The pretty certificate your officiant hands you at the ceremony is a keepsake. The document that proves you're married is the certified copy of the record your county filed, with a raised or printed official seal. Social Security, the DMV, the passport office, your HR department and any foreign government will ask for that version, not a photocopy.
This guide covers what a certified copy is, where to order one, what it costs in a few states, and how to get an apostille when you need the certificate abroad. Fees are as of 28 October 2026 and come from official state, county and city pages. Your county sets its own fees, so check its page before you pay. This is general information, not legal advice.
Marriage license vs. marriage certificate
| Marriage license | Marriage certificate (certified copy) | |
|---|---|---|
| When | before the wedding | after the wedding, once the record is filed |
| What it does | gives you permission to marry, within a validity window | proves that the marriage took place |
| Who issues it | county clerk (or city/town clerk in some states) | the office that recorded the signed license: county clerk/recorder, city clerk, or the state vital records office |
| What you do with it | the officiant signs it and returns it for recording | send it to SSA, the DMV, the passport office, insurers, immigration |
In many states the "certificate" is simply a certified copy of the recorded license. Texas says it plainly: certified copies of marriage licenses are only available from the county clerk. For license rules, waiting periods and fees before the wedding, see our marriage license requirements guide.
Where to order: county first, state second
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics publishes Where to Write for Vital Records, a state-by-state directory of offices and fees. Its introduction explains the basics:
- The federal government does not keep marriage records. They are filed permanently in a state vital statistics office or in a city, county or other local office.
- To get a certified copy, you contact the office in the state or area where the marriage took place. That's the place where the license was issued, not where you live now.
- Fees change, so the directory tells you to confirm them with the office before you order.
In practice:
- Start with the county (clerk, recorder, registrar or probate court, depending on the state) that issued your license. It has the record first, often within days or weeks of the ceremony.
- Use the state office if your state keeps a central file and you can't easily deal with the county. Some states don't issue certified marriage copies at all, and some hold only certain years.
- Watch out for third-party sites. Some states use an official online vendor. Florida lists VitalChek, for example. Others are commercial middlemen that add their own fees. Start from the county or state website, or from the CDC directory, and follow its link.
When you order, you'll usually need both spouses' full names before the marriage, the date and place of the marriage, your relationship to the record, a signed request and a copy of your ID.
Fees and rules in four places (October 2026)
| Where | Office | Certified copy fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Bureau of Vital Statistics (Dept. of Health) | $5 search fee incl. one copy, $4 each extra copy; optional $10 rush. Online via VitalChek: $15 first copy + $7 processing | state file starts 6 June 1927. For a wedding less than 60 days ago, the state sends you to the clerk of court in the county that issued the license |
| California | CDPH Vital Records | $19 per copy (form VS 113A), raised from $17 on 1 January 2026 under AB 64 | per the CDC directory, the state holds indexes for public marriages 1905–2001 and 2010 to present. Other years: County Recorder. Confidential marriages: County Clerk where the license was issued |
| Texas | county clerk only | Harris County: $7 per certified copy in its marriage-license FAQ (which describes copies without a watermark or filed before March 2003); its general schedule is $5 certification + $1 per page | the state (DSHS) issues only verification letters ($20 each per the CDC directory, last reviewed 2019), and they are not a substitute for the certificate |
| New York City | Office of the City Clerk | $15 first certified copy, $10 each extra (short form, mail form CC2002B). For use abroad the same form lists an extended form at $35 first copy, $30 each extra (the CDC also lists $35 for international use) | records less than 50 years old go only to the spouses, someone with their written authorization, or attorneys for evidence. Records 1866–1949: Municipal Archives |
A few takeaways from these four:
- Fees are low, but they vary. Order 2 or 3 copies at once. Extra copies usually cost less than the first one, and each new order often comes with a search fee.
- Texas couples can't go to the state. The state verification letter won't work for a name change or immigration. You need the county's certified copy.
- NYC has two versions. The short form works for domestic use. For use abroad, NYC lists a separate, more expensive version for international use (see the apostille section).
Who accepts what
| Where you'll use it | What it accepts |
|---|---|
| Social Security (name change) | originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. No photocopies, no notarized copies |
| DMV / REAL ID | federal rule 6 CFR 37.11(c)(2): if your name differs from your source documents, the state must see proof of the name change issued by a court, government body or other entity the state designates, and keep a copy |
| Passport (DS-82 renewal, edition 04-2025) | proof of name change such as a certified marriage certificate. The instructions say original documents are returned by mail |
| Abroad | usually a certified copy plus an apostille, often with a translation |
The order of steps (Social Security first, then DMV, then passport) and the passport form choice are in our guide on how to change your name after marriage.
Using your marriage certificate abroad: the apostille
A foreign government usually won't accept a US certificate just because it carries a county seal. Countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention accept a one-page certificate called an apostille. It confirms that the signature and seal on your document are genuine.
- The United States has been a party since 15 October 1981. The HCCH status table lists 130 contracting parties (as of 30 June 2026).
- Marriage certificates are state or local documents, so the apostille comes from the state where the certificate was issued, usually the Secretary of State.
- If the destination country isn't a party to the convention, ask its embassy or consulate what it needs. That route is usually longer.
Two state examples
| State | Apostille fee | What they require |
|---|---|---|
| Texas (Secretary of State) | $15 per document, not per page | an original Texas-issued document or certified copy (no photocopies). Certified records must have been issued within the past 5 years. Mail with Form 2102, which names the destination country. About two weeks to process |
| New York (Department of State) | $10 per document | marriage certificates issued by a local or county official must first be certified by the County Clerk of that county. NYC records (except divorce) go through the New York County Clerk. Certificates from the NYS Department of Health signed by the Director of Vital Statistics or the NYS Registrar don't need that step |
So the usual chain is: order a fresh certified copy → county clerk certification if your state requires it → Secretary of State apostille → translation if the other country asks for one. Ask for a new copy for this, because Texas won't apostille a certified copy issued more than 5 years ago. Keep your other copies for use at home.
Moving abroad with a foreign spouse, or bringing one here? See K-1 fiancé visa vs. marriage green card for where the marriage certificate fits in the immigration paperwork.
Common mistakes
- Ordering before the license is recorded. If the officiant hasn't returned the license yet, there's nothing to copy. Ask the county how long recording takes.
- Ordering from the state where you live instead of where you married.
- Paying a third-party site that resells the county's $5–$20 copy for much more.
- Sending a photocopy or a notarized copy to Social Security.
- Ordering one copy and then waiting for the passport office to return it.
- Getting an apostille on an old certified copy that the state won't accept, or getting it from the wrong state.
FAQ
How long after the wedding can I order a certified copy?
As soon as the county has recorded your signed license. The officiant or you must return it first. Florida's state office, for example, sends couples married less than 60 days ago to the county clerk of court.
Can a friend or parent order it for me?
It depends on the office. NYC releases records less than 50 years old only to the spouses, someone with written authorization from a spouse, or attorneys who need it as evidence. Other offices have their own lists.
Is the decorative certificate from our ceremony valid?
No. Only the certified copy issued by the recording office (with its official seal) works as proof of marriage.
Do I need an apostille for a US immigration case?
No. An apostille is for using a US document in another country. US agencies such as SSA and the passport office ask for the certified copy.
Sources
- CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Where to Write for Vital Records (updated March 2023; no federal file; records held by state or local offices; fees change): https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/w2w.pdf
- California Department of Public Health, Vital Records Fees (VS 113A certified copy of marriage record $19 per copy, effective 1 January 2026 under AB 64, Chapter 662, Statutes of 2025; checked 28 October 2026): https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records-Fees.aspx
- CDC Where to Write: California (indexes 1905–2001 and 2010–present; County Recorder / County Clerk; reviewed 16 May 2022, still showing the old $17 fee): https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/california.htm
- CDC Where to Write: Texas (state verification $20, no certified copies; county clerk only): https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/texas.htm
- CDC Where to Write: New York City (City Clerk; $15 domestic, $35 international; Manhattan office for 1950–1995): https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/new_york_city.htm
- Florida Department of Health, Marriage Certificates (fees $5/$4/$10, VitalChek $15 + $7; records from 6 June 1927; clerk of court for recent marriages): https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/certificates/marriage/index.html
- Texas DSHS, Marriage and Divorce Records (verification letters only; certified copies from the county clerk): https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/marriage-divorce-records
- Harris County Clerk, Public Records – Ordering Copies (marriage license certified copy $7; $5 certification + $1 per page): https://cclerk.hctx.net/PublicRecords.aspx
- NYC Office of the City Clerk, Mail Request for Marriage Records, form CC2002B 9/20/2016 (short form $15 / $10, extended form for foreign use $35 / $30; who may request; Municipal Archives for 1866–1949): https://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/assets/cityclerk/downloads/pdf/mail_in_request_form%20final.pdf
- Social Security Administration, documents you need for a Social Security card (originals or certified copies only; marriage document for a name change): https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm
- 6 CFR 37.11(c)(2), REAL ID name change documentation: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/6/37.11
- U.S. Department of State, Form DS-82 instructions, edition 04-2025 (proof of name change; certified marriage certificate; originals returned): https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds82_pdf.PDF
- HCCH, Apostille Convention status table (United States: accession 24 December 1980, in force 15 October 1981; 130 contracting parties as of 30 June 2026): https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41
- Texas Secretary of State, Request a Universal Apostille ($15 per document; certified records issued within 5 years; Form 2102; about two weeks): https://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/request.shtml
- New York Department of State, Apostille / Certificate of Authentication ($10 per document; County Clerk certification for local certificates; New York County Clerk for NYC records): https://dos.ny.gov/apostille-certificate-authentication
Fees and procedures as of 28 October 2026. Counties and states change them, so confirm on the issuing office's own website before you order. This article is general information, not legal advice.