Quick facts
- Some countries require an exemplified (triple-certified) copy — confirm before ordering ($50 + pages, §70628).
- Include the FL-343 attachment (or the support portion of the judgment) — a partial copy may be treated as incomplete.
- Never notarize the order — it's authenticated by the clerk's certification.
- An apostille authenticates the document; it does not compel foreign enforcement (spousal support enforcement abroad is uneven).
- 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 spousal/partner support order — the FL-340 + FL-343, 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; confirm any access limits with the specific court. Required forms. The court's records/copy request form, if any. Order the signed order/judgment, not the request (FL-300) or a proposed order. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026):.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the signed spousal/partner support order — the FL-340 with FL-343 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 spousal support enforced abroad like child support?
Less reliably — the Hague Child Support Convention covers spousal support only optionally, and many countries don't extend it. Confirm the destination's approach.
Can I notarize it instead?
No — a court order must be certified by the court clerk.
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).