Orange County residents who need a document authenticated for use overseas can skip the drive to Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen and the California Secretary of State will run a one-day Apostille Pop-Up Shop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the County Administration South building, 601 N. Ross St., in Santa Ana, the county said Oct. 7.

It is the second pop-up the Clerk-Recorder Department has hosted this year, and the partnership with the Secretary of State is now in its third year, according to the county. Without it, residents would have to travel to Los Angeles or mail their documents to Sacramento, the county said.

“Our Apostille Pop-Up Shops continue to see high demand from residents who appreciate having this important service available closer to home,” Nguyen said in the release. “I’m excited to continue bringing this service directly to our community and helping people save both time and money by avoiding a trip to Los Angeles or having to mail their documents to Sacramento.”

An apostille authenticates the signature of a California public official on a document that will be used outside the United States. The county said common examples include birth certificates, marriage certificates, single status certificates and educational records. The Secretary of State will also offer in-person domestic partnership registration at the event.

People seeking an apostille should bring the original document signed by a California public official, or an original notarized or certified document; the county said photocopies will not be accepted. They also need a completed Apostille Pop-Up Shop Request Cover Sheet, which is posted on the Secretary of State's website.

The Secretary of State charges $20 for each apostille document plus a $6 special handling fee for every public official's signature being authenticated. Those fees can be paid by Visa, Mastercard, check or money order, and no cash is accepted. The OC Clerk of the Board will offer notary services on-site for $15 per signature, payable only by cash or personal check made out to the County of Orange.

Questions go to the Clerk-Recorder's information line at (714) 834-2500, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays. More details are at OCRecorder.com.

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County of Orange

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