Virginia
Federal Court Documents Apostille in Virginia
How Virginia residents get their Federal Court Documents authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
There is no federal apostille office in Virginia. 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 Virginia can’t apostille them. We handle the Washington submission; you send the document by mail.
- Authenticated by
- U.S. Department of State
- Virginia apostille office
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond
- Our nearest office
- Richmond
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Federal courts in Virginia
Federal court records from Virginia come from the following courts (bankruptcy courts sit within the same districts):
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
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 Virginia. Records from Virginia state courts are different: those go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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 Virginia can do
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond issues apostilles for documents signed by Virginia officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Virginia registrars, Virginia state-court records, and documents notarized by Virginia 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 Virginia
We have an office in Virginia: Richmond. Most clients still send documents by mail — it’s the fastest route to Washington.
| 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 Virginia Beach, Richmond, Arlington, Norfolk, Alexandria and everywhere else in Virginia.
Federal Court Documents in Virginia — FAQ
Can the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia 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 Virginia?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Virginia clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Virginia?
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 Virginia case?
Virginia is covered by: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Request the certified copy from the clerk of the district that issued it.
Related: Federal Court Documents — full guide · All documents in Virginia · 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.