Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – Who needs to have signatures from public officials authenticated on important documents? Lots of people do, including those who need to use birth, marriage, or death certificates outside of the United States. A special authentication is often required when using such documents internationally.
To simplify the process, the Marin County Clerk’s Office is collaborating with the California Secretary of State to bring a pop-up apostille shop to the Civic Center cafeteria on Wednesday, January 21.
An apostille is a document issued by a government in accordance with international law to further authenticate a public official's signature. At this pop-up, California's Secretary of State staff will verify signatures from California notaries and those on vital records. Many international agencies, schools, employers, and courts will not accept U.S. documents unless they carry an apostille, which confirms the document is authentic. Without it, people can face delays in travel, schooling, employment, dual citizenship applications, or legal and family matters overseas. Apostille certification typically prevents further required legalization by an embassy.
In the past several years, the Secretary of State staff has partnered with counties to bring apostille services to communities to save residents a trip to the agency’s offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles for help with vital records. The pop-ups have proved popular; upwards of 700 to 800 customers have showed up recently at similar events in neighboring counties.
The County Clerk is one of the divisions within the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, a department headed by Shelly Scott.
“People often find out they need an apostille at the last minute, when they’re trying to meet a deadline for school, work, travel, or a family matter overseas,” Scott said. “Bringing this service to Marin makes it easier for residents to get what they need quickly without taking a day to travel to Sacramento or Los Angeles.”
The Marin event runs from 9 AM to 4 PM and will take place in Suite 233, on the second floor of the Civic Center. To reach the former café area on the second floor, event visitors should enter the building at either the South Arch or Middle Arch at 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. There is plenty of free parking available.
Payments for apostille services must be handled by credit card, check or money order; cash is not permitted.
###
For disability accommodations, please phone (415) 473-7215 (voice), CA Relay 711, or e-mail County Clerk staff at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days’ notice. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon request.