Free and independent. Plain English.

Find the right state office for your document

StateDocuments.com is a free, independent guide. We explain common state documents in plain English and point you to the government office that actually issues or files them. We are not that office, and we never sell documents.

How to use this guide: pick a document type or your state, read the short explanation, then use the official link at the top of the page. Fees and steps below are checked against the official page with a date shown. The official page wins if anything differs.

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Apostilles

A certificate that lets a U.S. public document be accepted in another country. Issued by a state office (usually the Secretary of State) or, for federal documents, the U.S. Department of State.

Business filings

Forming an LLC or corporation, filing annual reports, and getting a certificate of good standing all happen at your state's business filing office.

Vital records

Certified copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce records come from the state or county vital records office where the event happened.

Court records

Case files and certified court copies come from the clerk of the court that handled the case. Each state judiciary explains how to search and request them.

UCC and other filings

UCC financing statements (liens on business property) are usually filed with the Secretary of State. We explain what they are and where to look.

Your state

One page per state and DC, with links to that state's apostille, business, vital records and court offices.

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What this site is not

Not a government agency, and not connected to any.
Not a law firm. Nothing here is legal advice.
Not a document service. We do not order, prepare, file, certify, or deliver anything, and we never ask for your personal information.