Massachusetts
Federal Court Documents Apostille in Massachusetts
How Massachusetts residents get their Federal Court Documents authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
There is no federal apostille office in Massachusetts. Federal documents like your Federal Court Documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can’t apostille them. We handle the Washington submission; you send the document by mail.
- Authenticated by
- U.S. Department of State
- Massachusetts apostille office
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Federal courts in Massachusetts
Federal court records from Massachusetts come from the following court (bankruptcy courts sit within the same districts):
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Request a certified copy from the clerk of the district that issued your judgment, order or filing — a PACER printout won’t be accepted. The certified copy is then authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, not the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Records from Massachusetts state courts are different: those go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
About the Federal Court Documents
How to apostille federal court documents — judgments, orders, and clerk-certified filings from U.S.
What the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can do
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Boston issues apostilles for documents signed by Massachusetts officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Massachusetts registrars, Massachusetts state-court records, and documents notarized by Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
We serve Massachusetts 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 | U.S. Department of State apostille | 10–12 business days |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication + embassy legalization | 15–17 business days |
Serving Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge and everywhere else in Massachusetts.
Federal Court Documents in Massachusetts — FAQ
Can the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts apostille my Federal Court Documents?
No. This is a federal document, so only the U.S. Department of State can authenticate it. A state apostille on it would be rejected abroad.
Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Massachusetts?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Massachusetts clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Massachusetts?
About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.
How much does it cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.
Which federal court covers my Massachusetts case?
Massachusetts is covered by: U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Request the certified copy from the clerk of the district that issued it.
Related: Federal Court Documents — full guide · All documents in Massachusetts · 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.