Washington, D.C.
Power of Attorney Apostille in Washington, D.C.
How Washington, D.C. residents get their Power of Attorney authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
If your Power of Attorney was notarized in Washington, D.C., its apostille comes from the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia in Washington — not from Washington.
- Authenticated by
- Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia
- Washington, D.C. apostille office
- Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia, Washington
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (headquarters)
- Price
- Quoted
Notarized in Washington, D.C.: the exact route
A notarized document like this is authenticated through the notary, not the federal government. If it was notarized in Washington, D.C., the apostille is issued by the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia in Washington.
- Hague Convention destination: the Washington, D.C. apostille is the final step.
- Non-Hague destination: the Washington, D.C.-authenticated document then goes to the U.S. Department of State and on to the destination’s embassy.
We don’t submit to the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia directly. Once your document has its Washington, D.C. authentication, we handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for non-Hague destinations ($399).
Get the notarial wording right before signing — requirements vary by destination, and a mistake means redoing the whole chain.
About the Power of Attorney
How to apostille a power of attorney for use abroad — properly notarized and certified for federal authentication.
What the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia can do
The Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia in Washington issues apostilles for documents signed by Washington, D.C. officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Washington, D.C. registrars, Washington, D.C. state-court records, and documents notarized by Washington, D.C. notaries. It has no authority over federal documents such as FBI reports, USCIS certificates or IRS letters.
State offices set their own procedures and fees, so confirm current requirements with the office before submitting a state document.
Getting it done from Washington, D.C.
We have an office in Washington, D.C.: Washington, D.C. (headquarters). Most clients still send documents by mail — it’s the fastest route to Washington.
| Destination | Route | Our turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Convention country | State apostille | Varies by state |
| Non-Hague country | State authentication, then federal + embassy | 15–17 business days after the state step |
Serving Washington and everywhere else in Washington, D.C..
Power of Attorney in Washington, D.C. — FAQ
Can the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia apostille my Power of Attorney?
Yes, if it was notarized in Washington, D.C. — a notarized Power of Attorney is apostilled by the state where it was notarized.
Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Washington, D.C.?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Washington, D.C. clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Washington, D.C.?
It depends on the state step first; for non-Hague destinations, our federal and embassy steps take 15–17 business days after that.
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on where the document was notarized and the destination; we confirm it before any payment.
Related: Power of Attorney — full guide · All documents in Washington, D.C. · Federal vs. state apostille
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Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.