Marriage Certificate Apostille: Complete State-by-State Guide

A marriage certificate provesa civil marriage took place and is recordedby a government authority. When you need touse that proof outside the United States—fora spousal visa,residency,name change,dual citizenship,pension, orfamily law—foreignauthorities usually require anapostille (or embassylegalization if the destination isnot in the Hague Convention). This pageexplains, step by step, how toapostille a marriage certificatecorrectly the first time, which copyqualifies, how long it takes, what it costs,and how to avoid mistakes that cause delays.You’ll also findstate-by-state links so youcan proceed immediately.

What Is a Marriage Certificate Apostille?

An apostille is acertificate used among countries thatparticipate in theHague Apostille Convention. Itverifies the authenticity of thesignature and seal on a publicdocument so it can be recognized abroad. Fora marriage certificate, the apostilleconfirms that your document was issued bythe proper civil authority and bears a validregistrar or clerk signature and seal. Theapostille does not change the facts on yourcertificate; it confirms the document’sauthenticity for international use.

If your destination country isnot in the Hague Convention, youwill follow anauthentication + legalizationpath: the state authenticates first, and thedestination country’s embassy or consulateadds a legalization stamp. The end goal isthe same—foreign authorities accept yourmarriage certificate as genuine.

When You Need One

Authorities outside the U.S. commonlyrequest an apostilled marriage certificatefor:

• Spousal visas, residency, or familyreunification
• Name change recognitionafter marriage in a foreign jurisdiction
• Dual citizenship andcitizenship by marriage applications
• Foreign pensions andsurvivor benefits
• Inheritance and familylaw matters abroad
• Insurance, banking, andtax administration overseas

Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate

People often confuse themarriage license and themarriage certificate. Theyare different documents:

Document	Purpose	Issued By	Apostille Eligible?	Notes
Marriage License	Permission to marry; obtainedbefore the ceremony	County clerk or local civil registrar	Sometimes	Often not accepted as proof ofmarriage abroad. The certificate isusually required.
Marriage Certificate	Official proof the marriage occurredand was recorded	County clerk or state vital recordsoffice	Yes	This is the document most foreignauthorities request for apostille.
Ceremonial/Church Record	Religious or ceremonial evidence of awedding	Church, officiant, or venue	No	Not a civil record. Replace with acertified civil marriage certificate.

In short: plan to apostille acertified marriage certificateissued by the government, not a churchdocument or keepsake, and not just thelicense unless a foreign authorityexplicitly accepts it.

Which Copies Qualify (Certified vs.Informational vs. Church)

Not every marriage record is eligible for anapostille. The most common cause ofrejection is sending the wrong kind of copy.Use this comparison to select the rightversion:

Type	Description	Eligible for Apostille?	Guidance
Certified MarriageCertificate	Issued by a county clerk or statevital records office with registrarsignature and raised/embossed seal orsecure paper + electronic signature.	Yes	Best option for internationalacceptance.
Short-Form / Abstract(Certified)	Abbreviated version with fewer fieldsthan long form; still certified.	Often	Some countries accept; others demandlong form. When unsure, use long form.
Informational Copy	Marked “Informational — Not a ValidDocument.” For personal use.	No	Replace with a certified copy.
Church/Ceremonial Record	Religious or venue record of theceremony.	No	Obtain a certified civil record fromthe government.

Long Form vs. Short Form

Both long-form andshort-form certified copiescan be apostilled. However, foreignauthorities handling immigration, namechange, or citizenship often prefer the longform because it contains more detail (namesof spouses as recorded, date and place,officiant or registrar details, andrecording information). Choosing the longform reduces back-and-forth requests andimproves acceptance rates abroad.

Feature	Long-Form Certified Copy	Short-Form Certified Copy
Detail Level	Comprehensive; includes recordingdetails	Abbreviated; fewer fields
Acceptance Abroad	Highest acceptance; recommended	Accepted in many cases; sometimesrejected
Best For	Spousal visas, name changes,citizenship, complex filings	Basic uses where confirmed acceptable

Step-by-Step: How to Apostille a MarriageCertificate

1. Request a certified copyfrom thecounty clerk or state vital recordsofficethat recorded the marriage. If your copyis old, damaged, or informational, replaceit with a new certified long-form copy.
2. Confirm the signature and seal. The state’s apostille office willverify the registrar/clerk signature andseal against specimens on file. If yourcertificate bears an outdated orunregistered signature, ask the issuingoffice for a re-issue signed by a currentauthorized official.
3. Send to the correct stateauthority. Marriage certificates are apostilled bytheSecretary of State for the state ofissuance. Include the state’s apostille requestform and the correct fee. If mailing,include a prepaid, trackable returnenvelope.
4. Choose submission method.Mail-in is the slowest and mosterror-prone; walk-in is limited andunpredictable;courier submission is typicallyfastest because documents are pre-checkedand delivered in person for processing.
5. Receive the apostille.The state returns your certificate with anapostille attached. For non-Haguecountries, continue with embassy/consulatelegalization. If translations arerequired, coordinate them in parallel tosave time.

State vs. Federal: Send It to the RightPlace

A marriage certificate is astate or county documentand must be apostilled by theSecretary of State of the issuingstate. Do not send it to the U.S. Department ofState in Washington, DC—that officeauthenticates federal documents(like FBI reports or USDA/FDA/USPTOcertificates), not marriage certificates.

Document	Issued By	Apostille/Authentication Authority
Marriage Certificate	County clerk / State vital records	Secretary of State (samestate)
Birth/Death Certificates	State or county vital records	Secretary of State (samestate)
FBI Background Check	Federal (CJIS)	U.S. Department of State(DC)
USDA/FDA/USPTO Certificates	Federal agencies	U.S. Department of State(DC)

State-by-State Quick Links

Select the state where the marriage wasrecorded to see 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 times and costs vary by state andsubmission method:

• Mail-in: Often 1–4 weeks,longer during peak seasons. If fees orforms are incorrect, packets are returnedwithout processing.
• Walk-in: Faster in statesthat offer over-the-counter service, buthours are limited and lines areunpredictable.
• Courier submission:Typically fastest and most reliable.Documents are pre-checked to preventrejections and delivered in person forprocessing and pickup.

State apostille fees range widely—from lowdouble digits in some states to $100+ perdocument in others—plus shipping costs.Professional handling includes review,preparation, submission, pickup,scans on completion, and securereturn shipment.

Translations & Multi-Country Use

Many countries require acertified translation ofyour apostilled marriage certificate. Someaccept English; many require the locallanguage or a sworn/court-certifiedtranslation. If you expect multiple requests(for example, immigration plus banking),orderextra certified copies andapostille them separately so you can provideoriginals to more than one party withoutdelay.

Scenario	Recommended Approach
Single Hague country	State apostille + certifiedtranslation if required by thatcountry.
Several Hague countries	Obtain multiple certified copies;apostille and use each copy as needed.
Non-Hague country	State authentication/apostille +embassy/consularlegalization +translation.

Special Cases: Foreign Marriages, NameChanges, Prior Marriages

Marriage Abroad Registered in the U.S.

If you were married overseas and registeredthe marriage with a U.S. state or county,you may have astate-filed marriage recordeligible for a state apostille. If the onlyproof you possess is a foreign certificate,you typically apostille or legalize itthrough the issuing country, not aU.S. state. Some people pursue both—foreignlegalization for the foreign certificate anda state apostille for the U.S.registration—depending on where they mustfile.

Name Change & Hyphenation

When using a marriage certificate to supporta name change abroad, theforeign authority may compare the names onthe certificate with your passport and otherIDs. If your new name differs (for example,hyphenated forms or different order), theauthority may request additional documents.Keep consistent spelling across documents,and carry certified translations when thedocument language differs from localrequirements.

Prior Marriages, Divorce, or Widowhood

Some countries request proof that priormarriages ended lawfully. If asked, beprepared to presentdivorce decrees ordeath certificates withapostille (and translation if required).Order extra certified copies and apostillethem alongside your marriage certificate toavoid a second round of processing.

Foreign Pensions & Benefits

Pension administrators and benefits officesmay require an apostilled marriagecertificate to confirm eligibility forsurvivor benefits. They may also demand arecent re-issue of the certificate and atranslation in their official language.Request specifics from the authority toensure you produce the correct version onthe first attempt.

Pre-Submission Quality Checklist

• ✅ Certified copy of themarriage certificate (preferably longform)
• ✅ Registrar/Clerksignature & seal areclear and match authorized specimens onfile
• ✅ Document isundamaged (no tears,stains, heavy creases)
• ✅Correct state apostille formcompleted in full
• ✅ Correct fee enclosedor paid per state instructions
• ✅Prepaid trackable returnenvelope included if mailing
• ✅ If non-Hague destination: 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 church or ceremonialrecordinstead of a civil marriage certificate.
• Using an informational copythat is marked “Not a Valid Document.”
• Submitting to the wrongauthority(marriage certificates are apostilled bythe state that issued them, not byWashington, DC).
• Outdated or unregisteredsignaturesthat don’t match the state’s specimensignatures on file.
• Incorrect fees or forms,which leads to returns without processing.
• Assuming same-day serviceexists statewide; walk-in capacity andhours vary and are often limited.
• Forgetting translationsor delivering them in the wrong format forthe destination country.
• Not ordering extra certifiedcopieswhen multiple authorities need originalswithin a short timeframe.

Client Story

A couple needed a marriage certificateapostille for a spousal visa. They mailed achurch record, assuming it proved marriage.Three weeks later, the packet returned witha note: “Not a civil record.” They then sentan informational copy; it was rejectedagain. With their consulate interviewapproaching, they switched to professionalhandling. We sourced a certified long-formcivil record, verified the registrar’ssignature on file, completed the correctstate form, delivered the packet in person,and sent scans immediately on completion.The originals arrived by trackable priorityshipping, and the couple filed on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the original, or is a certifiedcopy enough?

You need acertified copy from theissuing county or state. A certified copyis the standard for apostille;informational and church copies are notacceptable.

Is a short-form marriage certificateacceptable?

Sometimes. For immigration, name change,and citizenship filings, foreignauthorities commonly prefer thelong form. Choose longform when in doubt.

How long does the apostille take?

Mail-in typically takes 1–4 weeks (orlonger in peak periods). Walk-in varies bystate and capacity. Courier submission isusually the fastest because documents arechecked and submitted in person, andpickup is immediate when ready.

What does it cost?

State apostille fees vary widely, plusshipping. Professional handling includesreview, preparation, submission, pickup,scans, and secure return delivery.

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

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

Do I send my documents to Washington, DC?

No. Marriage certificates arestate documents. Sendthem to the issuing state’s Secretary ofState or use a courier who will deliver inperson.

Do I need a translation?

Many countries require acertified translation.Some require a sworn/court-certifiedformat. Arrange translation in parallel toavoid delays.

How many certified copies should I order?

If multiple authorities will needoriginals, orderseveral certified copiesnow and apostille each one as required.This prevents re-ordering under timepressure.

Can I apostille a marriage certificate ifwe were married abroad?

Generally, you apostille a document in thecountry that issued it. If your marriagewas recorded abroad, the foreigncertificate is usuallyapostilled/legalized by that country. Ifyou registered the marriage with a U.S.state, that state record can be apostilledby the state.

Helpful Resources

• Vital Records Office Directory:CDC — Where to Write for VitalRecords
• Hague Apostille Convention Countries: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 go faster when thecorrect document is submitted to the correctoffice on the first attempt. Using acertified civil marriage certificate,choosing the long form when required,completing state-specific forms and feesaccurately, and planning for translationswill keep you on schedule. If you’re facinga consulate, immigration, or bankingdeadline, let trained specialists prepareand submit your documents without trial anderror.

Disclaimer: This guide provides generalinformation. State requirements, fees, andprocessing times can change withoutnotice. Always follow current stateinstructions or ask us to confirm them foryou.