Maine apostille services for documents used abroad

Before you start

1. 1Identify the document type and the office that issued it.
2. 2Confirm the destination country's treaty relationship and the receiving authority's requirements.
3. 3Send us a scan for preparation review before committing originals.

Start with the issuing office

• Maine's Secretary of State provides certifications for municipal, court and state vital records and documents certified by notaries.
• A missing notarial statement is a common rejection reason. A stamp alone should not be treated as a complete notarization.
• Confirm the correct preparation before signing private documents.

Ordering a certified vital record

• Maine requires an application, identification and applicable eligibility evidence.
• Applicants who are not the registrant or named parent may need additional proof.
• Mail applications also require payment and a stamped return envelope.
• DRVS offers walk-in, mail and its authorized VitalChek ordering route; specialty services, including single-status letters and record corrections, require appointments.
• Record issuance and apostille processing are separate steps.

A forwarding option for state vital records

• When ordering by mail, you can ask Maine Vital Records to forward the record to the Secretary of State.
• For a VitalChek order, contact Maine Vital Records after placing it to request forwarding.
• Complete the separate apostille request and payment arrangements; forwarding is not automatic completion of authentication.

Divorce judgments and court copies

• For a copy of a divorce judgment or another court record, contact the court where the case was heard.
• Explain that the document is intended for overseas use and ask for the appropriate certified version.
• Confirm whether the receiving authority needs the full judgment rather than a vital-record certificate.

Maine university diplomas and transcripts

• University of Maine's International Programs instructions direct students to tell Student Records that notarization is needed for an apostille.
• Its diploma page notes that a secure digital diploma may meet some documentation needs, subject to confirmation with the relevant agencies.
• Resolve the recipient's format requirements before ordering; a digital diploma is not automatically an apostille.
• Other schools should confirm their own registrar process.

Request and delivery planning

• The state request form asks for the document type, count, destination and delivery method.
• International returns require a shipping label, and the requester handles required customs forms.
• Courier returns also need a label with account information.
• Use the official page for the appropriate postal or courier address — do not rely on a cached or printed ZIP code.

Maine document routing

Coordinate the complete process

• Send the document type, issuing office, destination and deadline for review. We can help identify missing preparation, coordinate the appropriate state or federal route and discuss translation needs with qualified translators.
• FBI checks follow the U.S. Department of State route. Where the Apostille Convention does not apply with the United States, additional legalization may be necessary.
• Confirm the recipient's document-age, translation and content requirements separately.
• Florida remote online notarization may be available for eligible private documents, subject to identity, witness, document and recipient requirements. It follows the applicable Florida route and does not replace Maine public-record certification.

Frequently asked questions

Maine locations served

Miami Dade Apostille serves clients throughout Maine by mail. Documents can be sent from anywhere in the state — no in-person visit to our office is required.

• Portland
• Lewiston
• Bangor
• South Portland
• Auburn
• Biddeford
• Augusta
• Saco
• Westbrook
• Waterville
• Presque Isle
• Brewer

Sources

• Maine Secretary of State: authentications and apostilles ↗
• Maine DHHS: request vital records ↗
• Maine Judicial Branch: court contact information ↗
• University of Maine: apostille for diploma ↗
• University of Maine: student records — diplomas ↗
• Maine SOS: apostille/authentication request form (PDF) ↗