Serving Charleston, SC by mail
Federal Apostille Services in Charleston, SC
How Charleston residents get federal documents apostilled — and where South Carolina state documents go instead.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no apostille counter for federal documents in Charleston — only one office in the country issues them, the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that for Charleston clients by mail. South Carolina state documents go to the South Carolina Secretary of State in Columbia.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from Charleston are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — there is no local federal apostille office.
- Through us: $299 all-in for Hague countries (10–12 business days) or $399 with embassy legalization for non-Hague countries (15–17 business days).
- Do it yourself: Form DS-4194 and a $20 fee per document — processed within 5 weeks by mail, or 7 business days if you drop it off in Washington, D.C.
- County
- Charleston County
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
- State apostille office
- South Carolina Secretary of State
- Our nearest office
- Charlotte
How it works from Charleston
We don’t have an office in Charleston — and you don’t need one. Charleston clients send documents by mail, and our nearest office is Charlotte, a processing office that handles orders by phone and online.
Order online
Tell us the document and destination. No payment until we confirm route and price.
Mail us the document
Ship it by USPS, FedEx, UPS or DHL. We review it against authentication requirements before submission.
We process in Washington, D.C.
We hand-deliver it to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, and handle embassy legalization for non-Hague countries.
You receive it
Returned by tracked courier.
Charleston and South Carolina documents
Charleston is in Charleston County, within the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. Federal court records from there are authenticated federally; South Carolina birth, marriage and state-court records, and anything notarized in South Carolina, go to the South Carolina Secretary of State. See our South Carolina guide for the full breakdown.
Official sources: South Carolina Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Courts — Federal Court Websites.
Documents for Charleston residents
Pick your document for the exact route from Charleston:
Where are South Carolina state documents apostilled?
South Carolina-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in South Carolina — are apostilled by the South Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications, not by the U.S. Department of State. We don’t provide state-level apostilles, so request it directly from the office below. If it is going to a non-Hague country, get the South Carolina authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | South Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications |
|---|---|
| In person | 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201 Hand delivery accepted |
| Mailing address | Attn: Authentications, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201 |
| Hours | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| State fee per apostille | $5 |
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State — official apostille page (checked October 2026). Fees, hours and appointment rules change — confirm with the office before you send anything.
How long does a federal apostille take from Charleston?
The U.S. Department of State is the only office that issues a federal apostille. Mailed in yourself, it is processed within 5 weeks of receipt; dropped off in person in Washington, D.C., within 7 business days. Through us it takes 10–12 business days, or 15–17 business days for a non-Hague country that also needs embassy legalization.
| Route | How | Processing time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Form DS-4194 + check to the Office of Authentications, Sterling, VA | Within 5 weeks of receipt | $20 per document + shipping |
| Drop it off yourself | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. — Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointment | Within 7 business days | $20 per document + travel |
| Emergency appointment | Only for a life-or-death family emergency with travel within 2 weeks | Same day | $20 per document |
| Through Federal Apostille USA | We review it, drop it off in D.C. and return it to you with tracking | 10–12 business days total | $299 all-in ($399 non-Hague) |
What does a federal apostille cost in Charleston?
The government fee is $20 per document, paid with Form DS-4194. Our all-in price is $299 per document, covering the government fee, review, D.C. drop-off and U.S. return shipping; non-Hague destinations are $399 with embassy legalization.
Government figures: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services (checked October 2026).
Charleston — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in Charleston?
No. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that submission for Charleston clients by mail.
Do you have an office in Charleston?
No — Charleston is served by mail. Our nearest office is Charlotte, a processing office that handles orders by phone and online.
Where are South Carolina state documents apostilled?
By the South Carolina Secretary of State in Columbia.
Which federal court covers Charleston?
Charleston is in Charleston County, within the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
How much does a federal apostille cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries (10–12 business days) and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization (15–17 business days), government fees included.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.