered through VitalChek must be apostilled in their original certified form. Notarized photocopies are generally not suitable for apostille purposes.
Will I need a certified translation after receiving the apostille?
Often, yes. An apostille only authenticates the U.S. document. Many foreign authorities still require a sworn or certified translation into their official language.
How long does the VitalChek to the secretary of state apostille process take?
Processing times vary by state and type of document, but most applications take 5–15 business days once submitted. Using a professional service can help reduce delays and ensure the document is routed correctly the first time.
Can I receive tracking and proof that my documents were submitted?
Yes. Professional apostille handling includes case tracking and submission confirmation, allowing you to monitor when your documents are filed, processed, and released for delivery.
