Marriage Certificate Apostille in Los Angeles

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By the notaries at Mar Vista Cheap Mobile Notary, commissioned by the California Secretary of State · Updated October 26, 2026 · Sources: Family Code § 511, LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, California Secretary of State: Apostille

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Getting the right copy

• A certified copy from the county where the license was issued, not the souvenir certificate from your officiant and not a photocopy.
• Public marriage: anyone can order a certified copy from the county recorder. Ordering by mail requires a notarized sworn statement, which we notarize.
• Confidential marriage: the record isn’t public, so only the spouses can get a certified copy, from the county clerk that issued the license (Family Code § 511).
• Recently issued, if the destination country requires it. Many want a copy issued within the last 3 to 6 months, so order a fresh one.

Common reasons people need one

• Spouse and family reunification visas
• Registering a California marriage with your home country’s consulate or civil registry
• Residency, and citizenship through marriage in countries that offer it
• Changing your surname on foreign documents
• Foreign pensions, insurance and inheritance claims that depend on marital status

Married in another state or country?

The apostille has to come from the place where the marriage was recorded. A Nevada or New York marriage certificate is apostilled by that state; a marriage recorded abroad is handled under that country’s rules. We can coordinate an out-of-state apostille for you, but California can’t issue it.

Getting married here first

We also perform marriage ceremonies in Los Angeles. If you’re marrying here and will need the certificate abroad, tell us at booking: once the license is registered, we can order the certified copy, take it through the Secretary of State and arrange a certified translation, so it’s ready to send.

Common questions

Can a notary notarize my marriage certificate for an apostille?

No. California notaries can’t notarize or certify vital records. You need a certified copy from the county.

Can I apostille a confidential marriage certificate?

Yes. Order the certified copy yourself (only the spouses can), and it can be apostilled like any other county-certified record.

Do I need a translation too?

Most non-English-speaking countries want the certificate and the apostille translated. Some require their own sworn translators. See certified translation.

What about a divorce decree?

A certified copy of a California divorce judgment from the superior court can be apostilled by the Secretary of State in the same way.