Quick facts
- Handle the certified copy carefully — these orders are sensitive/often sealed.
- Some foreign uses require an EXEMPLIFIED copy ($50 + pages, §70628) — confirm before ordering.
- 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.
- Submitting a plain photocopy instead of a clerk-certified copy.
What to know
Issuing office. The Superior Court clerk (juvenile or family division) in the county where the order was made. Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Confirm your access rights — these records are typically confidential; you may need party status or a court order to obtain a certified copy. 2. Request a CERTIFIED copy of the termination order — "for apostille / international use." 3. If a foreign jurisdiction requires it, request an EXEMPLIFIED (triple-certified) copy instead. 4. Pay the fees (see below). Confirm the clerk's seal and signature are legible. Who can request it. Generally the parties, the adoptive parents/agency, or someone authorized by court order. Confirm with the court. Required forms. The court's records/copy request process (which may involve a request to access confidential records). Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): - Certified copy.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the order terminating parental rights from the issuing Superior Court (juvenile or family division).
Are these records public?
Often no — they're typically confidential/sealed. You may need party status or a court order to obtain a certified copy.
How much is the certified copy?
$40 (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)).
Why would I apostille this?
Usually for a foreign/intercountry adoption or to prove a child's legal status abroad.
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).