Illinois
Power of Attorney Apostille in Illinois
How Illinois residents get their Power of Attorney authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Illinois Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
If your Power of Attorney was notarized in Illinois, its apostille comes from the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield — not from Washington.
- Authenticated by
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Illinois apostille office
- Illinois Secretary of State, Springfield
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- Quoted
Notarized in Illinois: the exact route
A notarized document like this is authenticated through the notary, not the federal government. If it was notarized in Illinois, the apostille is issued by the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield.
- Hague Convention destination: the Illinois apostille is the final step.
- Non-Hague destination: the Illinois-authenticated document then goes to the U.S. Department of State and on to the destination’s embassy.
We don’t submit to the Illinois Secretary of State directly. Once your document has its Illinois 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 Illinois Secretary of State can do
The Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield issues apostilles for documents signed by Illinois officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Illinois registrars, Illinois state-court records, and documents notarized by Illinois 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 Illinois
We serve Illinois by mail from our Washington, D.C. headquarters, close to the Office of Authentications. There’s no need to visit an office in person.
| 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 Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Springfield and everywhere else in Illinois.
Power of Attorney in Illinois — FAQ
Can the Illinois Secretary of State apostille my Power of Attorney?
Yes, if it was notarized in Illinois — a notarized Power of Attorney is apostilled by the state where it was notarized.
Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Illinois?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Illinois clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Illinois?
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 Illinois · Federal vs. state apostille
Ready to start?
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.