Who issues an apostille for a marriage certificate?

The Secretary of State (or equivalent office) of the state where the marriage was recorded. The U.S. Department of State doesn't apostille state marriage certificates; it only adds an authentication certificate after the state has certified the document when the destination country isn't in the Hague Apostille Convention.

Can I get the apostille in the state where I live now?

No. The apostille has to come from the state where the marriage license was filed, because that state's Secretary of State is verifying its own official's signature. If you married in Texas and now live in Florida, you need the Texas Secretary of State.

How much does a marriage certificate apostille cost?

It depends on the state: $15 per document in Texas, $20 per apostille in California (plus $6 per distinct official signature in person), and $10 per document in Florida, or $20 if the copy is certified by a Florida county Clerk of Court. The certified copy, shipping, translation, and any courier fee are extra.

Where do I get a certified copy of a Texas marriage certificate for an apostille?

From the county clerk in the county where the marriage license was filed. Texas Vital Statistics only issues verification letters, which it says aren't legal substitutes for a marriage license. The Texas Secretary of State also requires certified records to have been issued within the past five years.

I had a confidential marriage in California. Where do I get the copy?

Only from the county clerk in the county where the confidential license was issued. CDPH doesn't keep confidential marriage records, and only the two spouses can get copies without a court order.

Can I apostille a notarized copy of my marriage certificate?

Generally no. States want a certified copy issued by the office that holds the record. Florida law specifically doesn't allow notaries to attest copies of marriage certificates.

Does a marriage certificate apostille expire?

The apostille itself doesn't carry an expiration date, but the receiving country or agency may only accept a certificate issued within a certain number of months. Check their rule before you order.

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

Get the marriage certificate certified by the issuing state first, then send it to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications with Form DS-4194 and $20 per document, then have it legalized by the destination country's embassy or consulate.

Does the apostille confirm that my marriage is valid?

No. The California Secretary of State notes that an apostille certifies the official's signature, capacity, and seal, not the contents of the document. Whether the foreign country recognizes the marriage is up to that country.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page is informational only. Requirements change, so check the official state and State Department pages before sending originals.

How to get an apostille on a U.S. marriage certificate

Updated 2026-10-20

A U.S. marriage certificate is a state or county record, so the apostille comes from the Secretary of State (or equivalent office) in the state where the marriage was recorded, not the state where you live now and not the U.S. Department of State. Where to order the certified copy is the part that trips most people up: in Texas only the county clerk issues certified copies, in California it depends on whether you had a public or confidential license, and in Florida both the Bureau of Vital Statistics and the county Clerk of Court can issue one, at different apostille fees. This guide covers which office to use, which copy will be accepted, verified fees and rules for Texas, California, and Florida, and what to do if the destination country isn't in the Hague Apostille Convention. Requirements were checked against travel.state.gov, sos.texas.gov, dshs.texas.gov, sos.ca.gov, cdph.ca.gov, dos.fl.gov, and floridahealth.gov in October 2026. Informational only, not legal advice.

Quick answer

Who apostilles it: the Secretary of State (or equivalent) of the state where the marriage was recorded. A Florida office can't apostille a Texas marriage certificate, even if you live in Florida now.
What to send: a certified copy issued by the county or state office that holds the record, with an original official signature the Secretary of State can verify. Photocopies, notarized photocopies, and decorative or church certificates won't work.
Where the certified copy comes from: Texas, the county clerk only; California, the county recorder for a public marriage or the county clerk for a confidential marriage (CDPH also has public marriages for certain years); Florida, the Bureau of Vital Statistics or the county Clerk of Court.
State apostille fee: $15 in Texas, $20 in California (plus $6 per distinct official signature in person), $10 in Florida, or $20 in Florida for a copy certified by a county Clerk of Court. The certified copy fee is separate.
Non-Hague country? Get the state certification first, then an authentication certificate from the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications ($20 per document), then legalization at that country's embassy or consulate.

Step-by-step: how to apostille a marriage certificate

Ask the foreign agency or consulate exactly what it wants: an apostille (Hague Apostille Convention countries) or an authentication (non-Hague countries), whether it needs a recently issued copy, whether it needs the long-form record, and whether it needs a certified translation.
Identify the state and county where the marriage license was filed. That state's Secretary of State issues the apostille, no matter where you live now.
Order a new certified copy from the right office: the county clerk in Texas; the county recorder (public marriage) or county clerk (confidential marriage) in California, or CDPH Vital Records for public marriages in the years it holds; the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or the county Clerk of Court in Florida.
Check the copy before you send it. It should carry the issuing official's original signature and seal and a date of issuance. In Texas, a certified record must have been issued within the past five years to be apostilled.
Don't notarize, laminate, staple, or write on the certificate. Send it exactly as issued.
Complete that state's request form or cover sheet and name the country where the document will be used: Form 2102 in Texas, the Apostille Mail Request Cover Sheet (or your own cover sheet) in California, and the Apostille and Notarial Certificate Request Form in Florida.
Pay the state fee (check or money order for mail requests in all three states) and include a prepaid, self-addressed return envelope or air bill.
Mail it, walk it in, or use a courier. If the destination isn't a Hague country, forward the state-certified document to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications with Form DS-4194 and $20 per document, then to the destination country's embassy or consulate.

Marriage certificate apostille rules in Texas, California, and Florida

These are the three states we've rebuilt with verified fees and addresses. Each state page has full mailing and walk-in details and current processing times.

State	Where to get the certified copy	Who apostilles it and the fee	Rules that trip people up
Texas	Only the county clerk in the county where the marriage license was filed. Texas Vital Statistics only issues marriage verification letters, which it says are not legal substitutes for a marriage license.	Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit (Austin): $15 per document (not per page)	Certified records must have been issued within the past five years; older copies may not be verifiable and can't be apostilled. Copies of certified records aren't accepted. Texas issues a universal apostille that works as an authentication for non-Hague countries.
California	Public marriage: the county recorder where the license was issued, or CDPH Vital Records for public marriages from 1905 to 1999, 2001, and 2008 to 2025 ($19 per copy by mail). Confidential marriage: only the county clerk where the license was issued.	California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section (Sacramento, Los Angeles, or pop-up shops): $20 per apostille, plus $6 special handling per distinct official signature in person	CDPH can't provide marriage certificates for 2000 or 2002 through 2007; use the county recorder. CDPH has no confidential marriage records, and only the two spouses can get copies of a confidential marriage record (others need a court order). California issues a single apostille for every destination country.
Florida	The Bureau of Vital Statistics (marriages recorded from June 6, 1927 on), signed by the State Registrar, or the Clerk of the County Courts. Marriages before June 6, 1927 are only available from the county clerk of court.	Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Section (Tallahassee): $10 per document, or $20 for a document certified by a Florida county Clerk of Court ($10 apostille + $10 Certificate of Incumbency)	Florida notaries can't attest copies of marriage certificates. A new marriage takes about 60 days to reach the Bureau of Vital Statistics, so for a very recent marriage you may need to order from the clerk of court. For non-Hague countries, Florida issues a notarial certification instead of an apostille.

Which copy of a marriage certificate can be apostilled?

Version	Can it be apostilled?	Why
New certified copy from the county clerk, recorder, or state vital records	Yes	It carries an original official signature and seal that the Secretary of State can verify. Texas also requires certified records to have been issued within the past five years.
Older certified copy you already have	Sometimes	Texas won't apostille certified records issued more than five years ago. Other states may accept older copies, but many receiving countries want a recent one. When in doubt, order a fresh copy.
Texas Vital Statistics marriage verification letter	Don't rely on it	Texas Vital Statistics says verification letters are not legal substitutes for marriage licenses and that certified copies are only available from the county clerk.
Photocopy or scan	No	Texas, California, and Florida all say photocopies aren't acceptable.
Notarized photocopy	Generally no	A notary can't turn a photocopy of a public record into an original. Florida law specifically bars notaries from attesting copies of marriage certificates.
Marriage license application, or a church or keepsake certificate	No	It isn't a certified copy of the recorded marriage issued by a public official, so there's nothing for the Secretary of State to verify.

Hague vs non-Hague countries

The U.S. Department of State says that for a state document used in a Hague Convention country, you get it certified by the state that issued it and don't need an apostille certificate from the State Department. For a non-Hague country, you first get the document authenticated by the issuing state, then request an authentication certificate from the Office of Authentications with Form DS-4194 and a $20 fee per document. The State Department lists marriage certificates among the state documents that may need this. Mail requests are processed within five weeks of receipt; walk-in drop-off in Washington, D.C. takes seven business days. After that, the destination country's embassy or consulate usually legalizes the document. Each state handles the first step a little differently: Texas issues a universal apostille that works as an authentication for non-Hague countries, California issues a single apostille regardless of destination, and Florida issues a notarial certification for non-Hague countries.

Mail vs walk-in vs courier

Mail is the cheapest route, but none of these three states will pull a mailed request out of line to rush it. Texas processes mail in up to about two weeks and offers same-day walk-in service on Mondays and Fridays and appointments Tuesday through Thursday in Austin. California's Sacramento and Los Angeles counters offer same-day service, and its pop-up shops visit other counties during the year. Florida's Tallahassee walk-in counter completes most requests while you wait and doesn't offer expedited mail service. If you married in one state but live in another and have a deadline, an apostille courier in the issuing state can file at the counter for you and adds a service fee on top of the state fee.

Translations

Many countries want a certified translation of the marriage certificate, and sometimes of the apostille too. Ask the receiving agency whether the translation should be done before the apostille in the U.S. or after it in the destination country. Texas says a notary must witness the translator signing the translation, and the original document must be submitted along with the notarized translation. Florida says the person translating a document can't be the person who notarizes it. The California and Florida Secretary of State offices both say they don't provide translation services.

Common reasons marriage certificate apostille requests get rejected

Sending it to the state where you live now instead of the state where the marriage was recorded.
Sending a state marriage certificate to the U.S. Department of State for an apostille.
A photocopy, scan, or notarized copy instead of a certified copy.
In Texas, sending a Vital Statistics verification letter instead of a certified copy from the county clerk, or a certified copy issued more than five years ago.
In California, ordering from the wrong office: a confidential marriage record is only at the county clerk, not CDPH or the county recorder.
In Florida, paying $10 for a copy certified by a county Clerk of Court, which costs $20.
Leaving the destination country off the request form or cover sheet.
Wrong fee or payment method, or no prepaid return envelope.
Getting an apostille when the country needs an authentication and embassy legalization, or the reverse.

Cost breakdown

State fees are from each state's official apostille page. Other costs vary.

Item	Cost
Certified marriage certificate	Set by the county or state office. Examples: CDPH Vital Records $19 per copy by mail; Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics $5 search fee including one certified copy and $4 per additional copy by mail or walk-in.
State apostille	Texas $15; California $20 (+$6 per distinct official signature in person); Florida $10, or $20 for a Clerk of Court–certified copy
U.S. Department of State authentication (non-Hague countries only)	$20 per document
Embassy or consulate legalization (non-Hague countries only)	Set by the embassy
Certified translation (if required)	Varies by translator
Tracked shipping both ways	Varies
Apostille courier (optional)	Varies by company

Related state guides

FAQ

Who issues an apostille for a marriage certificate?: The Secretary of State (or equivalent office) of the state where the marriage was recorded. The U.S. Department of State doesn't apostille state marriage certificates; it only adds an authentication certificate after the state has certified the document when the destination country isn't in the Hague Apostille Convention.
Can I get the apostille in the state where I live now?: No. The apostille has to come from the state where the marriage license was filed, because that state's Secretary of State is verifying its own official's signature. If you married in Texas and now live in Florida, you need the Texas Secretary of State.
How much does a marriage certificate apostille cost?: It depends on the state: $15 per document in Texas, $20 per apostille in California (plus $6 per distinct official signature in person), and $10 per document in Florida, or $20 if the copy is certified by a Florida county Clerk of Court. The certified copy, shipping, translation, and any courier fee are extra.
Where do I get a certified copy of a Texas marriage certificate for an apostille?: From the county clerk in the county where the marriage license was filed. Texas Vital Statistics only issues verification letters, which it says aren't legal substitutes for a marriage license. The Texas Secretary of State also requires certified records to have been issued within the past five years.
I had a confidential marriage in California. Where do I get the copy?: Only from the county clerk in the county where the confidential license was issued. CDPH doesn't keep confidential marriage records, and only the two spouses can get copies without a court order.
Can I apostille a notarized copy of my marriage certificate?: Generally no. States want a certified copy issued by the office that holds the record. Florida law specifically doesn't allow notaries to attest copies of marriage certificates.
Does a marriage certificate apostille expire?: The apostille itself doesn't carry an expiration date, but the receiving country or agency may only accept a certificate issued within a certain number of months. Check their rule before you order.
What if the country isn't in the Hague Apostille Convention?: Get the marriage certificate certified by the issuing state first, then send it to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications with Form DS-4194 and $20 per document, then have it legalized by the destination country's embassy or consulate.
Does the apostille confirm that my marriage is valid?: No. The California Secretary of State notes that an apostille certifies the official's signature, capacity, and seal, not the contents of the document. Whether the foreign country recognizes the marriage is up to that country.
Is this legal advice?: No. This page is informational only. Requirements change, so check the official state and State Department pages before sending originals.

Official sources

State apostille offices

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