Pennsylvania Department of State — Local services in Harrisburg

Most recent edit: They sent my paperwork back claiming they didn’t receive a cashiers check. My bank shows this check was cashed but cannot provide me the check number. PA says that without the check number they can’t see if it was cashed. PA is the most crooked state I have ever lived in minus maybe CA. Can’t get a straight answer from anyone here. Basically I have to send them another cashiers check even they they already cashed the first one. So I’m paying $300 instead of $150 because their system is so broken and corrupt. Take pictures of everything you send in, take a video of you putting your paperwork and each paper going into the mailer keep copies of every piece of paper you send them.

Edit - their call back service is ridiculous - they say they will call back when it’s your turn in line - but don’t bother. Just stay on hold. They just call you back right away and put you on hold. I’ve been on hold waiting for my call back for well over an hour and a half.

Edit on second thought maybe the call back is better. If you wait on hold you have to babysit their answering machine and confirm you want to hold every 5 minutes.

Edit*...... The call dropped. I don’t even know what to say. It’s not even surprising anymore how consistently unreliable government offices are. What’s the point.

Second edit*: I sent in two cashiers checks and they lost one. They don’t look closely in the packages sent and now I will have to pay a banking fee to cancel the cashiers check. It’s very unprofessional and a frustrating delay for us to experience. I had 0 callers ahead of me to talk to their money handling department - and sat on hold for 20 minutes before the call dropped again. Why am I sitting on hold when no one is ahead of me? Oh right, because it’s a state run office and they don’t care at all or probably...

Drove 2 hours to get some documents apostilled. Trash service by front desk person and supervisor on May 12th 2025 2pm ish. Didn’t accept my credit card issued by my bank even with proper ID and got super offended when I asked couple more clarifying questions. The supervisor couldn’t even keep her in control. I feel sorry for PA residents who have no other option of service. I’ll be taking my documents somewhere other state to get notarized and apostilled even if I have to drive 4 hours or more. No thank you. Sad for poor gov service where residents have no other options and there is no escalation path or...

I called at 6AM in the morning to find out what time they begin answering calls and the message I got was, "experiencing high call volume" and to leave a message. So I called at 8AM and got the same message-so it is obvious they don't answer their calls. So, I sent an email and left a message-no response yet. it has been 2 weeks since I sent them a certified letter with an important document to be certified--and no answer. I am beginning to wonder if they really exist or am I in the...