Apostille Services in Tennessee

If you need a U.S. document authenticated for use in a foreign country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you will need an apostille issued by the Tennessee Secretary of State. The office is located at 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., 6th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 and processes apostille requests for all documents originating from Tennessee, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, court orders, corporate filings, notarized documents, and academic credentials.

The standard processing time for a Tennessee apostille is 5–7 business days. Expedited processing is available and typically takes 2–3 business days for an additional fee. State filing fees and processing times vary — we provide a complete cost breakdown before processing your request.

What Documents Can Be Apostilled in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Secretary of State can apostille any document that bears an original signature from a Tennessee-commissioned notary public, or any document issued by a Tennessee government authority. This includes certified vital records (birth, marriage, death, divorce), court-issued documents (court orders, judgments, custody agreements), corporate filings (articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, operating agreements), and notarized documents (affidavits, powers of attorney, declarations).

Do I Need to Live in Tennessee to Get a Tennessee Apostille?

No. The apostille is based on where the document was issued, not where you currently reside. If your birth certificate was issued in Tennessee, it must be apostilled through the Tennessee Secretary of State — even if you now live in another state. We handle Tennessee apostille processing from anywhere in the United States, so you never need to visit Nashville in person.

Federal vs. State Apostille: Which Do You Need?

The Tennessee Secretary of State only apostilles documents issued at the state level. Federal documents — such as FBI background checks, documents notarized by federal officials, or federal court records — must be apostilled through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. If you're unsure which authority handles your document, our free document review will determine the correct processing path.

Hague vs. Non-Hague Countries

An apostille from Tennessee is accepted in over 120 Hague Convention member countries. If your destination country is not a Hague member, a different process — called authentication and legalization — is required. This involves additional steps through the U.S. Department of State and the destination country's embassy or consulate. We handle both Hague apostille and non-Hague legalization for Tennessee documents.