A Florida divorce decree apostille certifies your Florida dissolution of marriage record for legal use in any of the 125+ Hague Apostille Convention countries. Foreign governments, courts, and civil registries increasingly require an apostilled divorce decree for international remarriage, name changes, immigration, property matters, and residency applications. Online Florida Apostille handles in-person submission at the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee — delivering results in as few as 3 business days. Call 954-999-4933 Monday through Saturday 7AM to 5PM Eastern.
Which Florida Divorce Document Can Be Apostilled?
Florida divorce documents fall into two categories and only one qualifies directly for apostille:
Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage — What You Need
The document used for international apostille purposes is the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage — the court order signed by a Florida circuit court judge that legally ended your marriage. This document must be obtained as a certified copy from the clerk of circuit court in the county where your divorce was granted.
The certified copy must include the clerk’s official stamp or raised seal and the clerk’s certification signature. Without these elements, the Florida Department of State cannot issue an apostille.
Divorce Certificate — What It Is and When It Applies
Some people confuse a Florida divorce certificate — a summary document available from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics — with a certified copy of the final judgment. The divorce certificate confirms that a divorce occurred but does not contain the terms and provisions of the divorce. Many foreign authorities require the full certified final judgment, not just a summary certificate. If you are unsure which document your foreign authority requires, call us at 954-999-4933 before ordering anything.
How to Obtain a Certified Copy of Your Florida Final Judgment
Step 1 — Identify the County
Florida divorce cases are filed in the circuit court of the county where the divorce was granted — not necessarily where either party currently lives. If you do not know the county, the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains a divorce index you can search online.
Step 2 — Contact the Clerk of Circuit Court
Contact the clerk of circuit court in the correct county and request a certified copy of your Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. You will need your case number or your name and approximate year of the divorce. Most clerks offer online, mail, or in-person ordering. Certified copy fees vary by county — typically $1 to $2 per page plus a certification fee.
Step 3 — Confirm the Certification
When you receive the certified copy, confirm it has the clerk’s official stamp or raised seal and the clerk’s certification language. Do not add a notarization to a clerk-certified court document — this is unnecessary and may complicate the apostille process.
Why Your Country May Require a Divorce Decree Apostille
International Remarriage
Many countries require proof that a previous marriage was legally dissolved before allowing a foreign national to marry locally. An apostilled Florida Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage is the standard document for this purpose. This is one of the most common reasons we process divorce decree apostilles at Online Florida Apostille.
Single Status Affidavit vs. Divorce Decree
Some countries accept a Florida Single Status Affidavit apostille as proof of divorce in lieu of the full judgment. Others specifically require the apostilled Final Judgment. The receiving authority in your destination country determines which document is required. We can advise based on your destination country — call 954-999-4933.
Immigration and Residency Applications
Foreign immigration authorities may request an apostilled divorce decree as part of a visa, permanent residency, or citizenship application — particularly for dependent or spousal applications where prior marital history must be verified.
Property and Inheritance Matters Abroad
Foreign property registries and courts may require an apostilled divorce decree to establish legal standing for property transactions or inheritance claims where marital status affects ownership rights.
Step-by-Step: Florida Divorce Decree Apostille Through Online Florida Apostille
- Call 954-999-4933 — we confirm which document your country requires and verify your certified copy will qualify
- Order certified copy from the clerk — obtain the original certified Final Judgment from the county clerk of circuit court
- Ship to Online Florida Apostille — FedEx or UPS with tracking to our Pompano Beach office
- Pre-submission review — we check for clerk certification, seal, and all qualifying elements
- In-person Tallahassee submission — submitted same day received at the Florida Department of State
- FedEx overnight return — apostilled divorce decree delivered in as few as 3 business days total
Country-Specific Notes for Divorce Decree Apostilles
Italy
Italy requires an apostilled copy of the full Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage — not just a divorce certificate. A certified Italian translation is typically required alongside the apostilled original. Italian civil registries and consulates use this document for civil status updates and remarriage authorization.
Mexico
Mexican civil registries frequently require an apostilled Florida divorce decree for remarriage authorization and for updating civil registry records. Spanish translation may be required by the receiving authority.
Brazil
Brazil requires an apostilled Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage for registration of foreign divorces in Brazilian civil registries. A certified Portuguese translation is required.
United Kingdom
The UK accepts apostilled Florida divorce decrees for remarriage, name change, and immigration purposes without translation.
Germany
German civil registries and courts require apostilled divorce decrees and a certified German translation for recognition of foreign divorces and remarriage authorization.
Common Mistakes That Cause Divorce Decree Apostille Rejection
- Using a photocopy — Only original certified copies from the clerk of circuit court qualify
- Missing clerk certification — The clerk’s stamp, seal, and certification language must be present
- Wrong document type — A divorce certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics is not the same as the Final Judgment; confirm which your country requires
- Wrong county clerk — Must come from the clerk in the county where the divorce was granted
- Adding unnecessary notarization — Court-certified documents do not require notarization before apostille
Our pre-submission review catches every one of these issues. See the full list in our Florida Apostille Rejection Report 2026.
Get Started Today
Call 954-999-4933 Monday through Saturday 7AM to 5PM Eastern. Tell us your destination country and what the document will be used for — we will confirm exactly which Florida divorce document you need and walk you through the process. Results in as few as 3 business days.
Use our free document pre-check or check which countries accept a Florida apostille.