Divorce Decree Apostille: Complete State-by-State Guide

A divorce decree (sometimescalled a Judgment of Dissolution or FinalJudgment) is the court order that legallyends a marriage and sets the terms forproperty division, custody, support, andother obligations. When you need to use thatcourt orderoutside the United States—forremarriage abroad,spousal or family visas,custody filings,pensions,inheritance, orbanking and property matters—foreign authorities usually require anapostille (or embassylegalization if the destination isnot in the Hague Convention). This pageexplains how toapostille a divorce decreecorrectly the first time, what kind of copyyou need, where to submit it, how long ittakes, and the common mistakes that causecostly delays. You’ll also findstate-by-state links so youcan move forward immediately.

What Is a Divorce Decree Apostille?

An apostille is acertificate used by countries in theHague Apostille Convention toverify the authenticity of a publicdocument’s signature and seal. Forcourt documents like a divorce decree, theapostille confirms that the decree wasissued by a legitimate court and bears theproper Clerk of Court (andin some states,presiding judge) signatureor stamp. With the apostille attached, aforeign authority can accept the decree asgenuine without additional localverification.

If your destination isn’t in the HagueConvention, the process is typicallyauthentication + legalization. First, the state authenticates the courtdocument; then, the destination country’sembassy or consulate adds alegalization stamp.Functionally, it achieves the same goal:your decree is recognized abroad.

When You Need One

Foreign authorities commonly request anapostilled divorce decree for:

• Remarriage abroad (civilregistry must confirm prior marriage waslegally dissolved)
• Spousal, fiancé(e), or familyvisas(immigration offices verify maritalhistory)
• Child custody, guardianship, andrelocation mattersbefore foreign courts
• Name change recognitionor restoration of maiden name abroad
• Property, inheritance, andpension/benefit claimsin another country
• Banking and tax administrationthat requires proof of marital status

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

Many jurisdictions can issue both adivorce decree and adivorce certificate, butthese are not the same and they servedifferent purposes. Understanding thedifference helps you avoid rejectionsabroad.

Document	What It Is	Issued By	Typical International Acceptance	Best Use
Divorce Decree (Judgment)	The full, court-signed orderdissolving the marriage; may includeterms for property, custody, support,and final judgment language.	State court (Clerk of Court retainsrecord; judge signs order)	Highest — preferredby foreign registries and courts	Remarriage, immigration, custody,complex legal matters
Divorce Certificate	A brief, vital-records styleconfirmation that a divorce occurred,with basic facts (names, date, place).	Vital records office (in some states)or court	Variable — sometimesaccepted, often insufficient alone	Basic proof the divorce occurred; nota substitute for the decree whendetails are needed

When in doubt, obtain and apostille thedivorce decree. It containsthe operative language foreign authoritiestend to request and accept.

Which Copies Qualify (Certified Court Copiesvs. Photocopies)

A key reason for rejection is sending thewrong type of copy. Courts maintain theofficial record; the copy you submit forapostille must be certified by theClerk of Court (and, whererequired, by thepresiding judge or courtseal). Photocopies and uncertified scans areusually not acceptable.

Copy Type	Description	Eligible for Apostille?	Guidance
Certified Court Copy	Stamped/signed by the Clerk of Courtwith seal; sometimes includes acertification page or embossed stamp.	Yes	Order directly from the court thatissued the decree; request afresh certification.
Plain Photocopy or Scan	Uncertified photocopy or printout ofthe decree.	No	Not acceptable on its own. Convert toa certified copy at the court.
Vital Records “DivorceCertificate”	Short confirmation of divorce; not thefull judgment.	Sometimes	Varies by destination; decree isgenerally safer for international use.

Step-by-Step: How to Apostille a DivorceDecree

1. Request a Certified Court Copy
   Contact theClerk of Court where the divorcewas finalized and request acertified copy of thefinal judgment or decree. Ask for aversion with the most currentcertification page and court seal. If thedecree is voluminous, some courts canissue a shortened “certified excerpt” thatstill contains the final judgmentlanguage; confirm what your destinationwill accept.
2. Verify the Certifying Official
   The state apostille office willmatch the clerk/judge signature and sealagainst specimens on file. If thename/title on your certification haschanged (e.g., new clerk), request are-issue signed by a current authorizedofficial.
3. Submit to the Correct State ApostilleAuthority
   Court documents are apostilled bythe Secretary of State inthe state of issuance. Includeany required request form, identification,and fee. If mailing, add a prepaid,trackable return envelope.
4. Choose the Submission Method
   Mail-in is slower andunforgiving of mistakes.Walk-in options are limited andcan involve long lines. Acourier can pre-check yourdocuments for eligibility, deliver inperson, and pick up as soon as theapostille is ready.
5. Receive the Apostille
   The court-certified decree will bereturned with an apostille attached. Ifyour destination country is not in theHague Convention, proceed withembassy/consularlegalization as the nextstep.

State vs. Federal: Send It to the RightPlace

A divorce decree is astate court document. Itmust be apostilled by theSecretary of State for thestate where the court issued thedecree. Do not send it to the U.S.Department of State in Washington, DC—thatoffice handles federal records(FBI, USDA, FDA, USPTO, and similar), notstate court judgments.

Document	Issued By	Apostille/Authentication Authority
Divorce Decree (Judgment)	State court (Clerk of Court)	Secretary of State (samestate)
Birth/Marriage/Death Certificates	State or county vital records	Secretary of State (samestate)
FBI Background Check	Federal (CJIS)	U.S. Department of State(Washington, DC)
USDA/FDA/USPTO Certificates	Federal agencies	U.S. Department of State(Washington, DC)

State-by-State Quick Links

Select the state where yourdivorce was finalized toview state-specific instructions.

Alabama Apostille Services	Alaska Apostille Services	Arizona Apostille Services
Arkansas Apostille Services	California Apostille Services	Colorado Apostille Services
Connecticut Apostille Services	Delaware Apostille Services	District of Columbia ApostilleServices
Florida Apostille Services	Georgia Apostille Services	Hawaii Apostille Services
Idaho Apostille Services	Illinois Apostille Services	Indiana Apostille Services
Iowa Apostille Services	Kansas Apostille Services	Kentucky Apostille Services
Louisiana Apostille Services	Maine Apostille Services	Maryland Apostille Services
Massachusetts Apostille Services	Michigan Apostille Services	Minnesota Apostille Services
Mississippi Apostille Services	Missouri Apostille Services	Montana Apostille Services
Nebraska Apostille Services	Nevada Apostille Services	New Hampshire Apostille Services
New Jersey Apostille Services	New Mexico Apostille Services	New York Apostille Services
North Carolina ApostilleServices	North Dakota Apostille Services	Ohio Apostille Services
Oklahoma Apostille Services	Oregon Apostille Services	Pennsylvania Apostille Services
Rhode Island Apostille Services	South Carolina ApostilleServices	South Dakota Apostille Services
Tennessee Apostille Services	Texas Apostille Services	Utah Apostille Services
Vermont Apostille Services	Virginia Apostille Services	Washington Apostille Services
West Virginia Apostille Services	Wisconsin Apostille Services	Wyoming Apostille Services

Timing, Fees & Shipping

Turnaround time and cost vary by state andsubmission method:

• Mail-in: Often 1–4 weeks.If a form, fee, or signature is wrong, thepacket is returned without processing.
• Walk-in: Faster in statesthat offer over-the-counter service, buthours can be limited and linesunpredictable.
• Courier submission:Typically the fastest. We pre-checkeligibility, deliver in person, and pickup as soon as documents are ready—thensend same-day scans.

State apostille fees range from low doubledigits to $100+ per document depending onjurisdiction. Add costs for certified courtcopies and shipping. Professional handlingincludes review, preparation, submission,pickup, scans on completion, and securereturn delivery—valuable when facing fixedconsulate or court deadlines.

Translations & Multi-Country Use

Many destinations require acertified translation ofyour apostilled divorce decree. Some acceptEnglish; others require the local languageor a sworn/court-certified translation. Ifmultiple foreign authorities will requestoriginals, orderextra certified court copiesand apostille each one separately so you cansupply originals without waiting forreturns.

Scenario	Recommended Approach
Single Hague country	State apostille + certifiedtranslation (if required by thatcountry).
Several Hague countries	Obtain multiple certified courtcopies; apostille and deploy asrequested.
Non-Hague country	State authentication/apostille +embassy/consulatelegalization +translation.

Special Cases: Old, Sealed, or Lost Decrees

Old Decrees

Older judgments are usually still valid.However, if the clerk or judge who certifiedyour copy is no longer in office, theapostille office may not have that signatureon file. The solution is simple: ask theClerk of Court to issue anew certified copy bearingthe current authorized signature and seal.

Sealed/Confidential Sections

Some decrees contain confidentialattachments (financial affidavits, medicalreports). Foreign authorities rarely needthose. Request a certified version thatincludes thefinal judgment and operativepagesbut omits sensitive exhibits, unlessexplicitly required.

Lost Decrees

If you no longer have your decree, contactthe court that issued it to request acertified copy. If you’reuncertain which county handled the case,start with the county of residence at thetime of divorce, or check state courtindexes where available.

Multi-State History

If the marriage occurred in one state butthe divorce occurred in another, apostillethedecree in the state where the divorce wasfinalized. If a foreign authority also requestsproof of marriage and dissolution, beprepared to provide amarriage certificate apostillein the state of marriage and adivorce decree apostille inthe state of divorce.

Pre-Submission Quality Checklist

• ✅Certified court copy ofthe divorce decree (final judgmentlanguage included)
• ✅ Clerk/judgesignature & sealclearly visible and current
• ✅ No tears, stains, or heavy creasesaffecting the seal or text
• ✅Correct state apostille requestformcompleted in full
• ✅ Correct fee enclosedor paid per state instructions
• ✅Prepaid trackable returnenvelope if mailing
• ✅ For non-Hague destinations: planembassy/consulatelegalization after stateauthentication
• ✅ If translation required: arrange acompliantcertified translation inparallel
• ✅ Orderextra certified copies ifmultiple agencies will need originals

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending a photocopy or printoutinstead of a certified court copy withseal.
• Submitting to the wrong office(divorce decrees are apostilled by thestate where the court issued thedecree, not by Washington, DC).
• Using an outdated certificationwith a clerk signature no longer on file.
• Confusing the divorce certificate withthe decreewhen the foreign authority needs the fulljudgment.
• Missing fees or incompleteforms,which leads to returns without processing.
• Assuming same-day serviceexists statewide; walk-in capacity andhours vary and are often limited.
• Ignoring translationrequirementsor providing the wrong translation format.
• Not ordering extra court-certifiedcopieswhen multiple authorities need originalsat the same time.

Client Story

A client planned to remarry overseas andneeded proof that the prior marriage waslegally dissolved. He mailed a photocopy ofan old decree to the state apostille office.The packet was returned unprocessed. He thenmailed a vital-records “divorcecertificate,” which the foreign registryrejected as insufficient. With his ceremonydate approaching, he switched toprofessional handling. We obtained a freshcourt-certified decree withcurrent clerk signature, confirmed thesigner on file, completed the state request,delivered it in person, and sent scans uponcompletion. The original arrived by priorityshipping, and the marriage registry approvedit on the first attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the original or a certifiedcopy?

You need acertified court copy ofthe final judgment/decree from the courtthat issued it. Photocopies or uncertifiedscans are not eligible for apostille.

Is a “divorce certificate” acceptableinstead of the decree?

Sometimes, but many foreign authoritiesrequire thefull decree because itcontains the operative judgment language.When unsure, apostille the decree.

How long does the apostille take?

Mail-in typically takes 1–4 weeks (longerin peak periods). Walk-in varies by state.Courier submission is usually fastestbecause documents are pre-checked anddelivered in person; pickup is immediatewhen ready.

What does it cost?

State apostille fees vary by jurisdiction.Add court copy fees and shipping.Professional handling includes review,preparation, submission, pickup, scans oncompletion, and secure return.

My destination isn’t in the HagueConvention. What now?

Use theauthentication + legalizationpath: state authentication/apostillefirst, then embassy/consulate legalizationfor the destination country. We can manageboth steps.

Do I send documents to Washington, DC?

No. Divorce decrees arestate court documents andmust be apostilled by the Secretary ofState in the state where the court issuedthe decree.

Do I need a translation?

Many countries require acertified translation.Some specify sworn/court-certifiedtranslators. Arrange translation inparallel to avoid delays.

Can I apostille an old decree?

Yes, but you may need afresh court certificationso the clerk’s signature matches what thestate has on file. Request a new certifiedcopy if necessary.

What if my divorce was abroad?

Generally, you apostille or legalize adocument in the country that issued it. Aforeign decree is typicallyapostilled/legalized by that country. Ifyou later registered the divorce with aU.S. court, the U.S. record can beapostilled by the state.

Should I order extra copies?

If multiple authorities will needoriginals, orderseveral court-certified copiesand apostille each one. This avoidsbottlenecks and repeat ordering.

Helpful Resources

• U.S. State Courts Directory:NCSC — State Court Websites
• Hague Apostille Convention (country list):HCCH Status Table
• Federal Authentications (for federaldocuments only):U.S. Department of State —Authentications
• Popular State Pages:California,Florida,New York,Texas

Get Help Today

International filings move faster when thecorrect court-certified decree is submittedto the correct state office on the firsttry. Using a fresh certification, completingstate-specific forms and fees accurately,and planning translations in advance willkeep you on schedule. If a consulate, court,or registry deadline is approaching, lettrained specialists prepare and submit yourdocuments without trial and error.

Disclaimer: This guide provides generalinformation. Court and state apostillerequirements, fees, and processing timescan change without notice. Always followcurrent state instructions or ask us toconfirm them for you.