A US marriage certificate is a state vital record. It is apostilled by the Secretary of State in the state that issued it, not by the federal government. We obtain that apostille through a nationwide courier network, always expedited, with 2-day return shipping included.
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A marriage certificate is a state vital record, issued by the county or state where you married. To use it abroad in a Hague Convention country, it needs an apostille from that state's Secretary of State. This is not a federal document and has nothing to do with an FBI background check.
This is the detail that trips people up. If you married in New York but now live in Florida, your marriage certificate is apostilled by New York, not Florida. Our order form asks which state issued the record and routes it to the correct Secretary of State automatically. Not sure which certified copy you have? Just ask us and we will confirm before anything is submitted.
The same price in every state. No per-state quotes, no hidden checkout fees. One speed, always the fastest, expedited to every state, with return shipping included.
Because we run our own counter in the DMV, Virginia marriage certificates are $175 for the first document and $135 for each additional. Washington DC and Maryland are also handled in-house at lower rates. Everywhere else is the flat $229 first and $150 each additional, expedited to every state.
A US marriage certificate needs a state apostille for use in any Hague Convention country. Most destinations also want the apostilled certificate translated. Here is the general guidance for the countries we see most. Always confirm the exact rule with the receiving office.
A US marriage certificate needs a state apostille before it is accepted in Portugal, for residency, the D7, and family filings. A certified translation into Portuguese is commonly required.
Certified translation commonly requiredGermany accepts a US marriage certificate once it carries a state apostille. A certified translation into German is commonly required, and some offices ask for it from a sworn translator.
Certified translation commonly requiredA US marriage certificate needs a state apostille for use in Mexico. A translation by an official translator, a perito traductor, is typically required, often arranged in the state where the document will be used.
Official translator, perito traductor, typically requiredFrance accepts a US marriage certificate that carries a state apostille, for visas, residency, and marriage transcription. A certified translation into French is commonly required.
Certified translation commonly requiredA US marriage certificate needs a state apostille for use in Italy, including citizenship and transcription filings. A sworn or official translation into Italian is typically required.
Sworn or official translation typically requiredGreece accepts a US marriage certificate once it carries a state apostille, for residency, the Golden Visa, and family matters. A certified translation into Greek is commonly required.
Certified translation commonly requiredA US marriage certificate needs a state apostille for use in Spain, for visas, residency, and registry filings. A sworn official translation, a traduccion jurada, is typically required.
Sworn official translation typically requiredHeaded somewhere not listed? Any Hague Convention country accepts the same US state apostille. See all apostille countries or call us and we will confirm exactly what your destination needs.
Most of these destinations require the apostilled marriage certificate to be translated before it is accepted. We do both in-house, in one order, so the apostille and the certified or sworn translation are handled by one team and returned to you together.
Add a certified or sworn translation to your marriage certificate apostille and skip the second vendor. Start your order and tell us the destination country, and we will confirm the translation type that office expects.
Start Your Apostille and Translation OrderPlace your order in minutes. We confirm which state issued your marriage certificate, because the apostille must come from that state's Secretary of State.
Mail or drop off a current state-certified copy of the marriage certificate. Do not notarize a vital record. It goes straight from the issuing agency to the state authority.
Our courier hand-carries the certificate into the correct Secretary of State, confirms the apostille, and ships it back with 2-day return shipping included. Add a certified translation and we return both together.
Your marriage certificate is apostilled by the state that issued it. Jump straight to your state, or see all 50.
Marriage and vital record apostilles from the California Secretary of State.
California →Marriage and vital record apostilles from the Texas Secretary of State.
Texas →Marriage and vital record apostilles from the New York Department of State.
New York →Marriage and vital record apostilles from the Florida Secretary of State.
Florida →Marriage and vital record apostilles handled in-house at our lower DMV rate.
Virginia →Find your issuing state and start a marriage certificate apostille anywhere.
Find Your State →One flat price, one speed that is always the fastest, expedited to every state, and 2-day return shipping included. We handle the paperwork, the submission, and the translation if you need one.
The state that issued the certificate. A marriage certificate is a state vital record, so it is apostilled by that state's Secretary of State, not by the federal government. If you married in California but live in Texas, California apostilles it. We route your order to the correct state automatically.
Often yes. Most destinations that receive a US marriage certificate require a certified or sworn translation. Spain and Italy typically require a sworn or official translation, France, Portugal, Greece, and Germany commonly require a certified translation, and Mexico typically requires a translation by an official translator, a perito traductor. Confirm the exact rule with the receiving office. We handle the apostille and the certified translation together.
We run one speed, always the fastest, expedited to every state. Processing typically runs a handful of business days once your certified copy reaches us. You see your exact ready-by date before you pay, and 2-day return shipping is included.
Flat and all-in. $229 for the first document and $150 for each additional, always expedited, with return shipping included. Our DMV area is less: Virginia is $175 first and $135 additional, and Washington DC and Maryland are also handled in-house at lower rates.
No. A marriage certificate is a vital record and is not notarized. You need a current state-certified copy with the official signature, ordered from the issuing agency. It goes straight from that agency to the state authentication office. Photocopies are not accepted.
Looking for an FBI background check apostille instead? That is a separate federal document, authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, not a state office. It is a different product from the state marriage certificate apostille on this page. We handle those too.
FBI Background Check Apostille