In Ohio, apostilles for business documents are issued by the Ohio Secretary of State. That is the key point. You do not get a Hague apostille from a county clerk, and a notary public cannot issue one. The Secretary of State is the office that reviews eligible Ohio documents and attaches the apostille or authentication certificate.

Apostille delays can create real problems. A study abroad deadline, overseas marriage filing, international adoption step, foreign work visa, business registration, or court-related filing may depend on one piece of paper being accepted abroad. If that paper was issued in Ohio, the apostille usually needs to come from the Ohio Secretary of State.