Short answer. The Maryland Secretary of State, Certification Desk issues apostilles here for $5 per document, by mail. Regular mail 7 to 14 business days; FedEx and UPS around 3 to 4 days; USPS Priority Mail up to 3 to 4 days. A county step comes first for notarized documents.
At a glance
- Issuing office
- Maryland Secretary of State, Certification Desk Official page
- Fee
- $5 per certification or apostille (card accepted in person).
- How to submit
- By mail; the page says walk-in service is not available at this time.
- Processing time
- Regular mail 7 to 14 business days; FedEx and UPS around 3 to 4 days; USPS Priority Mail up to 3 to 4 days.
- Request form
- Mailing Checklist Form for Certification/Apostille Open it
- Mailing address
- Secretary of State, 16 Francis Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
What each document needs first
- Vital records
- State or county documents need the seal and authorized signature of the issuing department.
- Notarized documents
- Take the notarized document to the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the notary was commissioned (shown on the notary's seal) for certification first. County step first: The clerk of the circuit court certifies the notary first.
Checklist by document
- Vital record: no county step first
- Notarized document: county step first
- Court record: no county step first, 1 step not confirmed
- FBI background check: no county step first
- School record: county step first, 1 step not confirmed
Worth knowing
The page says walk-in service is not available at this time and that the desk will move to mail-in only during construction. Federal documents go directly to the U.S. Department of State.
MCC Solutions handles New Jersey apostilles, and our guide explains how to get an apostille in New Jersey. For other states, this page lists the office's own process.
Official sources
- Certifications and Authentication, Maryland Secretary of State (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice. Use the office's own request form where it has one. Federal records, including FBI checks, go to the U.S. Department of State, and a destination outside the Hague Convention also needs embassy legalization.
Common questions
Who issues apostilles in Maryland?
The Maryland Secretary of State, Certification Desk. $5 per certification or apostille (card accepted in person).
How do I apostille a Maryland birth or marriage certificate?
State or county documents need the seal and authorized signature of the issuing department.
Can a notarized document from Maryland be apostilled directly?
Not directly: The clerk of the circuit court certifies the notary first. Take the notarized document to the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the notary was commissioned (shown on the notary's seal) for certification first.
How long does an apostille take in Maryland?
Regular mail 7 to 14 business days; FedEx and UPS around 3 to 4 days; USPS Priority Mail up to 3 to 4 days. Allow extra time for mail and for any certified copy you still need to order.
Can I get a Maryland apostille in person or online?
By mail; the page says walk-in service is not available at this time.
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