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Federal Apostille USA

Colorado

Federal Marriage Record Apostille in Colorado

How Colorado residents get their Federal Marriage Record authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Colorado Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.

Quick answer

Most federal marriage record holders in Colorado actually have a state-issued record, which goes to the Colorado Secretary of State. Only genuinely federal versions go to the U.S. Department of State.

Authenticated by
Depends on the issuer
Colorado apostille office
Colorado Secretary of State, Denver
Our nearest office
Washington, D.C. (by mail)
Price
$299 per document, government fees included

Married in Colorado? It’s probably a state record

Marriage certificates issued by a Colorado county clerk or the state vital records office are state documents, apostilled by the Colorado Secretary of State in Denver — not by the U.S. Department of State. Only consular or federally issued marriage records take the federal route.

Send us a photo before ordering and we’ll tell you which route yours takes.

About the Federal Marriage Record

How to apostille a federally issued or consular marriage record for spousal visas and foreign registration.

Check who issued it first. Most U.S. marriage certificates are state documents from a county clerk, which authenticate through that state — not federally. Sending one to the Department of State gets it returned.

What the Colorado Secretary of State can do

The Colorado Secretary of State in Denver issues apostilles for documents signed by Colorado officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Colorado registrars, Colorado state-court records, and documents notarized by Colorado notaries. It has no authority over federal documents such as FBI reports, USCIS certificates or IRS letters.

State offices set their own procedures and fees, so confirm current requirements with the office before submitting a state document.

Getting it done from Colorado

We serve Colorado by mail from our Washington, D.C. headquarters, close to the Office of Authentications. There’s no need to visit an office in person.

DestinationRouteOur turnaround
Hague Convention countryU.S. Department of State apostille10–12 business days
Non-Hague countryAuthentication + embassy legalization15–17 business days

Serving Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Boulder and everywhere else in Colorado.

Federal Marriage Record in Colorado — FAQ

Can the Colorado Secretary of State apostille my Federal Marriage Record?

Only if it's a Colorado-issued record. County and state-issued versions go to the Colorado Secretary of State; genuinely federal ones go to the U.S. Department of State.

Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Colorado?

No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Colorado clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.

How long does it take from Colorado?

About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.

How much does it cost?

$299 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.

Related: Federal Marriage Record — full guide · All documents in Colorado · Federal vs. state apostille

Ready to start?

Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.