Which state apostilles my divorce decree?

The Secretary of State in the state where the court that granted the divorce sits, even if you've since moved.

Can I apostille a photocopy or a notarized copy of my divorce decree?

No. You need a certified copy from the court clerk. Texas and Florida both say notaries can't certify copies of court records like divorce decrees, and California won't apostille a photocopy.

Where do I get a certified copy of a Texas divorce decree?

Only from the district clerk in the district where the divorce was granted. Texas Vital Statistics can verify that a divorce was recorded, but its verification letter isn't a substitute for the decree.

How much does a divorce decree apostille cost?

Texas charges $15 per document. California charges $20 per apostille, plus $6 per official's signature in person. Florida charges $20 for a document certified by a Florida Clerk of the Court. Court copy fees are separate.

Do I need the full decree or a short certificate?

It depends on the receiving country or office. Some accept a short-form certificate of divorce; others want the full final judgment. Ask before you order copies.

How old can my certified copy be?

Texas won't apostille certified copies of recordable documents older than five years. Many foreign offices also want a recently issued copy, so check their window.

What if the country isn't in the Hague Apostille Convention?

Get the state authentication first, then send it to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications and, if required, the country's embassy or consulate for legalization.

Does the apostille itself expire?

An apostille usually doesn't have an expiration date, but the receiving office may only accept documents certified within a set period.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page is informational only. Requirements change, so verify with the court clerk, the Secretary of State, and the receiving office, or talk to a qualified professional.

How to get an apostille on a U.S. divorce decree

Updated 2026-10-31

A divorce decree is a court record, so the apostille certifies the signature of the court clerk who certified your copy. That means you need a certified copy from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce, and the apostille has to come from the Secretary of State of the state where that court sits. People usually need this to remarry abroad, for immigration or residency filings, to change a name overseas, or for property and inheritance matters. This guide covers the general steps and the verified Texas, California, and Florida rules. It's informational only, not legal advice.

Quick answer

Order a certified copy of the final decree from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce. A photocopy, a printout from an online case portal, or a notarized copy won't work.
Send it to the Secretary of State in the same state as that court. A Texas apostille can't be issued on a California divorce decree.
State fees per apostille: Texas $15; California $20 (plus $6 per official's signature in person); Florida $20 for documents certified by a Florida Clerk of the Court ($10 apostille plus $10 certificate of incumbency).
A state divorce verification letter or index record isn't the decree. Texas says its verification letters aren't legal substitutes for divorce decrees.
Hague Convention country: the state apostille is usually the last step. Non-Hague country: you'll likely also need the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications and the destination country's embassy or consulate.

Step by step

Ask the receiving office abroad exactly what it wants: the full final decree, a short-form certificate of divorce, or both, and how recently the certified copy must be issued.
Order a certified copy from the clerk of the court where the divorce was granted. Include the case number, both parties' names, and the date of the final judgment to speed up the search.
Check that the copy carries the clerk's certification, signature, and seal, and that no pages are missing.
Send the certified copy to the Secretary of State in that court's state with the request form or cover sheet, the fee, and a prepaid return envelope or label. Name the destination country.
For a non-Hague country, send the state-authenticated decree to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications, then to the country's embassy or consulate if they require it.
Get a certified translation if the receiving country asks for one, and keep scans of everything you send.

Texas, California, and Florida compared

The rules below come from each state's official apostille pages, checked October 31, 2026.

	Texas	California	Florida
Where to get the certified copy	District clerk in the district where the divorce was granted (the only source of certified copies, per Texas DSHS)	Clerk of the superior court in the county that entered the judgment	Clerk of the Court in the county that entered the judgment, or a dissolution of marriage certificate from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
Apostille fee	$15 per document	$20 per apostille, plus $6 special handling per official's signature in person (not by mail)	$20 per document certified by a Florida Clerk of the Court; $10 for a Vital Statistics dissolution certificate
What to send	Clerk-certified copy; divorce decrees are recordable documents, so a notary can't certify a copy	A document signed by a California public official or an original certified document; a photocopy isn't acceptable	The clerk-certified copy or the dissolution certificate signed by the State Registrar or the Clerk of the County Courts; Florida notaries can't attest copies of court filings
Copy age	Texas lists a five-year limit for certified copies of recordable documents, so order a fresh copy if yours is older	Check the receiving country's requirement	Check the receiving country's requirement
Mail backlog (as posted)	About two weeks from receipt (see the Texas guide)	Mail requests received 10/19/2026 being processed	Apostille requests received 10/20/26 being processed (updated 10/30/26)
Same-day option	Walk-in or appointment in Austin	Sacramento and Los Angeles counters, typically within 30 minutes	Walk-in at 2415 N. Monroe St., Suite 810, Tallahassee; no expedited mail

Texas divorce decree rules

In Texas, certified copies of divorce decrees come only from the district clerk in the district where the divorce was granted. The state's Vital Statistics office keeps an index of Texas divorces since 1968 and can issue a verification letter, but it says those letters aren't legal substitutes for a divorce decree, so check with the receiving country before ordering one instead. The Secretary of State lists divorce decrees as recordable documents, which means a notary can't notarize them or turn them into certified copies. The apostille fee is $15 per document by mail with Form 2102 or in person in Austin. See the Texas guide for the mailing address and walk-in details.

California divorce decree rules

California's Secretary of State will apostille a document signed by a California public official or an original certified document, but not a photocopy. For a divorce, that means a certified copy from the clerk of the superior court in the county that entered the judgment. The fee is $20 per apostille. In person in Sacramento or Los Angeles there's an extra $6 special handling fee for each distinct official's signature, and requests are typically done within 30 minutes. By mail, the office processes requests in the order received and can't expedite them. See the California guide for the mailing and courier addresses.

Florida divorce decree rules

Florida accepts two kinds of divorce records. A dissolution of marriage certificate from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics must be signed by the State Registrar or the Clerk of the County Courts, and Vital Statistics charges its own fee on top of the $10 apostille. A copy of the court judgment certified by a Florida Clerk of the Court costs $20 per document, which covers a $10 apostille and a $10 certificate of incumbency. Florida notaries can't attest copies of documents filed in a court proceeding or recorded by the Clerk of the Court. Pay by check or money order to the Florida Department of State; cash and credit cards aren't accepted. See the Florida guide for the mailing and walk-in addresses.

Common reasons a divorce decree apostille gets rejected

The copy is a photocopy, an online printout, or a notarized copy instead of a clerk-certified copy.
It was sent to the Secretary of State of a different state from the court that granted the divorce.
The certified copy is too old for the state (Texas: more than five years) or for the receiving country.
Pages, signatures, or the clerk's seal are missing, or the destination wanted the full decree and got a short certificate.
A state verification letter or index printout was sent in place of the decree.

Divorces granted outside the United States

A U.S. state can only apostille its own public records. If your divorce was granted in another country, the apostille or legalization has to come from that country's competent authority. If you need to use a U.S. divorce in a country that isn't part of the Hague Apostille Convention, plan for the extra Department of State and embassy steps and check processing times before you book travel or an appointment.

Related state guides

FAQ

Which state apostilles my divorce decree?: The Secretary of State in the state where the court that granted the divorce sits, even if you've since moved.
Can I apostille a photocopy or a notarized copy of my divorce decree?: No. You need a certified copy from the court clerk. Texas and Florida both say notaries can't certify copies of court records like divorce decrees, and California won't apostille a photocopy.
Where do I get a certified copy of a Texas divorce decree?: Only from the district clerk in the district where the divorce was granted. Texas Vital Statistics can verify that a divorce was recorded, but its verification letter isn't a substitute for the decree.
How much does a divorce decree apostille cost?: Texas charges $15 per document. California charges $20 per apostille, plus $6 per official's signature in person. Florida charges $20 for a document certified by a Florida Clerk of the Court. Court copy fees are separate.
Do I need the full decree or a short certificate?: It depends on the receiving country or office. Some accept a short-form certificate of divorce; others want the full final judgment. Ask before you order copies.
How old can my certified copy be?: Texas won't apostille certified copies of recordable documents older than five years. Many foreign offices also want a recently issued copy, so check their window.
What if the country isn't in the Hague Apostille Convention?: Get the state authentication first, then send it to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications and, if required, the country's embassy or consulate for legalization.
Does the apostille itself expire?: An apostille usually doesn't have an expiration date, but the receiving office may only accept documents certified within a set period.
Is this legal advice?: No. This page is informational only. Requirements change, so verify with the court clerk, the Secretary of State, and the receiving office, or talk to a qualified professional.

Official sources

State apostille offices

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