Civil judgment apostille
We turn certified civil-court judgments — money judgments, settlement orders, restraining orders, and small-claims rulings — into documents foreign courts, registries, and counterparties will accept when enforcing a U.S. judgment abroad.
This page covers civil court judgments and orders — money judgments, settlement orders, small-claims rulings, and other civil-court decisions. Family-court orders are covered on the custody, guardianship & name change page.
What this page covers
A civil judgment apostille is the first step when enforcing a U.S. court judgment outside the United States — recovering a money judgment, registering a settlement agreement, or asking a foreign court to recognize a U.S. ruling. We confirm you have a court-certified copy of the judgment bearing the clerk's signature and seal, then file it with the apostille authority in the state where the judgment was entered. For non-Hague destinations, we coordinate the consular legalization chain.
Common reasons people need this
Recovering a U.S. money judgment from a debtor located abroad almost always begins with an apostilled certified copy of the judgment. Foreign courts use the apostille to confirm the document is a genuine U.S. court order before considering recognition or enforcement under local rules or treaties.
International suppliers, vendors, and partners often require an apostilled court judgment or settlement order before they will release goods, refund payment, or accept set-off. Apostilling the order early can speed resolution of cross-border commercial disputes.
When a civil case ends in a court-approved settlement or stipulated judgment, foreign courts and counterparties may require an apostilled certified copy of the stipulated order to enforce the agreed terms in the other country.
Small-claims judgments and landlord-tenant orders can be apostilled when a party — or assets — has moved abroad. Foreign courts will still want the certified copy bearing the clerk's seal, regardless of the dollar value of the dispute.
How it works
Text or email a clear photo of the civil judgment or order (every page), the issuing court and case number, the destination country, and your deadline. We confirm in writing whether the copy is properly certified or whether a fresh court-certified copy must be ordered first.
If a new copy is required, we tell you exactly which civil-court clerk or small-claims clerk to request from and which version — final judgment, abstract of judgment, stipulated order, or amended judgment — your destination will accept.
We file with the correct Secretary of State (California or other), monitor processing, and return the apostilled judgment by secure courier, mail, or in-person pickup. Same-day rush is available for most California cases.
What will and won't be accepted
Realistic timelines
Before you contact us
Civil Judgment apostille FAQ
Yes. Apostilles can only be issued on a true certified copy bearing the court clerk's signature and seal. Online printouts from the court portal, attorney copies, and notarized photocopies are not eligible. We can tell you exactly which clerk's office to request from.
Yes. Each state apostilles its own court records, so a Texas, New York, or Illinois civil judgment must go through that state's apostille authority. We coordinate ordering the certified copy and filing with the correct out-of-state Secretary of State.
No. The apostille authenticates that the document is a genuine U.S. court order — it does not require the foreign court to enforce it. The foreign court will still apply its own recognition rules, which often depend on treaties, reciprocity, and local procedure. Apostille is the prerequisite step, not the final one.
Yes. Small-claims judgments and other lower-court civil orders are apostilled the same way as larger civil judgments, as long as they bear the clerk's certification. The dollar value of the case does not affect eligibility.
California civil-judgment apostilles can often be completed in 1–3 business days with in-person filing, and same-day rush is available in most cases. Other states vary, typically 1–6 weeks. Non-Hague destinations requiring consular legalization add several more weeks.
Yes. The apostille is attached directly to the court-certified copy of the judgment and returned to you by secure courier, mail, or in-person pickup. We confirm return method in writing before submission.
Other vital records