Apostille your divorce decree or certificate for remarriage in another country, visa applications, or international legal proceedings. Court documents require a different process than civil records — we handle it. Free consultation.
Step 1 of 4
Where was your divorce granted?
This distinction matters for the apostille process. Birth and marriage certificates are issued by vital records offices and apostilled by a different authority than court documents. A divorce decree is a court order — it is issued by the court clerk of the court that granted the divorce, and must be apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where that court is located.
Many clients encounter delays because they submit to the wrong authority or use the wrong type of copy. Our document review step prevents this entirely.
Common uses for an apostilled divorce decree:
Planning to marry someone in another country? Most civil registries require proof that your previous marriage was legally dissolved — an apostilled divorce decree or certificate. We prepare your document for use in Spain, Italy, Mexico, France, and 120+ other Hague member countries.
Some visa categories and residency applications require proof of your current marital status. If you are divorced, an apostilled divorce decree establishes your single status to immigration authorities abroad.
Reverted to your maiden name after divorce and need to update official records in another country? The apostilled divorce decree is typically the key document required to process an international name change.
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce decree / final judgment | Court Clerk of the court that issued the divorce | Varies by court | Must be a certified court copy with the clerk's seal and signature. Divorce decrees are court documents — NOT civil registry documents — so the apostille authority is determined accordingly. |
| Apostille certificate | Secretary of State (US) or national apostille authority for court documents | 1–10 business days | For US documents: the Secretary of State of the state where the court is located. Court documents have different apostille procedures from vital records. |
| Certified translation (if required) | Sworn / certified translator | 1–2 business days | Required for submission to foreign authorities in non-English-speaking countries. Translation must cover the complete apostilled document. |
| Copy of valid passport | Applicant | Current | Identity verification. Names must match the divorce decree. Post-divorce name changes may require additional documentation. |
Send us a scan of your divorce decree. We confirm the document type, identify the correct apostille authority (court documents have different requirements than vital records), and advise on any additional steps needed.
If you don't have a certified court copy, we guide you through requesting one from the issuing court — or handle the request on your behalf for supported jurisdictions.
We submit your certified divorce decree to the correct Secretary of State office for apostille. We track the submission and provide status updates throughout processing.
If a certified translation is required, we arrange it after the apostille is attached. Final documents are delivered by express tracked international courier — ready for foreign authorities.
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
A divorce decree (also called a final judgment of dissolution of marriage) is the court document that legally ends the marriage — it contains the details of the divorce order. A divorce certificate is a simpler vital records document (issued in some jurisdictions) that records the fact of divorce. For apostille purposes, the decree is almost always required — the certificate alone is often insufficient. We confirm which document is needed for your specific destination.
Divorce decrees are court documents issued by the court that granted the divorce. For apostille purposes, the Secretary of State of the state where that court is located is the competent authority — NOT the state where you currently live or where the marriage took place. We handle submissions to all 50 state offices.
You need a certified copy issued directly by the court clerk — with the court seal and the clerk's original signature. Your personal file copy or a photocopy cannot be apostilled. If you don't have a certified copy, we guide you through obtaining one.
Once we have your certified court copy, apostille processing takes 1–10 business days depending on the state. Many states offer expedited service (1–3 business days). If you also need to obtain a certified copy first, add 5–15 business days for the court request.
Yes — Spain is a Hague Convention member and accepts apostilled court documents from other member countries. Spanish civil registries require the apostilled divorce decree (plus a certified Spanish translation) to prove you are legally free to remarry. We handle both.
Divorce decrees do not expire. A decree from 1990 is as valid as one from last year for most purposes. However, some authorities request a recently issued certified copy from the court (rather than an old personal copy) to ensure the court seal is clear. We advise based on your destination country's specific requirements.
If submitting to authorities in a country with a different official language, yes — a certified translation is required. For a document as detailed as a divorce decree, the translation must be complete and accurate. We provide certified translations accepted by civil registries, immigration offices, and courts in dozens of countries.
Our divorce decree apostille service starts at $89 (apostille only) or $159 with certified translation. Pricing varies by state and urgency. If a certified court copy must be obtained first, that adds a separate cost. Contact us for a precise quote.
Message us today for a free document review and guidance.