Florida Single Status Affidavit Apostille Guide
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What is a Florida Single Status Affidavit or Single Status Statement?
A Single Status Affidavit is a sworn statement where a person declares they are not currently married (single, widowed, or divorced). It is often used when a foreign government, consulate, or civil registry needs proof that you are legally free to marry or to support immigration/residency processes.
Florida also offers a "Single Status Statement" via the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, which performs a statewide search (all 67 counties) to verify that no Florida marriage record is on file for the specified years and issues an official "Not Found" statement for people marrying abroad.
Route B: An official Single Status Statement from the Florida Department of Health (statewide marriage record search)
Both types can then be apostilled by the Florida Department of State if correctly prepared.
When do you need a Single Status Affidavit apostille?
Give realistic examples:
- Marriage abroad: Many foreign authorities require proof that you are not currently married. Often they accept a Single Status Affidavit or a state-issued certificate plus an apostille.
- Immigration / long-term visas: Some visa categories ask for evidence of your civil status.
- Other consular processes: Occasionally used in family, inheritance, or name-change contexts when proving single status is necessary.
Florida apostille basics (who issues it and for what)
The Florida Secretary of State (through the Division of Corporations, Apostille Section) is the only competent authority in Florida that can issue apostilles and notarial certifications.
Apostilles for Florida are only issued at:
Division of Corporations – Apostille Section
2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810
Tallahassee, FL 32303
For a Single Status document, the Florida Department of State can apostille:
- Route A: a personal Single Status Affidavit notarized by a Florida notary;
- Route B: a Single Status Statement issued by the Florida Department of Health (a Florida public official's certified record).
Fees (summary):
- • Official apostille/notarial certification fee: typically $10 per document.
- • If the document is certified by a Florida Clerk of Court, the fee is $20 per document.
Route A — Personal Single Status Affidavit (notarized in Florida)
When Route A makes sense:
- When a foreign authority accepts a sworn personal affidavit plus apostille.
- When you need something relatively fast and prefer to handle the drafting yourself, instead of requesting a DOH Single Status Statement.
Drafting your Florida Single Status Affidavit
Checklist:
- Full legal name (matching passport)
- Date and place of birth
- Current Florida address
- Clear statement that you are single / divorced / widowed and not currently married
- If applicable, brief information on prior marriage and that it was legally dissolved
- Destination country (and city, if known) where the document will be used
- Statement that the information is true and correct, made under penalty of perjury under Florida law
• Some consulates provide their own affidavit template; when they do, it is best to follow their exact wording.
• Leave space for Florida notarial language and the notary's stamp.
Notarization in Florida
- 1.You must sign the affidavit in front of a Florida Notary Public.
- 2.The notary verifies your identity, completes a notarial certificate (acknowledgment or jurat), and applies the official seal.
- 3.The seal must be clear and legible; blurred or incomplete seals can cause apostille rejection.
Route B — Florida Single Status Statement (Department of Health)
The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, offers a Single Status Statement for people marrying in another country who need proof of "single status".
They perform a search of all 67 Florida counties for marriage records in specified years. If no record is found, they issue an official "No Record Found" Single Status Statement.
Key points from DOH materials:
- There is a non-refundable search fee, which includes a base $5 search fee; additional fees may apply per copy or extra years searched.
- They cannot search the last 60 days and cannot include current dates on the statement; users must plan ahead.
Process at a high level:
- 1.Complete the Florida DOH Single Status application form (with your identity details and years to search).
- 2.Submit it with required fees to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, Florida.
- 3.Receive an official Single Status Statement or "No Record Found" certificate.
Step-by-step checklists for each route
- 1.Draft your Single Status Affidavit (include all key elements).
- 2.Have it notarized by a Florida Notary Public.
- 3.Download or complete the Apostille / Notarial Certification Request Form from the Florida Department of State.
- 4.Indicate the destination country on the request form.
- 5.Prepare payment: $10 per document (if your document is notarized by a Florida notary), or $20 per document if your document is first certified by a Florida Clerk of Court.
- 6.Include a pre-paid, self-addressed return envelope for mail requests.
- 7.Submit by mail or courier to the Florida Department of State (see addresses below) or deliver in person to 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee.
- 8.Receive your apostilled Single Status Affidavit.
- 1.Complete the Florida DOH Single Status Statement application (Bureau of Vital Statistics).
- 2.Pay the required search and copy fees.
- 3.Receive your Single Status Statement / "No Record Found" certificate.
- 4.Complete the Florida Apostille / Notarial Certification Request Form.
- 5.Attach the original DOH Single Status Statement.
- 6.Pay FL apostille fees as above ($10 or $20, depending on whether the document is a standard state record or certified via Clerk of Court).
- 7.Mail or submit in person to the Florida Department of State Apostille Section.
- 8.Receive your apostilled Single Status Statement.
Florida apostille mailing addresses:
USPS mail:
Division of Corporations
Apostille Section
P.O. Box 6800
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800
Courier (FedEx/UPS) or In-person:
Division of Corporations – Apostille Section
2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Fees and processing times
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille / Notarial certification fee | $10 per document | Standard Florida apostille/notarial certification fee |
| Apostille fee – documents certified by FL Clerk of Court | $20 per document | Applies when apostille is requested for a document first certified by a Florida Clerk of Court |
| Florida DOH Single Status search fee | Base $5 plus any additional DOH fees | For statewide "Single Status Statement" search for marriage records |
| Notary fee | Varies | Paid separately to the Florida notary |
• DOH Single Status Statement: typically processed within several business days to a few weeks depending on volume and shipping.
• Florida apostille: processed by the Division of Corporations Apostille Section; timing depends on volume and whether submitted by mail or delivered in person. Secondary sources describe several business days by mail and faster turnaround in person, but users should check current guidance on the official site.
- Use a tracked shipping method (Certified Mail, courier) for sending documents to Tallahassee.
- Double-check you have one apostille request form per destination country if required.
Common rejection reasons and how to avoid them
❌ Document not notarized in Florida (Route A)
→ Solution: Florida can only authenticate signatures of Florida notaries and officials. Documents notarized in other states must go to that state's apostille authority.
❌ Photocopy instead of original
→ Solution: The Apostille Section requires original notarized/certified documents, not copies.
❌ Missing destination country on the request form
→ Solution: The Apostille Request Form asks which country the document will be used in; leaving it blank can delay processing.
❌ Wrong fee ($10 vs $20)
→ Solution: Documents certified by a Clerk of Court trigger the $20 per document rate; miscalculating the amount or paying to the wrong payee can cause rejection.
❌ Illegible or incomplete notary seal
→ Solution: If the Florida notary stamp is smudged or missing required details, the Secretary of State may refuse to issue an apostille.
❌ Using the wrong type of single-status document
→ Solution: Some countries might reject a personal affidavit and ask specifically for a government-issued Single Status Statement (or vice versa). Always verify with the foreign authority.
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Get My Personalized GuideFrequently asked questions
What is a Single Status Affidavit in Florida?▼
What is the difference between a Single Status Affidavit and a Single Status Statement in Florida?▼
How much does a Florida apostille cost for a single-status document?▼
Where do I send my documents for apostille in Florida?▼
Do I also need a marriage record search, or is the affidavit enough?▼
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- Florida Department of State — Apostille Section
- Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Federal Hague Convention Guidelines
Our Process
- Daily verification against official FL SOS updates
- Expert review by Florida specialists
- Fee and form oversight (Request Form DOS-260)
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the Florida Department of State before submitting your application.
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-02-20Verified
Confirmed current Florida SOS fees ($10/doc, $20/Clerk) and mailing addresses in Tallahassee.
- 2026-01-12Verified
Verified Courier address (Monroe St) vs. Mailing address (P.O. Box).
- 2026-01-05Verified
Confirmed Vital Statistics requirements (Certified Copy vs. Photocopy).
- 2025-12-28Improved
Updated processing time estimates based on Department of State alerts.
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