Hanson Webb, the Apostille Expert Behind Apostille Depot
Every document that moves through Apostille Depot gets reviewed under the same standard Hanson set in 2012: check it like a rejection costs the client their visa. Because sometimes it does. Here is who reviews your paperwork, what qualifies him to do it and why 2,200+ clients have trusted him with theirs.
From a Tewksbury counter to 2,200 apostilles
Apostille Depot started the way most useful businesses do: with a problem nobody else wanted to solve. Hanson was running Neighborhood Parcel, his shipping and business services center in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, when clients kept arriving with the same story. A birth certificate bounced back from a consulate. A power of attorney refused in another country. A job offer abroad stuck because a background check was missing a stamp no one could explain.
The pattern was clear. People did not need another government webpage. They needed a person who knew the difference between a notarized copy and a certified copy, which state office held jurisdiction over which document and what the receiving country would actually accept.
So in 2012 he built that service. Apostille Depot files directly with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, the New Hampshire Secretary of State and every other state authority, plus the U.S. Department of State for federal documents like FBI background checks. Same-day handling for Massachusetts and New Hampshire came later, after enough clients showed up with flights booked and deadlines measured in hours. You can read how the full process works on our how it works page.
Thirteen years on, the standard has not changed. Hanson or a specialist he trained personally reviews every document before a dollar is charged. If a document will not pass, you hear it before you pay, not after.
Qualified on paper, proven on 2,200 orders
Anyone is able to call themselves an apostille agent. There is no federal license for it, which is exactly why credentials and track record matter. Here is what stands behind the advice on this site:
- Commissioned Massachusetts notary public. Hanson notarizes the private documents that need it before filing, which removes a whole category of rejection.
- [FILL-DEGREE]. Formal training that shapes how the office handles process, accuracy and accountability.
- Member of [FILL-MEMBERSHIP]. Active in the professional community that sets standards for notarial and document work.
- Licensed and insured since 2012. A real office at 1215 Main Street, Unit 115, Tewksbury, MA 01876, not a P.O. box.
- 2,200+ completed orders for 120+ countries. Birth certificates for Italy, FBI reports for Portugal, corporate filings for Germany, degrees for the UAE and most things in between.
That last line is the credential clients care about most. Rules change, as they did when China joined the Hague Convention in 2023 and Canada in 2024. A practitioner who files every week catches those changes before they cost you a rejection. You can see the range of completed work in our portfolio and what clients say on our testimonials page.
How Hanson reviews your document before filing
Most rejections trace back to a problem that was visible before the document ever left the client's hands. The review process exists to catch those problems on day one.
Step 1: Confirm the document type and jurisdiction
State document or federal document. Public record or private paper. Each answer changes which office has authority and what preparation the document needs. Getting this wrong is the single most common DIY mistake.
Step 2: Check the signature and certification
The apostille authenticates a signature on file. A photocopy, an old certified copy or a missing registrar signature will fail. Hanson checks the actual signature against what the state can verify.
Step 3: Verify the destination country's requirements
Hague member or not. Recency rules, some countries want copies issued within six months. Translation requirements. The apostille is only useful if the receiving office accepts the package around it.
Step 4: File, track and return
The order is filed with the correct authority, tracked in your online account and returned by the carrier you choose, anywhere in the world. Need it faster? Same-day service covers Massachusetts and New Hampshire documents.
Coverage and announcements
Apostille Depot publishes its service announcements and industry updates publicly, because a company asking for your trust should have a paper trail. Recent coverage and releases live on our News page, including announcements on expanded same-day service, federal document handling and Hague Convention changes that affect American clients.
Journalists and bloggers writing about apostilles, expat paperwork or international document requirements are welcome to quote Hanson. Reach out through the contact page and mention your publication and deadline.
What clients say
"[FILL-QUOTE-1: paste a real Google review here word for word.]"
— First name, City
"[FILL-QUOTE-2: paste a second real Google review here word for word.]"
— First name, City
More reviews are on our testimonials page and our Google Business Profile.
Guides written and reviewed by Hanson Webb
Every guide on this site is written or reviewed by Hanson, drawing on the situations real clients bring through the door. Start with the one that matches your document or destination:
- Massachusetts apostille
- Apostille a birth certificate
- Marriage certificate apostille
- Death certificate apostille
- FBI report apostille
- Apostille vs authentication vs legalization
- Hague apostille country list
- How long does an apostille take
- Apostille for non-Hague countries
- Apostille for Spain
- Apostille for Portugal
- Apostille guide for Italy
- Apostille documents for Mexico
- Apostille service for Germany
- Apostille for American expats
- Apostille for Golden Visa applicants
- Apostille for marriage abroad
- Apostille for students abroad
- Corporate apostille service
- Power of attorney apostille
Cannot find your situation? Ask directly. Unusual documents are most of what makes this work interesting.
Questions clients ask about working with Hanson
Does Hanson personally review every order?
Every order is reviewed by Hanson or a specialist he trained under the same checklist. Complex cases, court documents, non-Hague destinations and anything unusual go to him directly.
Is Apostille Depot a law firm?
No. Apostille Depot is a document authentication service. We prepare, file and return apostilles and legalizations. We do not provide legal advice, and we will tell you plainly when a question belongs with an attorney.
Can I talk to a person before I order?
Yes. Call (978) 424-4629 during business hours or send your document for a free review through the contact page. You get an answer on whether it will pass before you pay anything.
What makes this different from a big national chain?
Size. Your document is reviewed by the founder's office, not routed through a call center. The trade-off is honest: we are not the cheapest option on the first page of Google. We are the one that answers the phone and gets it right the first time.
Does Hanson handle documents from outside Massachusetts?
Yes. Apostille Depot files in all 50 states and with the U.S. Department of State for federal documents. Massachusetts and New Hampshire orders qualify for same-day handling.
How do I verify any of this?
Check our Google Business Profile reviews, visit the office at 1215 Main Street, Unit 115, Tewksbury, MA 01876, or look up the business registration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A legitimate service should welcome that scrutiny. We do.
Put 13 years of apostille experience on your paperwork
Send your document for a free review. Hanson's office tells you exactly what it needs, what it costs and when you will have it back. No surprises, no jargon, no guessing.