Birth certificate apostille
Used for citizenship by descent, dual-nationality filings, foreign marriage, and school enrollment abroad.
What you need
A certified copy of the birth certificate — issued within the last few years, with a raised seal or the issuing county's certification. A photocopy or the version handed out at the hospital won't be accepted by the Secretary of State. If you're not sure your copy qualifies, send a photo before mailing anything and I'll tell you.
Where it was issued matters
A Washington State apostille only applies to a Washington-issued certificate. If you were born in another state, that state has to apostille it instead — see mail-in service for how that works.
Common destinations
Citizenship-by-descent filings (Italy, Poland, Ireland, Greece) and international adoption paperwork are the two most common reasons this document crosses my desk. Both tend to have specific translation requirements on the receiving end — worth checking before you file.