Tennessee
Federal Marriage Record Apostille in Tennessee
How Tennessee residents get their Federal Marriage Record authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Tennessee Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
Most federal marriage record holders in Tennessee actually have a state-issued record, which goes to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Only genuinely federal versions go to the U.S. Department of State.
- Authenticated by
- Depends on the issuer
- Tennessee apostille office
- Tennessee Secretary of State, Nashville
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Married in Tennessee? It’s probably a state record
Marriage certificates issued by a Tennessee county clerk or the state vital records office are state documents, apostilled by the Tennessee Secretary of State in Nashville — 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.
What the Tennessee Secretary of State can do
The Tennessee Secretary of State in Nashville issues apostilles for documents signed by Tennessee officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Tennessee registrars, Tennessee state-court records, and documents notarized by Tennessee 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 Tennessee
We serve Tennessee by mail from our Washington, D.C. headquarters, close to the Office of Authentications. There’s no need to visit an office in person.
| Destination | Route | Our turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Convention country | U.S. Department of State apostille | 10–12 business days |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication + embassy legalization | 15–17 business days |
Serving Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga and everywhere else in Tennessee.
Federal Marriage Record in Tennessee — FAQ
Can the Tennessee Secretary of State apostille my Federal Marriage Record?
Only if it's a Tennessee-issued record. County and state-issued versions go to the Tennessee Secretary of State; genuinely federal ones go to the U.S. Department of State.
Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Tennessee?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Tennessee clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Tennessee?
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 Tennessee · 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.