Quick facts
- Some countries (and many religious tribunals) require an exemplified (triple-certified) copy — confirm before ordering ($50 + pages, §70628).
- Never notarize the judgment — a court record is authenticated by the clerk's certification, not a notary.
- General condition rules: no lamination · no post-notarization alterations · no tape · staple multipage · legible signatures/seals.
- Submitting a plain/conformed copy or download instead of a clerk-certified copy.
- Submitting a divorce decree or legal-separation judgment when the authority wanted the nullity judgment (different statuses).
What to know
Issuing office. The Superior Court clerk (family law / records division) in the county where the nullity case was filed. Request method varies by court. Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Gather the case number, both parties' full names as filed, and approximate judgment date. (No case number can trigger a $15 search fee if the clerk's search exceeds 10 minutes.) 2. Request a certified copy of the Judgment of Nullity (FL-180) — say it's "for apostille / international use." 3. Pay the fees (confirm the exact rate — see caveat above). Confirm the clerk's seal and signature are legible. Who can request it. Nullity judgments are generally public records, so anyone may request a certified copy of the judgment (a few sealed/confidential cases require a court order or party status). Required forms. The court's records/copy request form, if any. No notarized sworn statement.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the Judgment of Nullity (FL-180) from the Superior Court that handled the case.
How much is the certified copy?
The general court rate is $40 (§70626(a)(4)). Some courts may apply the $15 dissolution rate — confirm with the specific court.
Is an annulment the same as a divorce?
No. A nullity declares the marriage was never valid; a divorce ends a valid marriage.
Is this the same as a religious/church annulment?
No — this is the civil court judgment. The apostille authenticates the court record, not any church decree.
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).