California Divorce Decree Apostille
- Court-certified copy required from California Superior Court
- Apostille issued by California Secretary of State—not by the court
- $20 per apostille fee, mail (Sacramento) or in-person service available
- Perfect for remarriage abroad, immigration, name change, legal matters
At a Glance — 2026 Snapshot
| Issuing Authority | California Superior Court (county where the case was filed) |
|---|---|
| Apostille Authority | California Secretary of State $20 per apostille |
| Accepted Document | Court-certified copy (clerk-certified) |
| Notarization Required | No (and not a substitute) |
| Where You Can Submit | Mail (Sacramento) or in-person (Sacramento / Los Angeles) |
| Hague Countries | Apostille is typically the required certificate |
| Non-Hague Countries | May require authentication/legalization instead |
Most Common Rejection Causes
Most rejections happen because the submission is technically the wrong document.
- • Not court-certified (plain copy)
- • Online portal printout
- • Certification page missing / unclear seal
- • Staples removed (apostille must stay attached)
- • Wrong destination flow (Hague vs non-Hague)
What a "California Divorce Decree" Usually Means
In California, the divorce decree is typically the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (final judgment ending the marriage).
To use it abroad (remarriage, immigration, residency, name change, inheritance/property matters), most authorities want proof that it's an official court record—and that's exactly what the apostille authenticates: the public official's signature on the certified court copy.
Accepted vs. Not Accepted Documents
Accepted for Apostille
- • Certified copy issued by the Superior Court clerk
- • Clear clerk signature + court seal
- • Original certified packet (not scanned/printed)
Not Accepted
- • Photocopies
- • Notarized copies
- • Online portal printouts
- • Attorney-certified copies
Requirements Checklist
MUST HAVE
- Court-certified copy of the divorce decree (Judgment)
- Destination country (needed on the cover sheet)
- Payment: $20 per apostille
- Return shipping: self-addressed envelope / prepaid label
CANNOT ACCEPT
- Photocopy (CA SOS says photocopies are not acceptable)
- Missing certification/seal
- "Loose pages" after staples removed
Want a "reject-proof" pre-check?
If you're not 100% sure your divorce decree is the court-certified version California will apostille, a quick pre-check can save weeks and extra court fees.
Get a Pre-CheckStep-by-Step: How to Apostille a California Divorce Decree
Get the right certified copy from the court
Request a certified copy from the Superior Court where the case was filed. California courts explain you obtain copies of orders/judgments from the court where the case was filed.
Do the 30-second physical inspection
Confirm: clerk certification page is attached, clerk signature is visible, court seal is clear. If anything looks faint, smudged, or incomplete, replace the copy before you submit.
Choose Hague vs Non-Hague route
If the destination country is a party to the Apostille Convention, you typically need an apostille. If it's not, you may need authentication/legalization instead.
Prepare the submission package
California SOS requires: document, cover sheet with destination country, $20 per apostille (check/money order), and return envelope.
Submit to the California Secretary of State
CA SOS provides separate addresses depending on USPS vs courier.
MAIL (USPS):
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box
942877
Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
MAIL (Courier: FedEx/UPS/DHL):
Notary Public Section
1500 11th Street, 2nd
Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
IN PERSON (Sacramento):
Secretary of State
1500 11th Street, 3rd
Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
IN PERSON (Los Angeles):
Secretary of State
300 South Spring Street, Room
12513
Los Angeles, CA 90013
When you receive it, don't "clean it up"
Do not remove staples. Many receiving authorities treat separation as tampering.
Translation (if the destination requires it)
Many authorities abroad require certified translation of the divorce decree and sometimes the apostille page. Treat this as a destination-country requirement, not a California rule.
Fees & Processing Times
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California Apostille | $20 per apostille | Payable to Secretary of State |
| In-person Special Handling | $6 per signature | Added for in-person submissions |
| Court certified copy | Varies | Set by the court/county; confirm with issuing court |
* In-person: CA SOS describes in-person as same-day service. Mail: processed in the order received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Expert Insight
Amelia Rivera , Lead Apostille Specialist
8+ years experience with CA vital records apostille
"California is one of the busiest states for apostille requests, handling tens of thousands of vital records and court documents each year. The most common mistake I see with divorce decrees is people trying to apostille an online portal printout or a plain photocopy – these get rejected immediately. Always verify you have a court-certified copy with the Superior Court clerk's signature and raised seal before submitting."
"Another frequent issue: applicants don't realize that many countries require the divorce decree to be recent (within 6-12 months) for remarriage applications, even though the apostille itself doesn't expire. If you're planning to remarry abroad (especially in Spain, Italy, or Latin American countries), get a fresh certified copy of your divorce decree right before starting the apostille process. This saves you from having to repeat everything if the foreign civil registry rejects an old document."
Verification Log
Official Resources
California Secretary of State
California Court Records
- • CA Courts – How to Get a Copy of a Court Record
- • Los Angeles Superior Court – Divorce Judgment Documents
- • Search "[your county] California superior court certified copy" for local court contact information