Maine Secretary of State Apostille 518-956-5673

Self-Service Guide for Notarization and Authentication by the Secretary of State of Maine

There are two types of authentication by the Secretary of State: Apostille and Certificate of Authentication. Apostille, also known as "Hague Authentication," can only be used within member countries of the Hague Convention. Since Chinese consulates are currently not part of the "Hague Convention member countries," only the "Certificate of Authentication" can be submitted to Chinese consulates in the United States.

If you do not have time to handle the process yourself, you can contact CHV for assistance. Call our customer service at: 518-956-5673 (US). We provide notarization and authentication services for personal or corporate documents from all 50 states in the U.S., including consular three-level authentication or Hague Authentication. Expedited services are available, with completion in as fast as 3 business days.

In-Person Office Processing:

Maine Secretary of State
Division of Corporations and Commissions
101 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0101
Phone: (207) 624-7752

Processing by Mail:

Maine Secretary of State
111 Sewall Street, 4th Floor
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 624-7736

Reminders for Notarization and Authentication in Maine

To obtain Hague Authentication from the office of Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap through the Division of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions in Augusta, please follow these guidelines:

• The Secretary of State only authenticates and issues Hague Authentication for documents issued in Maine that must be signed by a state registrar, notary public, justice of the Dedimus, or county or constitutional officer.
• The Augusta office of the Secretary of State maintains records of the signatures and qualifications of officers and notaries.

Notes on Maine Documents:

If a document is notarized, ensure the notary public signs, stamps, and dates the notarization. A special certificate of acknowledgment can be issued for any document certified by a notary public.

• For vital records issued in Maine (including birth, death, and marriage certificates), they must be issued by a state, court, or municipal officer.
• For Maine divorce decrees: The document must be issued by a state, court, or municipal officer. Request an updated copy of your decree from the corresponding county court.
• For school diplomas and transcripts issued by institutions such as the University of Maine, Colby College, Bowdoin College, University of New England, Bates College, etc., request a notarized copy of the school records from the university's registrar office.
  To obtain copies of documents, contact the clerk of any of Maine's 16 counties: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, and York.