Apostille your divorce decree.
We get your divorce decree apostilled for use abroad. That means a certified copy from the court that granted the divorce, sent to the right Secretary of State, with a certified translation if your country needs one. We can order the certified copy for you.
- Sent to the state where the divorce was granted
- We can order the certified copy from the court
- Any California county, including Los Angeles and Santa Clara
- Certified translation for Spain, Mexico, and other countries
What is a divorce decree apostille?
A divorce decree apostille is a certificate attached to a certified copy of your divorce judgment. It lets a foreign authority accept the decree under the Hague Apostille Convention. People most often need one to remarry abroad, go back to a former name, prove they are single, or support a visa or residency file.
What gets apostilled is a certified copy issued by the clerk of the court that granted the divorce. It carries the clerk's signature and the court seal. The copy you were mailed at the end of your case, a photocopy, or a printout from a court website will not work. The Secretary of State of that same state then issues the apostille. It certifies the clerk's signature, not what the decree says.
California is the most common case we see. The state does not issue a divorce certificate. The Department of Public Health only keeps an index for divorces filed from 1962 to June 1984, and what it sends is a “Certificate of Record,” not the decree. So for a California divorce, the document is a certified copy of the judgment from the Superior Court in the county where the case was filed. The California Secretary of State then apostilles it. We handle this through our California apostille service.
Other states follow the same idea: the court that granted the divorce issues the certified copy, and that state’s Secretary of State (or equivalent office) issues the apostille. Some states add a county clerk step first. A few states also issue a short divorce certificate through vital records, and some countries will take that instead of the full decree. We check which one your country wants before anything is ordered. If you want to see every step in detail, read our guide on how to apostille a divorce decree.
- Document
- Certified copy of the divorce judgment
- Issued by
- Clerk of the court that granted it
- Apostille authority
- Secretary of State of that state
- California
- Superior Court copy, then CA Secretary of State
- Not accepted
- Photocopies or uncertified printouts
- Translation
- Certified, arranged by us
Common reasons people apostille a divorce decree
- Remarrying in Spain, Mexico, or another country
- Spousal or fiancé visa applications
- Going back to a former name with foreign authorities
- Proving you are single, often with a single status affidavit
- Residency or citizenship applications abroad
- Custody or family matters in another country
- Estate, pension, or benefits claims overseas
- Having a U.S. divorce recognized abroad
What we handle
Everything your divorce decree needs, in one place
We order the certified copy
Divorced years ago, or in another county or state? Give us the case details and we request a certified copy from the court clerk, then move it straight into the apostille.
Los Angeles and Santa Clara
We order certified judgments from the Los Angeles Superior Court and the Santa Clara County Superior Court, plus every other California county, then send them to the California Secretary of State.
Decree or certificate
Some countries want the full court judgment. Others accept a short divorce certificate where a state issues one. We confirm which before you spend time ordering the wrong paper.
Certified translation
Spain, Mexico, and most non-English-speaking countries want the decree translated. We arrange a certified translation in the order the receiving office asks for.
Non-Hague countries
If your destination is not in the Hague Convention, an apostille won't be enough. We arrange embassy or consulate legalization instead.
Tight deadline?
Wedding date or filing deadline coming up? Most orders are completed in six business days or sooner. Tell us your date and we'll tell you honestly what the court and the state office allow.
- 50
- U.S. states + D.C. covered
- 132
- Google reviews · 5.0★
- 120+
- Hague countries served
- 2
- San Diego offices
How your divorce decree apostille works
- 1
Tell us the details
Tell us the state and county where the divorce was granted, the case number if you have it, and the country you need it for.
- 2
Send it or let us order it
Mail us a certified copy you already have, or let us request a fresh certified copy from the court clerk.
- 3
We submit it for the apostille
We check the copy is certified and correct, then submit it to the right Secretary of State and track it until the apostille is issued.
- 4
Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled decree comes back by tracked, insured mail, with a scan for your records. Translation is added if you ordered it.
Get your documents moving today
A flat quote and a realistic timeline within one business day.
A real, verifiable apostille
The documents we handle come back with an official apostille attached where required — accepted in every Hague Convention country and verifiable online. Here's a real example (personal details redacted), alongside what clients say.
“Fantastic service! Frank was really helpful navigating this complex European requirement. Would highly recommend.”
“I needed to apostille a number of documents, for residency abroad, and Apostille Near Me handled everything in a very timely manner. Frank runs a fantastic operation and really cares about his customers.”
“I had the pleasure of working with Apostille Near Me, specifically Frank, and the process couldn't have gone any better. Excellent communication and very professional! I look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Divorce decree apostille questions, answered
Straight answers to what clients ask us most. Don't see yours? We're one call away.
Do I need a certified copy from the court or from the state?+
A certified copy from the court that granted the divorce — the clerk's certified or exemplified copy of the decree. The Secretary of State then apostilles the court clerk's signature. We can obtain the certified copy from the court for you.
Which state apostilles my divorce decree?+
The state where the divorce was granted. If you divorced in Florida but now live in California, it's the Florida apostille. We route it to the correct court and Secretary of State, including any intermediate county certification that state requires.
Divorce decree or divorce certificate — which does my country want?+
No. The decree is the court's judgment that ended the marriage, and you get it from the court clerk. A divorce certificate is a short record issued by some states' vital records offices. California doesn't issue one; its health department only offers a "Certificate of Record" for divorces filed from 1962 to June 1984, and that is not the decree. Most countries want the certified court decree, and we confirm what yours accepts.
I need it to remarry abroad — is this what I need?+
Usually yes, and often alongside a single status affidavit proving you're now free to marry. We can apostille both together so your foreign marriage isn't held up.
Can you obtain the certified copy for me?+
Yes. Through document retrieval we request a certified copy of the decree from the issuing court and go straight into the apostille — useful if the divorce was long ago or in another state.
Do I need a certified translation?+
For most non-English-speaking destinations, yes. We coordinate a certified translation of the decree in the order the receiving authority requires.
How do I get a divorce decree apostille in Los Angeles?+
Start with a certified copy of your judgment from the Los Angeles Superior Court. The court lets you order certified divorce judgments online if you have the case number, or by mail through its Archives and Records Center. The California Secretary of State then adds the apostille. A photocopy or the copy mailed to you at the end of your case won't be accepted. We can order the certified copy and handle both steps for you.
How do I apostille a Santa Clara County divorce decree?+
Request a certified copy of the dissolution judgment from the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Its family records office in San Jose takes requests in person or by mail, and a case number speeds things up. Then send the certified copy to the California Secretary of State for the apostille. As of 2026, confirm the court's current request steps before ordering. We can request the copy and submit it for you.
Why do divorce decree apostilles get rejected?+
Most often because a plain photocopy or the old copy mailed at the end of the case was sent instead of a certified copy from the court clerk; because it went to the wrong state (the apostille comes from the state that granted the divorce, not where you live now); because a county clerk step some states require was skipped; or because the foreign office wanted a recently certified copy or a translation. We check all of these before submitting.
How much does a divorce decree apostille cost?+
It depends on the document, the issuing authority, and how fast you need it. You see our flat price per document before you order — with no hidden fees.
Still have a question? Call us at 1-800-889-7850
Get your divorce decree apostilled
Tell us where the divorce was granted and where you need the decree. You see our flat price per document before you order, and we'll tell you if your state or country adds a step.