Need to use your US marriage certificate in China or overseas?
If you registered your marriage in California, you may need an Apostille for your US marriage certificate when handling household registration (hukou), identity, property, inheritance, banking, or other formal matters in China or other countries. Lanz offers marriage certificate document review, California Apostille processing, and final delivery of certified documents.
When is it needed?
When a marriage certificate issued in California needs to be submitted to institutions in China or other countries, it is commonly used for the following matters.
Hukou & Identity Matters
Used for marriage status registration, updating household registration records, family relationship verification, or other identity-related issues.
Property, Banking & Inheritance
In cross-border real estate, bank account, property distribution, or inheritance matters, you may need to prove your marital status.
Other Official Overseas Uses
Used for visas, residency, family status proof, or other procedures requiring an official marriage record.
What is a Marriage Certificate Apostille?
An Apostille does not re-verify whether two people are married; it authenticates the signature, identity, and seal of the relevant California official on the certificate, enabling the US public document to complete cross-border authentication procedures.
Marriage certificates are government Vital Records, so the couple generally does not need to visit a notary public in person to sign for an Apostille. We first verify the issuance information of the certified copy, then proceed with the authentication.
First, confirm which type of certificate you have
California public marriage and confidential marriage records originate from different sources. An official Apostille requires a compliant certified copy, not a souvenir or standard photocopy.
Certified copies of a public marriage certificate can be requested from the County Recorder of the county where it was issued; in some cases, it can also be obtained from the California Department of Public Health.
Certified copies of a confidential marriage certificate can only be obtained through the County Clerk that originally issued the confidential marriage license.
Personal photocopies, scanned prints, or souvenir documents received at a wedding are not the same as the certified copy required for an Apostille.
The process is simple
Marriage certificates are government-issued documents, so the couple does not need to appear in person for notarization. We will check your documents first, then proceed with the authentication.
Place an order online
Place your order directly on this page. Once done, we will contact you to confirm the certificate type and the document submission method.
Verify your certificate
We will verify whether it is a certified copy, check the issuing authority, signatures, seals, and overall document integrity.
Apostille processing
Once the documents meet requirements, we will proceed with the California Apostille. You do not need to visit the Secretary of State's office.
Final delivery
After the Apostille is complete, we will send or deliver the certified original documents according to your order preferences.
What do you need to prepare?
Please provide an official certified copy issued by the County Recorder, County Clerk, or other appropriate government authority.
Please retain all issuance information, signatures, seals, and all pages; do not provide partial photocopies.
The Apostille application requires stating the country where the document will ultimately be used. If it is for China, just let us know.
Authorized Copies vs. Informational Copies
The California Department of Public Health distinguishes between authorized copies and informational copies of marriage records.
Authorized copies can be used to establish identity; informational copies cannot.
If the overseas institution explicitly requires a marriage certificate for official identity purposes, please verify which type of certified copy is required. We can also assist in reviewing your current document version.
Why choose Lanz?
Pre-review of certificate version
We confirm whether it is a public marriage or confidential marriage certificate, and whether the document is an official certified copy.
No in-person appearance required
Marriage certificates are government-issued Vital Records, meaning the couple does not need to visit a notary to re-sign for an Apostille.
End-to-end follow-up
From document review to Apostille processing and final document delivery, your order is handled by the same professional team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a marriage certificate Apostille?
An Apostille authenticates the signature, identity, and seal of the relevant California official, enabling the document to complete cross-border legal procedures.
Do I need to have the certificate notarized by a notary public?
An official California certified copy is a government-issued Vital Record. Generally, the couple does not need to have it re-notarized for an Apostille.
Where can I obtain a Public Marriage Certificate?
Public marriage records can be requested from the County Recorder that issued the marriage license. The California Department of Public Health also maintains and issues public marriage records for certain years.
Where can I obtain a Confidential Marriage Certificate?
Confidential marriage records can only be requested from the County Clerk that originally issued the license.
Can I use the certificate received on my wedding day?
Not necessarily. Souvenir certificates obtained on your wedding day are not always official certified copies. Please send us the document to review first.
Can I use a standard photocopy for an Apostille?
No. The California Secretary of State requires a document signed by a public official or an original notarized/certified document.
What is the difference between an Authorized and Informational Copy?
Both are types of certified copies, but authorized copies can be used to establish legal identity, while informational copies cannot.
Do both spouses need to be present?
Generally, no. The Apostille process is for government-issued documents, not for the couple to re-sign declarations.
Can I Apostille a non-California marriage certificate in California?
Generally, no. An Apostille should be obtained from the authorities of the state where the document was issued.
Does an Apostille re-verify our marital relationship?
No. The marriage relationship is established by government registration. The Apostille only authenticates the signature and seal of the public official.
Do I still need Chinese consular authentication after the Apostille?
For US public documents subject to the Apostille Convention, traditional Chinese consular authentication is generally no longer required after the Apostille is obtained.
Can I send a photo or PDF for you to check first?
Yes. Please provide a clear, complete document, including the issuance authority, signatures, and seals, so we can confirm if the version is suitable.
What happens after I place an order?
After ordering, we will contact you to confirm the version and the submission method. Once the document is verified, we proceed with the Apostille and deliver the final original documents.
Submit your certificate, and we will handle the rest.
After the order is completed, we will first verify that the marriage certificate is a proper certified copy, and ensure that the issuance and authentication information is complete. Once the document meets the requirements, we will proceed with the California Apostille process, and upon completion, we will deliver the original authenticated document as agreed in the order.
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