Procedure for Apostille of U.S. Divorce Certificate & Divorce Decree

When both spouses divorce in the United States and there are implications regarding property acquired in other Hague Convention countries, remarriage, or residency, it is necessary to obtain Hague Apostille certification for the U.S. divorce certificate and court divorce decree.

When a divorce is granted by a court in the United States, both parties typically receive two documents sent by mail from the court: a Certificate of Divorce and a Decree of Divorce.

The Certificate of Divorce is a simple document confirming the fact of the divorce. It includes information such as the names of both parties and the effective date of the divorce.

On the other hand, the Decree of Divorce is a detailed court document that contains specific terms related to the divorce. It may cover aspects like child custody, property division, alimony, and other relevant details.

Both documents serve as proof of the divorce being finalized. The Certificate of Divorce offers a concise summary, while the Decree of Divorce provides comprehensive legal directives and provisions.

There are two approaches to authenticate a U.S. divorce certificate/ divorce decree for Hague recognition. One option involves authenticating a copy of the divorce certificate/ divorce decree, while the other requires authenticating the original document. Applicants have the flexibility to choose the method that best suits their individual circumstances.

Steps for Apostille on a Copy of the U.S. Divorce Certificate/ Divorce Decree:

Steps: The U.S. divorce certificate/ divorce decree undergoes notarization by a U.S. notary public.
The notarized copy of the divorce certificate/divorce decree is then submitted to the Secretary of State for apostille.

Processing time: The processing time is 2-3 business days, excluding shipping time.

Documents required for apostille:
1. Scanned copy of the U.S. divorce certificate/ divorce decree
2. Scanned copies of the photo pages of both spouses’ passports

Steps for Apostille on the Original U.S. Divorce Certificate/ Divorce Decree:

The authentication process may vary based on the issuing state. Generally, the original U.S. divorce certificate/divorce decree must be submitted to the Secretary of State in the issuing state for apostille.

Processing time：The processing time is 3-4 weeks, excluding shipping time.

Documents required for apostille:
1. The original the U.S. divorce certificate/ divorce decree
2. Scanned copies of the photo pages of both spouses’ passports