A divorce certificate apostille is an apostille issued on a U.S. divorce certificate or final divorce decree so it can be used as legal proof of divorce in another country. It is issued by the Secretary of State of the state where the divorce was granted and is recognized by all 127 countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
When You Need a Divorce Certificate Apostille
- Remarriage abroad — most countries require apostilled proof of any prior divorce before issuing a marriage license
- Spouse or family visa applications — embassies routinely ask for apostilled divorce records to confirm marital status
- Updating marital status on foreign IDs, passports, and bank records
- Property and asset division involving real estate, accounts, or businesses located abroad
- International custody and child support proceedings
- Name change abroad after divorce
- Immigration filings where prior marital status must be documented
How to Get a Divorce Certificate Apostille
- Obtain a state-issued certified copy of the divorce certificate or final decree from the vital records office or court clerk of the state where the divorce was finalized.
- Submit the certified copy to that state’s Secretary of State for apostille. Some states issue divorce certificates only through the original court — confirm the right authority before mailing.
- Pay the apostille fee — typically $5 to $40 per document.
- Receive the apostilled divorce certificate, usually within 1–4 weeks.
Our apostille services handle the entire process, including pulling the certified copy from the right office and routing it to the correct Secretary of State.
Important Notes
- Some states (e.g., Illinois) do not issue centralized divorce certificates — you may need a certified court order from the county that finalized the divorce.
- If the destination country is not a Hague member, you’ll need consular legalization instead.
- Many countries require a certified translation of the apostilled divorce record.
- For remarriage abroad, you may also need an apostilled single-status affidavit in addition to the divorce certificate.