California Marriage Certificate Apostille Guide
Stop paying expeditors $200+. Submit directly to California Secretary of State — correctly the first time.
DIY & Save ~$200
Get your personalized apostille roadmap.
Getting a California marriage certificate apostille means obtaining an official certified copy from the office that issued it, then having the state authenticate it for use abroad. This guide walks you through the whole thing DIY for the state apostille fee only: Apostille fee: $20.00 per Apostille; Special handling fee: $6.00 for each different public official’s signature.
- Apostille fee: $20 per apostille certificate
- Certified copy: $19
- Certified copy from: County Recorder/Clerk, or the State Registrar (CDPH Vital Records)
- Processing Time: Varies by current queue (checked 2026-02-24); same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: California Secretary of State
- Note: Only works for California-issued documents
Get your personalized apostille guide for a Marriage Certificate in California
Fast, simple, and without overpaying. Find out exactly what you need to do — step by step — in under 2 minutes.
Start My Guide100% free • Takes less than 2 minutes • Save hundreds on service fees
Quick Answer
To apostille a California marriage certificate, order an official certified copy from California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR), then submit it to California Secretary of State with the $20 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para apostillar un certificado de matrimonio de California, solicite una copia certificada oficial a California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) y luego envíela a California Secretary of State junto con la tarifa de apostille de $20. Tenga en cuenta el tiempo necesario para obtener tanto la copia certificada como el apostille.
What It Is
An apostille authenticates an official certified copy of your marriage record. It confirms only that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine — it does not verify or vouch for the facts of the marriage itself.
This matters because the decorative ceremony or keepsake certificate handed to you by the officiant is NOT the official record. That souvenir cannot be apostilled, and neither can a photocopy or scan of a real certificate.
The only thing the state will authenticate is a true certified copy carrying the issuing office's raised seal and an original signature. Order that copy first, then bring it to the apostille step.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a California marriage certificate for:
When You Don't Need an Apostille
- The document will only be used inside the United States — an apostille is for use abroad.
- The destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; those countries require consular legalization through their embassy or consulate instead of an apostille.
- The receiving institution has confirmed in writing that a plain or notarized copy is enough.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility to order a certified copy of a marriage record is usually limited to a small group, and you'll typically need a valid photo ID. In general
- Certified copy: an official certified copy issued by the office that holds the marriage record — with the raised/embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature.
- Not the keepsake certificate: the decorative certificate from the ceremony/officiant is NOT the official record and cannot be apostilled.
- Eligible requester: usually one of the spouses or an authorized representative; a valid photo ID is typically required.
Document Requirements
Certified copy
An official certified copy issued by the office that holds the marriage record — with the raised/embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature
Not the keepsake certificate
The decorative certificate from the ceremony/officiant is NOT the official record and cannot be apostilled
Eligible requester
Usually one of the spouses or an authorized representative; a valid photo ID is typically required
- •Ceremonial or souvenir certificates from the officiant
- •Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
- •Copies missing the issuing clerk's seal or original signature
- •Informational or abstract copies where a full certified copy is required
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your marriage certificate and the apostille itself.
$19
Certified marriage certificate (California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR))
$20
Per apostille certificate
Payment method: Mail: check or money order (payable to Secretary of State) — Los Angeles in-person: Visa/Mastercard credit card, check, money order; cash not accepted
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $19 — Certified marriage certificate (California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)) |
| Apostille fee | $20 — per apostille certificate |
| Payment | Mail: check or money order (payable to Secretary of State) — Los Angeles in-person: Visa/Mastercard credit card, check, money order; cash not accepted |
| Processing — by mail | Our Sacramento office is currently processing Apostille requests received: 1. Through the mail on 02/06/2026 2. In person on the 3rd floor on 02/23/2026 |
| Processing — in person | Sacramento 3rd floor counter: in-person same-day service |
| Same-day / expedited | In-person same-day service is offered in Sacramento/Los Angeles and via SOS Apostille Pop-Up Shops |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-02-24 against official state sources. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Step-by-Step How-To
- 1
Order a certified marriage certificate
Start by ordering the certified copy from the issuing office. For California: Certified copies of California marriage records are issued by the County Clerk/Recorder in the county where the marriage occurred.
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the certified copy, assemble your packet: the certified copy, the completed request form, payment, and a return envelope. Use the Required form(s) at https://notary. Either the county or the CDPH certified copy is authenticated directly by the California Secretary of State — no intermediate certification is needed.
Secretary of State
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento
CA 94277-0001 - 3
Receive your apostille
Your apostilled certificate is returned in your prepaid envelope (or handed back at the counter for same-day service). Keep the apostille attached to the certificate when using it abroad.
🌍 Next step: Certified Translation
Many countries require a certified translation of your apostilled marriage certificate — especially for immigration, USCIS, or university admissions. Get a USCIS-accepted translation at CertTranslate.com.
Contact Information
Secretary of State
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento
CA 94277-0001
Phone
(916) 653-3595
Hours
Notary Public Section (Sacramento): Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Common Reasons Apostilles Get Rejected
Ceremonial or souvenir certificates from the officiant
Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
Copies missing the issuing clerk's seal or original signature
Informational or abstract copies where a full certified copy is required
Official Resources
Need help with your California Marriage Certificate apostille?
Get a clear, personalized roadmap tailored to your exact situation — quick, accurate, and stress-free.
Generate My Apostille StepsFrequently Asked Questions
Verified Sources
Every fee, address, and processing time on this page was checked against the official government sources below (last verified 2026-02-24).
- sos.ca.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- cdph.ca.gov· checked 2026-02-24
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- California Secretary of State, Notary Public and Special Filings Section (Apostille services)
- California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)
- Hague Conference on Private International Law
Our Process
- Verified against official .gov sources
- Reviewed by document-authentication specialists
- Fee and processing-time monitoring
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the California Secretary of State, Notary Public and Special Filings Section (Apostille services) before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your California marriage certificate is straightforward once you have the right certified copy — the most common rejection is submitting a photocopy instead of a sealed original."
Amelia Rivera
Document Processing Specialist
15+ years in document authentication
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-06-09Updated
Refreshed this guide and added a Spanish-language summary (En español), the two-fee cost breakdown (certified copy + apostille), and direct links to every official .gov source.
- 2026-06-06Updated
Added the certified-copy cost alongside the apostille fee, refreshed the current processing times, and linked the official .gov pages every fact was verified against.
- 2026-06-06Improved
Expanded the accepted-document and rejection-reason checklists so applicants can avoid the most common returns.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Confirmed the $20 apostille fee and California Secretary of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Verified where to order a certified marriage certificate (California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)) and the apostille submission addresses.
Save ~$200 • Refund if rejected