DOCUMENT APOSTILLE GUIDE
Florida Court Documents Apostille Requirements
Learn how to prepare your document for apostille processing, including applicable notarization requirements, required certifications, and important submission guidelines.
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Preparation Requirements
Identify the Court Document
Determine whether the document is a court order, final judgment, divorce decree, adoption order, probate record, guardianship document, or another Florida court record.
Obtain an Official Certified Copy
Request an official certified copy from the Clerk of Court for the Florida county or court where the document was filed or issued.
Verify the Clerk's Certification
Ensure the certified document contains the appropriate official certification, signature, and seal from the issuing court or Clerk of Court.
Do Not Use Privately Notarized Copies
Florida notaries cannot certify photocopies of documents filed in court proceedings or maintained as public court records.
Confirm Destination Requirements
Verify whether the receiving country requires a particular court certification, additional documentation, or translation.
Submit for Apostille
Submit the original officially certified court record to the Florida Department of State for apostille processing.
Important Restrictions
Ordinary photocopies, uncertified court downloads, and privately notarized copies are not acceptable substitutes for properly certified court records.
Confidential or sealed court records may require special procedures through the issuing court.
Required Certification
Official Court Certification
Florida court documents must be issued or certified by the appropriate court or Clerk of Court and contain an eligible official signature that the Florida Department of State can authenticate.
Certified Court Records
Court orders, judgments, divorce decrees, probate documents, and other filed court records generally require an official certified copy from the appropriate Florida Clerk of Court.
Clerk of Court Certification
The certified document must contain the appropriate clerk's certification, signature, and official seal when applicable.
Notarization Restrictions
Florida notaries cannot certify photocopies of documents filed in court proceedings or recorded by the Clerk of Court.
Original Certified Document
Submit the original certified court record. Ordinary photocopies and uncertified electronic printouts are not acceptable substitutes.
Florida Apostille Fee
The Florida Department of State charges $20 per document certified by a Florida Clerk of Court when requesting an apostille. This includes the $10 apostille fee and $10 Certificate of Incumbency fee.
Important Note
The apostille authenticates the eligible court official's signature and authority. It does not verify the legal findings, contents, or enforceability of the court document in another country.
Federal court documents require separate federal authentication procedures.