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Lieutenant governor’s office moves to digitize apostille service as in‑person demand grows
Summary
The Lieutenant Governor’s authentication office reported growing volumes of apostilles and described an RFP to pilot digital apostille services; staff said mail processing, walk‑in lines and parking access during session drove interest in a digital option.
The Lieutenant Governor’s office told the Government Operations Interim Committee on June 18 that demand for document authentications and apostilles is high and that the office is pursuing a digital apostille platform to reduce in‑person demand and risk of mail loss.
Why it matters: Individuals use authentications and apostilles to have state documents (birth certificates, court records, powers of attorney) recognized for foreign governments. The service is centralized in the Lieutenant Governor’s office and high session demand has created long walk‑in lines and customer frustration.
Volume and operations: Lila, the office manager who oversees authentications, said the office issued about 35,000 authentications in 2024 and had issued roughly 18,000 so far in 2025. The office provides scheduled appointments (10:30 a.m.–1:45 p.m.) and walk‑in hours (2 p.m.–4 p.m.). Processing a visit generally takes 15–20 minutes. The office said mail‑in volume surged during the pandemic and many mailed requests lack tracking; staff encourage customers to use tracked mailing services.
Customer feedback and digital plan: An optional customer survey (141 responses) showed about 87% rated their experience as excellent or good; many negative comments were tied to mail delays. The office said it is issuing an RFP to acquire a platform for digital receipt, issuance and delivery of authenticated documents and noted Utah is one of six U.S. jurisdictions that piloted digital apostilles with the Hague Conference on Private International Law’s apostille standards.
Next steps: The office is pursuing the RFP and cross‑training election staff to handle demand; the goal is to reduce in‑person visits and avoid mail loss. No statutory change was proposed at the meeting; the briefing was informational.
