Quick facts
- Include all parenting-time schedule attachments (FL-341(C)/(D), etc.) — an incomplete schedule may be rejected by the foreign authority.
- If the trip also needs a travel-consent letter, that's a separate NOTARIZED document with its own apostille path (see Power of Attorney / consent pages) — don't conflate the court order with the affidavit.
- Some countries require an exemplified (triple-certified) copy — confirm before ordering ($50 + pages, §70628).
- Never notarize the court 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. 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 visitation order — the FL-340 + FL-341 (with the relevant sub-attachments), or the FL-180/FL-250 judgment containing the visitation orders — "for apostille / international use." 3. Pay the fees (see below). Confirm the clerk's seal and signature are legible and all schedule attachments are included. Who can request it. 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.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the signed visitation/parenting-time order — the FL-340 with FL-341 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.
Is this the same as a travel-consent letter?
No — a travel-consent letter is a separate notarized document. You may need both for international travel.
Do I need all the schedule attachments?
Yes — order the complete order including FL-341(C)/(D), 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).