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