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Los Angeles, CA

Federal Marriage Record Apostille in Los Angeles, CA

How Los Angeles residents get their Federal Marriage Record authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, the local details, timing and price.

Quick answer

Most federal marriage record holders in Los Angeles actually have a California state record, which goes to the California Secretary of State. Only genuinely federal versions go to the U.S. Department of State.

County
Los Angeles County
Federal court
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
State apostille office
California Secretary of State, Sacramento
Our nearest office
Los Angeles

Married in California? It’s probably a state record

Marriage certificates issued by a California county clerk or the state vital records office are state documents, apostilled by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento — not by the U.S. Department of State. Only consular or federally issued marriage records take the federal route.

Send us a photo before ordering and we’ll tell you which route yours takes.

Los Angeles: the local details

Los Angeles is in Los Angeles County, within the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. California state documents are apostilled by the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.

About the Federal Marriage Record

How to apostille a federally issued or consular marriage record for spousal visas and foreign registration.

Check who issued it first. Most U.S. marriage certificates are state documents from a county clerk, which authenticate through that state — not federally. Sending one to the Department of State gets it returned.

Getting it done from Los Angeles

Our Los Angeles office handles Los Angeles orders by phone and online. It’s a processing office and isn’t open to the public, so documents come to us by mail.

DestinationRouteOur turnaround
Hague Convention countryU.S. Department of State apostille10–12 business days
Non-Hague countryAuthentication + embassy legalization15–17 business days

Official sources: U.S. Department of State — Marriage Abroad · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · California Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Courts — Federal Court Websites.

Federal Marriage Record in Los Angeles — FAQ

Is there an apostille office in Los Angeles for a Federal Marriage Record?

State-issued versions go to the California Secretary of State in Sacramento; federal versions go to the U.S. Department of State.

Do I need to visit an office in Los Angeles?

No. Our Los Angeles office isn’t open to the public — Los Angeles clients order online or by phone, send documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.

How long does it take from Los Angeles?

About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.

How much does it cost?

$299 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.

Which federal court covers Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is in Los Angeles County, within the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Related: All documents in Los Angeles · Federal Marriage Record in California · Federal Marriage Record — full guide

Ready to start?

Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.