MARYLAND · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Maryland
Maryland apostilles and authentications are issued by one office only: the Maryland Secretary of State's Certification Desk in the Wineland Building at 16 Francis Street, Annapolis. The state fee is about $5 per document, and the sequence matters — notarized documents must first be certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, while sealed Maryland vital records can go straight to Annapolis. Translation HelpDesk provides the certified English translation that pairs with your apostille — $0.05 per word, roughly $15-25 for a standard civil document, delivered in 24-48 hours with our USCIS Rejection Pledge. We serve all of Maryland from our nearshore team in Chihuahua, Mexico, so you can get your translation done while your document moves through the Annapolis certification chain.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Maryland Secretary of State — Certification Desk, Wineland Building, 16 Francis Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 (phone 410-974-5521). This is the sole state authority that issues apostilles and authentication certificates for Maryland documents.
HOW IT WORKS IN MARYLAND
Getting an Apostille in Maryland
In Maryland, apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Secretary of State's Certification Desk in Annapolis (16 Francis Street, Wineland Building). The document must first carry the right underlying certification: a notarized document has to be taken to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the notary was commissioned (the county is imprinted on the notary seal) before the Secretary of State will apostille it, while state- or county-issued vital records — Maryland birth, death, and marriage certificates — can go directly to the Secretary of State as long as they bear the original seal and authorized signature of the issuing agency (photocopies are rejected). You can submit in person (walk-in service 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, limited to about 15 documents per day) or by mail with a note stating the destination country and a prepaid return envelope. If the destination country is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, the Maryland certificate is only the first step — the document then needs further authentication from the U.S. Department of State and the destination country's embassy or consulate.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
Order the certified translation and the apostille in the right sequence, because Maryland apostilles the public document or the notarized signature — not a loose translation. For a Maryland or U.S. document going abroad, get the apostille first on the English original, then have both the document and the apostille certificate translated. For a foreign document (like a Mexican birth certificate) used in the U.S., the apostille comes from the issuing country and you simply add a certified English translation here — the Maryland Secretary of State never apostilles that translation. The common mistake is translating first and expecting Annapolis to apostille the translation itself; if a translation truly must be apostilled, the translator's certificate has to be notarized, run through the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and only then submitted to the Secretary of State.
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: Maryland charges roughly $5 per document for an apostille or authentication, but confirm the current fee directly with the Secretary of State before you send payment (checks or money orders payable to "Secretary of State" by mail; cards, cash, or check in person). Certified translation from Translation HelpDesk is separate: $0.05 per word, about $15-25 for a standard one-page civil document.
Typical processing: In person at the Annapolis Certification Desk, apostilles are typically processed same day during walk-in hours (9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday-Friday). By mail, plan on about 1-2 business days once received if you use FedEx or UPS, 3-4 days by USPS Priority, and up to about a week by regular mail — plus your shipping time each way. Add the extra Clerk of the Circuit Court step for notarized documents, and factor in weeks more if your destination country is non-Hague and also needs U.S. Department of State and embassy legalization.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Maryland?
Only the Maryland Secretary of State's Certification Desk, located in the Wineland Building at 16 Francis Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 (phone 410-974-5521). No county office or notary can issue the apostille itself, though a Clerk of the Circuit Court certification is often a required step beforehand.
Should I translate my document before or after getting the Maryland apostille?
For a Maryland or U.S. document going abroad, get the apostille first, then translate both the document and the apostille certificate. For a foreign document used in the U.S., the apostille is issued by the origin country and you only need a certified English translation here — Maryland does not apostille that translation. When in doubt, ask the receiving institution which order they require.
Does the Maryland Secretary of State apostille the translation itself?
Generally no. Annapolis apostilles the underlying public document or a notarized signature, not a plain certified translation. If a translation must itself be apostilled, the translator's signed certificate has to be notarized, certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and then submitted to the Secretary of State.
How much does a Maryland apostille and the translation cost?
The state charges roughly $5 per document for the apostille — always confirm the current fee with the Secretary of State. Translation HelpDesk charges $0.05 per word, about $15-25 for a standard birth, marriage, or death certificate, separate from the state's apostille fee.
How fast can I get the certified translation?
Translation HelpDesk delivers most civil-document translations in 24-48 hours, with a free 250-word sample so you can check quality first. Message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com to start while your document is in the Maryland certification queue.