Much of the paperwork for a wedding abroad can be prepared in Los Angeles, but the country where you’re marrying decides what it wants. Start by asking the local civil registry or the officiant for its written list, then work through it here.
The U.S. State Department is clear about the basics. Local law decides who can perform the marriage, and U.S. diplomatic staff can’t officiate. A marriage that follows the local rules is generally valid in that country, and questions about recognition back home go to the attorney general of your state.
The document that surprises people
Many countries ask for proof that you’re legally free to marry, sometimes called a certificate of no impediment. The U.S. government doesn’t issue one. According to the State Department, you may be able to provide a written statement instead.
Where that statement gets sworn matters, and the practice varies. U.S. embassy pages show how much:
- South Korea: the embassy describes an affidavit of eligibility that it notarizes.
- Germany: the embassy says U.S. citizens can swear to eligibility at the local registry office.
- Japan: the embassy says it stopped notarizing these affidavits on September 1, 2025, and offers a statement explaining that no such certificate exists.
So don’t assume a statement notarized in Los Angeles will be enough, and don’t assume it won’t. Ask the registry whether it accepts one signed before a California notary, and whether it needs to be signed within a certain time of the wedding. Embassy pages also change, so read the current one for your destination.
What you can line up here
- A sworn statement. If the registry accepts one, a California notary can notarize your signature. You supply the wording, since a notary can’t draft it or advise you on what it should say. Our page on affidavits explains how the oath works.
- A birth certificate. You’ll usually need a certified copy from the issuing office, and possibly an apostille. A California notary can’t certify a copy of a birth certificate.
- Proof that an earlier marriage ended. The State Department lists divorce or death certificates among the documents a country may ask for. Order certified copies from the court or the records office.
- Translations. The State Department notes that documents may need translating into the local language. Ask whether the translation has to be done in that country or can be a certified translation from here.
Apostille or something else
Documents may need to be authenticated before a foreign office accepts them. If the country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, that usually means an apostille. If it doesn’t, it usually means authentication and embassy legalization, which has more steps. Find out which applies before you order anything, because the certified copy you need may depend on it.
Questions to ask the registry
- Which documents do you need, and do they have to be originals?
- How recently must each one have been issued or signed?
- Does each one need an apostille or legalization?
- Who may translate them?
- Is there any wording you require in a sworn statement?
Get the answers in writing if you can. The foreign office makes the final call on what it accepts, and we can’t promise any result on its behalf. A written list keeps everyone working from the same requirements.
Need a notary? We come to you anywhere in Los Angeles County, 24/7 by appointment. Book online or call (424) 484-9268.