State document · certified copy · do not notarize
Marriage certificate apostille
A US marriage certificate is apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where the marriage was recorded, and only the certified copy from the county or state office qualifies, not the decorative certificate from the ceremony. No notarization. $99 standard, plus the state fee and shipping, quoted up front.
What this document is
A certified copy of the marriage record, issued by the county clerk, county recorder, or state office of vital records, depending on the state. It shows the parties, the date, the place, and the officiant, and it carries the issuing official's signature and seal. That signature is what the Secretary of State verifies.
Common uses: a spouse's residency or citizenship application, a spousal or family reunification visa, registering the marriage in the spouse's home country, changing a name on a foreign passport or ID, and foreign pension or insurance claims.
Does it need notarization first?
No. It is certified by the issuing office. Do not notarize it.
State or federal?
State. The Secretary of State of the state where the marriage was recorded. If you married abroad and the foreign certificate needs recognition in the US, that is a different process and not an apostille of a US document.
What you need to provide
- A certified copy of the marriage record with seal and signature. Not the license, not the officiant's decorative certificate, not a photocopy.
- Issued recently enough that the signing official is on file with the Secretary of State. We check this.
- The destination country, and if the receiving institution has given you written requirements, those too. Some countries want a translation as well.
What happens
- Quote request with a photo of the certificate and the destination country. We confirm the copy will be accepted.
- You mail us the certified copy, tracked.
- We submit to the issuing state with the correct form and fee.
- The apostille is attached and returned to us; we ship it to you or directly abroad.
Common mistakes
- Sending the marriage license or the officiant's certificate instead of the recorded certificate.
- A county copy sent to a state that only apostilles state-issued copies.
- Ordering an "informational" copy. Some states issue informational copies marked "not valid for legal purposes." Those cannot be apostilled. Order the certified, legal copy.
- Assuming the state you live in issues it. The apostille comes from where the marriage was recorded.
- Forgetting the translation. Spain, Italy, France, Mexico, and others often want a certified translation. Ask the receiving institution and tell us; we bundle it.
How to start
Request a quote with the state where you married and the destination country. If you do not yet have a certified copy, say so and we will tell you the right office to order from.
Price: $99 standard · $199 rush · $299 expedited, per document. State fee and shipping quoted separately.
Background reading: our affiliated company's guide on when a marriage certificate needs an apostille.
Get your exact price, all fees included
Two business hours to a written total. Nothing to pay and nothing to mail until you have it.
Start My ApostilleFrequently asked questions
Which marriage document gets apostilled: the license or the certificate?
The certificate, meaning the certified record of the marriage issued after the ceremony by the county clerk, recorder, or state vital records office. The license is the permission to marry and is not the record. The decorative certificate the officiant hands you is also not the record.
We married in one state and live in another. Which state?
The state where the marriage was recorded. The apostille always comes from the issuing state, not where you live now.
County or state copy?
Depends on the state. Some Secretaries of State only apostille copies issued by the state vital records office; others accept county clerk copies. We know which is which and tell you before you order a copy.
Do both spouses need to be involved?
No. Either spouse can request the apostille. The certificate is a public record.