Florida Divorce Decree Apostille
Florida divorce decrees should be filed as court-certified records, not informal attorney copies or portal printouts.
This page breaks down the court-certified route, payment logic, and the most common decree-specific rejection patterns.
At a Glance - Florida Snapshot
| Issuing Authority | Florida Clerk of Circuit Court (certified decree copy) |
|---|---|
| Apostille Authority | Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Apostilles Section) |
| State Fee | $20 total path for Clerk-of-Court certified apostille requests |
| Submission | Mail or walk-in |
| Office Address | 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303 |
| Mailing Address | Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostilles Section, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314 |
| Processing Model | Queue-based processing |
| Primary Rejection Risk | Non-certified decree copy |
Court-Certified Decree Requirements
Florida decree apostilles depend on a properly certified court copy from the issuing Clerk.
Accepted
- Certified divorce decree from Florida Clerk of Circuit Court.
- Record with clerk certification elements intact and legible.
- Completed request form with destination information.
- Payment matching Clerk-certified route.
Not Accepted
- Attorney office photocopies without clerk certification.
- Online docket printouts.
- Out-of-state decrees sent to Florida authority.
- Damaged or partially unreadable certification pages.
Requirements Checklist
Must Have
- Certified decree copy from issuing Florida clerk.
- Florida apostille request form completed fully.
- Correct payment for Clerk-certified document path.
- Return shipping materials.
- Country-use note if decree supports multiple legal procedures.
Destination-Country Checks
- Confirm whether destination requires full decree vs short abstract.
- Check translation/legalization requirements for court orders.
- Verify if receiving authority requires recent certified issue date.
- If non-Hague destination, prepare expanded legalization chain.
Mail Packet Checklist
Use this sequence when preparing your divorce decree submission packet for Florida.
- Original certified Florida divorce decree.
- Completed Florida request form with destination country.
- Correct fee payment.
- Self-addressed stamped envelope or prepaid shipping label.
- Optional memo explaining decree use context (marriage abroad, immigration, etc.).
Step-by-Step Florida Process
- Order certified decree from issuing Florida Clerk of Circuit Court.
- Confirm destination-country requirements for court records.
- Complete apostille request form and match fee to certified path.
- Assemble packet with certified decree, payment, and return shipping.
- Submit by mail or walk in at Tallahassee office.
- Keep apostille attached to decree for final foreign submission.
Fees and Processing Details
| Service Item | Florida Guidance |
|---|---|
| Clerk-certified decree apostille route | $20 total path (per Florida guidance) |
| Court certified-copy fee | Separate cost charged by issuing Clerk office |
| Expedited mail | Not available |
| Walk-in filing | Available in Tallahassee |
| Payment method | Check or money order |
Top Rejection Scenarios and Fixes
| Issue | Why It Fails | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Uncertified decree submitted | Florida verifies issuing court certification | Reorder certified copy from Clerk and resubmit. |
| Incorrect fee for Clerk-certified route | Processing cannot be completed | Correct payment and refile packet. |
| Decree pages separated/damaged | Court certification integrity is broken | Use clean certified replacement copy. |
If Destination Country Is Not in Hague Apostille Convention
A Florida apostille is designed for Hague Convention destinations. For non-Hague destinations, your document may require additional authentication/legalization after state-level processing.
- Confirm final legalization chain with the destination country consulate/embassy first.
- Keep the full document set intact; never detach certificates after issuance.
- Plan timing early because non-Hague flows can be significantly longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a decree different from a divorce certificate?▼
Yes. Decree is the court order; certificate is often a vital-record abstract.
Can I apostille a scanned decree PDF?▼
No. Florida apostille requests require certified original court copies.
Why does this path often use $20?▼
Florida lists a $20 total path for Clerk-of-Court certified apostille requests.
Can a third party submit for me?▼
Yes, third-party submission is commonly used.
Is expedited mail available?▼
No. Florida processes apostilles in received order.
Can Florida apostille a decree from another state?▼
No. Use the issuing state’s competent authority.
Decree apostille failures are usually certification failures, not apostille-office failures. If the clerk certification is unclear, the packet stalls immediately.
Before mailing, verify every certification page is intact and readable. It is the fastest way to avoid a second filing cycle.
Verification Log
Official Sources Used For This Page
Below are the official government and convention sources used to prepare and verify this page.