Effective: November 1, 2026

These Terms apply to all services provided by Dawn Apostille & Notary ("I," "me"), a business owned and operated by Dawn Marciniak, based in Bristol, Virginia. By using this website, requesting a review, placing an order, booking a session or making a payment, you agree to these Terms. You also agree to conduct these transactions electronically, and that checking a box, signing electronically or paying online is a binding agreement to these Terms.

My Role

I am a private document services business and a commissioned Virginia notary public and electronic notary. I review documents, prepare and submit apostille requests, return completed documents, perform remote online notarizations, and coordinate certified translations. Apostilles are issued only by government offices; I do not issue them. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. I am not an attorney licensed to practice law, I may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created.

Your Responsibilities
Before you order, please confirm with the receiving agency or organization which documents it requires and whether it needs an apostille; any date requirements (for example, a document issued within the last 6 or 12 months); whether a translation is needed and how it must be certified; and whether a certified copy is accepted in place of an original. You agree to provide accurate information, valid identification and genuine, complete documents. I'm not responsible for errors, omissions or rejections that result from inaccurate information or documents you provide. I will not provide services for documents that are illegal, fraudulent, altered or intended for a deceptive purpose. I may refuse service, and may report suspected fraud to the appropriate authorities.

Apostille Services
I provide apostilles only for countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention. I am not handling embassy or consulate legalizations at this time.

Free Document Review
My free review checks whether your document appears to be in proper form for an apostille and identifies the correct issuing office. It does not guarantee that a government office will issue the apostille or that the receiving agency will accept your document.

Quotes and Payment
Each apostille order is quoted in writing after your review. The flat rate includes review, preparation, submission and standard tracked return shipping within the U.S. Government fees are included. Additional documents from the same issuing state, or additional federal documents in the same order, are at a reduced rate. Documents from different states are separate orders. Add-ons, such as the federal expedited courier, faster shipping, international return shipping and translation, are billed separately. Payment is due before submission. If something changes the cost during processing, such as an added document or a required notarization, I'll contact you before going further. Remote online notarization fees are listed on my website and are due at booking. I accept all major credit, debit cards, ACH, Zelle.

Rejections, Cancellations, and Refunds

Government fees are non-refundable once paid, even if the office rejects the document.
If a document is rejected for reasons outside my control (for example, an incomplete notarial certificate, an expired document, or a document the office won't apostille), I'll explain why and what correction is needed. Resubmission may cost extra.
If a document is rejected because of my error, I'll correct and resubmit it at no additional service charge.
If you cancel an apostille order before submission, I'll refund your payment minus any shipping costs and government fees already paid. After submission to a government office, the service fee is non-refundable.

Appointments and Identification
This applies to remote online notarization sessions and in-person notarization appointments for apostille clients. Every signer must present valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification. I may refuse to notarize if identification can't be verified, if the signer doesn't appear to understand the document or to be signing willingly, or if the document is incomplete. Please give at least 24 HOURS notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations and no-shows may be charged $35. Signers more than 15 MINUTES late may be rescheduled.

Shipping and Documents in Transit
Please ship with tracking; insurance is recommended for hard-to-replace documents. Once documents are handed to a carrier, the carrier is responsible for them in transit. I'm not responsible for loss, damage or delay while documents are with USPS, UPS, FedEx or any other carrier, but if a return shipment I send is lost or damaged, I'll help you file a claim with the carrier. Government offices also disclaim responsibility for shipping losses, and I can't accept that responsibility on their behalf. For international return shipping, you are responsible for customs, duties and delivery requirements in the destination country.

Processing Times
Government offices set their own processing times, and they change throughout the year. I don't guarantee any processing or delivery date, but I'll keep you updated at each step. Faster shipping and the federal expedited courier shorten transit or handling time only.

Remote Online Notarization
All notarizations take place in secure video sessions through my remote online notarization platform, NotaryHub, and are recorded as required by Virginia law. You must complete identity verification on the platform before your session. Recordings and records are kept as described in my Privacy Policy and as the law requires. Some documents may not be eligible for remote notarization because of witnessing or execution rules; I'll let you know if that applies. Online notarizations are intended for documents used in the U.S. Documents notarized online in Virginia currently can't be apostilled, and even where another state will apostille an online notarization, the destination country decides whether to accept it. I don't provide mobile or traveling notary services. In-person notarization is available only for apostille clients, by appointment in Bristol and Abingdon, Virginia.

Loan Signings
I provide remote online closings only. For loan signings, the agreement and terms of the title company, lender or signing service that hires me also apply.

Translations
Certified translations are prepared by a trusted translation partner, and your document is shared with that partner to complete the order. The receiving agency decides whether a translation is needed and what type it accepts; please confirm its requirements before ordering.

Message
By giving me your contact information, you agree to receive confirmations, updates and reminders about your order or appointment by email. I send text messages only if you opt in; reply STOP to stop them. I don't send marketing messages unless you separately sign up for them.

Limitation of Liability
To the extent the law allows, my total liability for any claim related to my services is limited to the amount you paid for the specific service at issue. I'm not liable for indirect, incidental or consequential losses, such as missed travel, visa, employment or legal deadlines, rejection by a receiving party, or government processing delays.

Indemnity
You agree to hold Dawn Apostille & Notary and its owner harmless from claims, losses or damages arising from inaccurate information or documents you provide, or from your violation of these Terms.

Events Beyond My Control
I'm not liable for delays or failure to provide services because of circumstances beyond my reasonable control, including severe weather, natural disasters, power or internet outages, government office closures, carrier disruptions or public health emergencies.

General
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and any disputes will be resolved in the courts of Russell County, Virginia. If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the rest stays in effect. I may update these Terms from time to time and will change the effective date at the top when I do; the version posted when you place your order applies to that order.

Contact
Dawn Apostille & Notary
Bristol, Virginia
[PHONE]
[EMAIL]

Terms of Service