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US Dept of State · federal documents

Federal Apostille. Through the State Department.

Federal documents (FBI Identity History Summary, USDA export certificate, USPTO patent/trademark, IRS Form 6166 residency, Department of Commerce certifications) require Apostille from the US Department of State Office of Authentications - NOT a state Secretary of State. Standard State Department turnaround is 4-6 weeks; we offer hand-walk rush service in 1-3 business days. Required for international work, study, business, and government filings.

All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back SOC 2 Type II
How it works

How we handle Conservation Easement, end-to-end.

A conservation easement is a permanent restriction on the use of land, typically donated to a qualified land trust to preserve the land's natural or open-space character.

1

Eligibility review

Land must have conservation value: scenic, ecological, historic, open-space, or recreational. We assess whether your land qualifies. Most rural and undeveloped properties do; urban properties rarely.

2

Land trust selection

Donation must be to a qualified land trust (501(c)(3)). We refer to local and national land trusts (Land Trust Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, regional trusts). They accept the easement and hold the restriction in perpetuity.

3

Engineering + appraisal

Engineering work documents the conservation value. Qualified appraisal determines diminished land value (the deduction amount). IRS scrutinizes appraisals; we use highly credentialed appraisers with conservation easement experience.

4

Legal documentation + closing

Easement document recorded with county recorder. Permanent restriction runs with the land. Donor receives appraisal-supported deduction. Coordination with attorney specializing in conservation easements.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent conservation easement pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Standard mail-in

$249
4-6 weeks

1 federal document apostilled via standard State Department mail-in process. Best for non-urgent international filings (corporate registration, IP enforcement).

Get started

FBI background + Apostille

$449
Order + apostille

We order the FBI Identity History Summary, receive it, apostille it, and ship internationally. Most common federal Apostille use case, fully managed end-to-end.

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FAQ

About the Conservation Easement Service.

Why is federal Apostille different from state?
Federal documents are issued by federal agencies (FBI, USDA, USPTO, IRS). The US Department of State Office of Authentications is the competent authority for federal Apostilles. State documents go through the issuing state's Secretary of State.
How do I get the FBI background check itself?
Order from FBI CJIS Division ($18, takes 2-4 weeks) or through an FBI-approved channeler ($30-60, 1-3 days). The channeler route is faster but still needs apostille after. We can manage both steps.
Is the IRS Form 6166 the same as a tax return?
No. Form 6166 is a residency certification letter from IRS, issued in response to Form 8802 application. Used to claim US-treaty benefits abroad. Takes 6-8 weeks from IRS; we can request + apostille.
What about Social Security documents?
SSA-issued documents (benefit verification, work history) get apostilled federally through State Department, same as other federal documents. Note that SSA cards themselves are not apostilled - only SSA-issued statements/letters.
Can I walk it to the State Department myself?
Yes, but only by appointment and only during business hours at the Washington DC office (Office of Authentications, 600 19th St NW). Our hand-walk service includes the courier, the appointment, and the wait.
Which countries are NOT Hague Apostille?
China (mainland), UAE, Saudi Arabia, and several others. For those, federal documents need embassy legalization - see our [international document authentication](international-document-authentication.html) service.
Why File.Business

Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.

Trust you can verify

SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.

A compliance partner, not a transaction

Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.

Premium experience competitors cannot match

Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.

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