Authentication for Divorce Decree Document
Need your divorce decree accepted abroad? We obtain the apostille for you, from certified copy to final seal, You send the decree. We handle the state.
What Is an Apostille on a Divorce Decree?
An apostille is an official certificate that confirms your divorce decree is genuine, so courts and agencies in other Hague Convention countries will accept it without further checks. It is attached to the decree by the authority that holds the signature of the court clerk who certified it.
People often mix up two different documents. Both can be apostilled.
Divorce decree
The court judgment that legally ends your marriage. It includes the terms: property, custody, child support, and alimony.
Divorce certificate
A short vital records document stating that a divorce took place, with names and date. Issued by the state, not the court.
Why You May Need an Apostille for Your Divorce Decree
Without an apostille, a foreign authority can refuse a U.S. divorce decree as proof that you are legally divorced. The most common reasons we see:
- Remarrying in another country
- Immigration, residency, or visa applications
- Dual citizenship or citizenship by descent
- Claiming or enforcing child support or alimony abroad
- Dividing or transferring property and bank accounts overseas
- Inheritance and estate matters
- Updating your name or marital status on foreign records
How to Get an Apostille on a Divorce Decree
Get a certified copy of the decree
Request it from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce. The clerk’s signature and seal must be original, and many countries want a copy issued in the last few months. Photocopies cannot be apostilled.
Contact us for a quote
Tell us the issuing state or court, the destination country, and your deadline. We review the document and send an invoice before we start.
Send us the documents
Mail or drop off the certified copy. We also arrange notarization if your document needs it.
We submit it for authentication
State court decrees go to the Secretary of State of the issuing state. Federal court documents go to the U.S. Department of State. Some states require county-level certification first, and we manage that too.
Check the finished apostille
Confirm that names, dates, and the court match, and that every page is present.
Receive it anywhere in the world
We ship back by express domestic or international courier. Keep a scan. The apostilled original is hard to replace.
What We Need From You
- A certified copy of your divorce decree, signed and sealed by the court clerk
- The name of the destination country and the office that will receive it
- A copy of your photo ID
- Your return address and preferred shipping method
- Your deadline, so we can suggest standard or expedited service
Your country may also ask for a translation. We can arrange a certified translation and a mobile notary so everything is done in one place.
Hague Countries vs. Non-Hague Countries
We handle both routes. See the list of Hague countries or ask us.
How Long Is a Divorce Decree Apostille Valid?
An apostille has no expiration date. However, some foreign offices only accept documents issued within the last 3 to 6 months, and the decree must still be in force. Check the destination country’s rules before ordering, or ask us and we will confirm.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A certified copy of a divorce decree can be apostilled for use in any Hague Convention country. Non-Hague countries usually require full legalization instead.
Yes. The court clerk must issue a certified copy. Photocopies and unsigned copies cannot be apostilled.
No. The decree is the court judgment. The certificate is a vital records document confirming the divorce. Some countries ask for one, some for both.
For state court decrees, the Secretary of State of the issuing state. For federal court documents, the U.S. Department of State.
Only if the receiving country requires it. We can arrange a certified translation, billed separately.
Yes. You can mail the certified copy to us, and we ship the finished apostille worldwide.
The apostille itself does not expire, but the receiving country may require it to be recent. Confirm the requirement before you order.