Montana Secretary of State Apostille Service 518-956-5673

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

The Secretary of State offers two types of authentication: Apostille and Certificate of Authentication. An 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, documents submitted to Chinese consulates in the United States must use a "Certificate of Authentication."

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

In-Person Processing:

Montana Secretary of State
1236 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 444-1877

Fees: $10 per Hague Authentication, payable to "Montana Secretary of State."
Processing Time: Same-day for counter service or 3-5 days for mail-in orders.
Website: http://sos.mt.gov/Notary/Apostilles/index.asp
Email: sosnotary@mt.gov

Mail-In Processing:

Montana Secretary of State
Notary and Certification Services
PO Box 202801
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (406) 444-5379

Reminders for Notarization and Authentication in Montana

The office of Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch in Helena follows the guidelines below for obtaining Hague Authentication or Certificate of Authentication:

Guidelines for vital records such as marriage, birth, and death certificates: Must be original documents issued within the last 5 years and signed by the County Clerk Recorder or State Registrar James R. Edgar. If your copy was issued more than 5 years ago, you must obtain a new copy from the Montana Office of Vital Statistics or the County Clerk Recorder's Office.

• Office of Vital Statistics
  MT Dept. of Public Health and Human Services
  111 N Sanders, Rm. 6 Helena, MT 59604

School records and transcripts issued by institutions such as Montana State University, University of Montana, Montana State University Billings, Carroll College, Montana Tech, and other academic institutions must be notarized copies of transcripts and diplomas, reviewed by a school official from the university registrar's office or a high school principal.

Please note that the notarization should include the following text:

• Date
• I, the undersigned, certify that this is a true and accurate copy of the original diploma or transcript
• Issued by (Name of School)
• Signature of the Principal or Registrar
• Name and Title

Guidelines for notarized documents, such as powers of attorney, passports, driver's licenses, and general business documents. In Montana, it is not necessary to obtain a notary certification from the County Clerk. Documents must be properly notarized in accordance with Montana notary rules, including all elements of the notary block.

Most commonly used notary block in Montana:
If you need to obtain copies of court documents such as divorce decrees or general judgments, you may contact your local County Clerk and request a copy.