Government Shutdown 2025: What Notaries & Apostille Providers Need to Know
- Amber Gist
- Oct 2
- 3 min read
When the U.S. government shuts down, it doesn’t just make headlines — it creates a ripple of uncertainty for professionals and clients alike. If you’re a notary or apostille provider, you may be asking:
👉 Does this impact my business?
👉 Will my clients face delays?
👉 What should I be communicating right now?
The good news is that most of your work continues uninterrupted. But there are some areas where you’ll want to set expectations and step up as a leader. Let’s break it down.
What a Government Shutdown Really Means
A shutdown happens when Congress fails to approve funding on time. Without a budget, many federal agencies scale back or pause operations until funding resumes.
Essential services (national security, law enforcement, etc.) continue.
Non-essential services slow down or stop, creating delays and frustration for anyone depending on federal paperwork.
For notaries and apostille providers, the biggest concern is whether federal authentication services stay open.
Notary Services: Unaffected and Business as Usual
Here’s the reassuring part: most notarial work is not tied to the federal government.
State & Local Work: Real estate closings, wills, contracts, affidavits, and powers of attorney — all continue at the local/state level without interruption.
Your Day-to-Day: You can keep meeting with clients, notarizing documents, and running operations as usual.
Pro tip: This is a great moment to reassure your clients. Many don’t know how the shutdown works, and they’ll appreciate hearing from you directly that their appointments are safe.
Apostille Services: Where Delays Hit Hard
This is where the shutdown matters most.
State Apostilles: ✅ No change. Secretary of State offices remain open and will continue processing state-issued documents like birth certificates, diplomas, and corporate filings.
Federal Apostilles (including FBI background checks): ⚠️ Delays expected. These require authentication from the U.S. Department of State, which is affected by the shutdown. With many staff furloughed, applications may slow down or stall until normal operations resume.
For clients needing apostilles for immigration, adoption, overseas work, or international travel, delays could disrupt their plans.
How to Lead Clients Through This Uncertainty
Your role isn’t just stamping documents — it’s helping people navigate stressful situations. Here’s how to position yourself as the trusted guide during the shutdown:
Be Transparent – Share clearly what’s impacted (federal apostilles) and what’s not (notarial work + state apostilles). Honesty builds trust.
Set Realistic Timelines – For FBI checks or federal docs, explain the best- and worst-case scenarios.
Educate Publicly – Use your social media, website, or newsletter to explain how the shutdown works. Clients panic less when they understand the why.
Offer Alternatives – Encourage clients to process all state documents now so they’re not stuck waiting on multiple steps later.
Stay Visible – Even if you don’t have new updates, communicate often. A quick “still monitoring the situation” note reassures clients that you’re on it.
Own Your Authority – When others go silent, you’ll stand out as the professional who explains, educates, and leads.
Bottom Line for Notaries & Apostille Providers
The government shutdown may slow federal apostille services, but it does not shut down your notary or apostille business.
State-level work continues.
Federal apostilles are delayed.
Your leadership is what matters most.
Clients need clarity and calm just as much as they need notarization. By staying proactive, visible, and reassuring, you’ll not only help them weather this storm — you’ll strengthen your reputation as the go-to expert in your field.
Stay Ahead of the Updates
Don’t wait to hear secondhand. Be the first to know how changes like this impact your notary or apostille business.
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