One of the most common calls we receive starts the same way:
“My documents were rejected by the Secretary of State… can you help?”

This month so far, we assisted three clients whose Apostilles were delayed because their documents were not notarized correctly by another notary. These weren’t complicated documents — but small technical errors caused major setbacks.

🔍 The Hidden Reason Apostilles Get Rejected

Most people assume that if a stamp is on the page, the notarization must be valid. Unfortunately, that’s not true — especially in California.

Here are some of the issues we corrected today:

• A notary stamped directly onto the document instead of attaching a proper notarial certificate
• A jurat certificate was required but never added
• The signer’s signature was never properly notarized
• The document lacked California-compliant notarial wording
• The notarization didn’t meet Secretary of State authentication standards

In California, if a notary is not witnessing or acknowledging a signature correctly, then legally — the notarization did not occur.

⚖️ Why This Matters More Than You Think

Apostilles are used for international purposes such as:

• Immigration filings
• Visas and residency applications
• Dual citizenship
• School enrollment abroad
• International business and legal matters

When an apostille is rejected, it doesn’t just delay paperwork — it can delay life plans.

Pay once for expert service, or pay twice fixing mistakes.

🛡️ How Seal of Approval Protects Your Documents

At Seal of Approval Mobile Notary & Apostille Services, we approach every document with a legal and procedural mindset — not just a stamp-and-go approach.

We ensure:
✔ Correct California notarial wording
✔ Proper jurat or acknowledgment attachment
✔ Clear separation between document and certificate
✔ Signature witnessed or acknowledged correctly
✔ Secretary of State compliance before submission

This is why clients come to us after rejections — and why many choose us before issues arise.

📍 Sacramento’s Trusted Apostille & Notary Experts

We proudly serve clients through:
• Mobile appointments across Sacramento
• Our Downtown Sacramento office
• Apostille correction and resubmission
• Certified and sworn translations
• Courier and document handling services

If your document was rejected — or you want to avoid rejection altogether — we’re here to help.

👉 Click Schedule Your Appointment Here on our website
📞 Or call/text 916-800-3970

Seal of Approval Mobile Notary & Apostille Services
Because doing it right the first time matters.