ALABAMA · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Alabama
In Alabama, apostilles and authentications come from a single office — the Secretary of State's Authentications Division in Montgomery — not a local courthouse or a federal agency. Translation HelpDesk pairs that step with certified translation so your birth certificate, diploma, or power of attorney clears both the Alabama seal and the receiving country in one clean pass. We translate civil documents at $0.05 per word (most run $15-25), send a free 250-word sample first, and back every file with our USCIS Rejection Pledge. Founded by Victor Luján in 2018 and run as a nearshore team from Chihuahua, Mexico, we serve all fifty states with 24-48 hour turnaround.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Alabama Secretary of State — Authentications Division (part of the Lands & Trademarks/Authentications Division), 11 South Union Street, Montgomery, AL 36130 (mailing: PO Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103; phone 334-242-5325).
HOW IT WORKS IN ALABAMA
Getting an Apostille in Alabama
In Alabama, apostilles and authentication certificates are issued by one place only: the Secretary of State's Authentications Division in Montgomery (11 South Union Street; mailing PO Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103; phone 334-242-5325) — not a courthouse or the U.S. State Department. Your document must first carry a qualifying Alabama signature: a currently commissioned Alabama notary public, a probate judge, or, for vital records, the current Alabama State Registrar. You then submit the original notarized or certified document along with a request that names the destination country, by mail, fax, or in person, and pay the state fee. If that country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention you receive an apostille; if it does not, you receive a certification for further legalization at the relevant embassy or consulate.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
Sequence is where people get tripped up. For an Alabama-issued document going abroad, get the apostille first, then have the document and the apostille certificate translated together — translating before the apostille is the most common mistake, because the receiving country usually wants the apostille page translated too, and translating first can push the state to authenticate your translator's notary instead of your original record. For a foreign-language document being used in Alabama, the Secretary of State requires a notarized English translation to accompany it, so order the certified (and notarizable) translation before you submit.
Translation HelpDesk provides the certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) that USCIS accepts, and can advise on whether you need the apostille before or after translation for your specific document and destination.
FEES & TIMING
Cost & Turnaround
Apostille fee: Alabama's state authentication/apostille fee is about $5 per document, but confirm the current amount with the Secretary of State's Authentications Division, since fees can change. Certified translation is billed separately at $0.05 per word — most single-page civil documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates) run $15-25.
Typical processing: Apostilles are generally issued same-day (often while you wait) for documents presented in person at the Montgomery counter, and typically take about two weeks for mailed requests — confirm current timing with the office before sending anything time-sensitive. Certified translation adds only 24-48 hours.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Alabama?
The Alabama Secretary of State's Authentications Division in Montgomery (11 South Union Street; mailing PO Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103; phone 334-242-5325). It is the only office in the state that affixes apostilles and authentication certificates.
Should I translate my document before or after the apostille?
For an Alabama document going overseas, apostille first, then translate the document and the apostille certificate together so the destination country can read both. For a foreign-language document being used in Alabama, the Secretary of State requires a notarized English translation submitted with it — so translate before you file.
Does the English translation have to be notarized in Alabama?
For foreign-language documents, yes — Alabama requires a notarized English translation, and a missing translation is grounds for rejection. We provide certified translations and can have the translator's certification notarized to meet that requirement.
My document is a birth or death certificate — anything special?
Yes. Alabama birth and death certificates must bear the signature of the current Alabama State Registrar before an apostille can be attached; an older certified copy signed by a prior registrar is a frequent cause of rejection. Order a fresh certified copy first, then apostille, then translate.
How much does an Alabama apostille cost?
The state authentication fee is about $5 per document, but confirm the current amount with the Secretary of State, since fees can change. Our certified translation is billed separately at $0.05 per word — most single-page civil documents fall in the $15-25 range.
How fast can I get everything done?
Apostilles are typically same-day at the Montgomery counter and roughly two weeks by mail. Our certified translations are ready in 24-48 hours, so the translation step rarely becomes the bottleneck. Message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com to start with a free 250-word sample.