Quick facts
- Order the COMPLETE order including all custody/visitation attachments (FL-341 and any FL-341(A)–(E)) — a partial copy can be rejected or rejected by the foreign authority as incomplete.
- Some countries require an exemplified (triple-certified) copy — confirm before ordering ($50 + pages, §70628).
- Never notarize the order — a court order is authenticated by the clerk's certification.
- An apostille authenticates the document; it does not compel foreign enforcement (that's the Hague Abduction Convention / local law).
- General condition rules: no lamination · no post-notarization alterations · no tape · staple multipage · legible signatures/seals.
What to know
Issuing office. The Superior Court clerk (family law / records division) in the county where the custody case was filed. Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Gather the case number, both parties' names as filed, and the order/judgment date. (No case number can trigger a $15 search fee if the search exceeds 10 minutes.) 2. Request a certified copy of the custody order — the FL-340 + FL-341, or the FL-180/FL-250 judgment containing the custody orders — "for apostille / international use." 3. Pay the fees (see below). Confirm the clerk's seal and signature are legible. Who can request it. Custody orders in an open case are generally accessible to the parties; family-law records can have access limits, so a non-party may need party status or a court order. Confirm with the specific court. Required forms. The court's records/copy request form, if any. Make sure you order the.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the signed custody order — the FL-340 with FL-341 attachment, or the FL-180/FL-250 judgment containing the custody orders.
How much is the certified copy?
$40 (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)). The $15 divorce rate does not apply.
Will an apostille make a foreign country enforce my custody order?
No — it authenticates the document. Enforcement runs through the Hague Abduction Convention / the destination's law.
Do I need all the attachment pages?
Yes — order the complete order including FL-341 sub-attachments, or it may be treated as incomplete.
Common destinations
Countries this document is most often sent to (pulled from this page's own guidance). Every destination has its own rulebook — apostille (Hague) or full legalization (non-Hague).