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In California, the County Clerk or California State Registrar provides certified copies of marriage applications, certificates, and verifications. A marriage certificate is a certified document confirming that the couple has officially been married.
In California, you can obtain an original death certificate directly from the State of California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in person or by mail. Please note that death records are only available from CDPH Vital Records after they have been recorded by the County Recorder's Office. Due to the delays resulting from this process, CDPH Vital Records recommends that death certificate certified copies be requested from the County Health Department or the County Recorder's Office for the first 3 months after the event of death.
If you were born in the state of California and want to move to a foreign country for work, study, marriage; or plan to obtain dual citizenship, you will need to have your birth certificate apostilled. An apostille confirms the authenticity of your birth certificate, the stamps, and signatures on it, and makes it legalized for use in all member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961.
In California, an Apostille is issued by the California Secretary of State. California Apostille authenticates California public officials' signatures on documents intended for use outside the United States. California Apostille certifies to the authenticity of the signature of the official who signed the document, the capacity in which that official acted, and when applicable, identifies the seal or stamp which the document bears. The Apostille never validates the contents of the document.
A Certificate of Good Standing certifies that a business entity is properly registered with the state where it operates, and is in compliance with all state tax and regulations requirements. This document serves as proof that a company is trustworthy and safe to do business with.
If you plan to apply for dual citizenship or a long-term visa, many countries require legal proof that you have residency in the United States. Documents that are typically accepted as proof of residency are a driver’s license, utility bill, home phone/internet bill, mortgage statement, lease agreement, letter from the employer, etc.
An Apostille on a No Record of Marriage is needed if a person plans to get married in a country – member of the Apostille Hague Convention. A No Record of Marriage is basically a notarized statement from a person attesting that he/she is not legally married anywhere and, therefore, is eligible to wed in a foreign country.
If you plan to travel to a foreign country for work, study, or permanent or long-time residence, you will be required to submit an apostilled background check in order to receive a visa or a residency permit in the country of your destination.
An apostille on a national passport is required to conduct legal transactions in countries – members of the Hague Apostille Convention. If you plan to get married, retire, buy a property or establish a business abroad, you will be asked to provide an apostilled copy of a passport.
If a minor child travels without parents, or with only one parent, a notarized Travel Consent Letter is required. If a destination is outside of the United States, a Travel Consent Letter must also be attested with an apostille.