Quick facts
- Before paying for an apostille, check whether the destination wants an apostilled order or a UIFSA / Hague Child Support transmittal through DCSS — these are different routes.
- Some countries require an exemplified (triple-certified) copy — confirm before ordering ($50 + pages, §70628).
- Include the full order with the FL-342 attachment and any earnings-assignment/related pages the destination needs.
- Never notarize the order — it's authenticated by the clerk's certification.
- 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 case was filed. If DCSS is involved, coordinate with them — they may hold or prepare the operative order. 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 child support order — the FL-340 + FL-342, or the FL-180/FL-250 judgment containing the support orders — "for apostille / international use." 3. Pay the fees (see below). Confirm the clerk's seal and signature are legible. Who can request it. Generally accessible to the parties (and DCSS for an enforcement case); confirm any access limits with the specific court. Required forms. The court's records/copy request form, if any. Order the signed.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the signed child support order — the FL-340 with FL-342 attachment, or the FL-180/FL-250 judgment.
How much is the certified copy?
$40 (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)). The $15 divorce rate does not apply.
Do I even need an apostille?
Maybe not — cross-border child support often goes through UIFSA / the Hague Child Support Convention via DCSS. Check with the destination's authority first.
Will an apostille make a foreign country enforce my support order?
It authenticates the document; enforcement runs through the Hague Child Support Convention / UIFSA.
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).