Single-status affidavit apostille for Mexico
To marry in Mexico, the Registro Civil requires a sworn affidavit stating you have never been married — or that any prior marriage has been dissolved. This single-status affidavit must be notarized in California and apostilled by the California Secretary of State before the Mexican civil registry will accept it.
A single-status affidavit is a sworn statement declaring you are legally free to marry. As a sworn statement (jurat), it requires you to swear under oath before a California notary that the contents are true. The California Secretary of State apostille then makes the affidavit acceptable at the Mexican Registro Civil for a marriage license. If you have been previously married, you typically also need an apostilled divorce decree or death certificate of the former spouse.
What this page covers
Foreigners marrying in Mexico must prove legal eligibility to the Registro Civil. This commonly involves a sworn affidavit confirming no marriage or that all prior marriages were legally dissolved. You provide the completed affidavit. We administer the oath and complete the California jurat during a mobile visit. The California Secretary of State then apostilles the document for use in Mexico. If previously married, ask the receiving office whether an apostilled divorce decree or death certificate is also required.
Common reasons people need this
The Mexican civil registry requires all foreign nationals to present proof of single status before issuing a marriage license. An apostilled single-status affidavit sworn before a California notary is the standard document used by U.S. citizens and residents marrying in Mexico.
If you have been previously married, the Registro Civil requires both the apostilled single-status affidavit AND the apostilled divorce decree (or apostilled death certificate of former spouse). The affidavit references the prior marriage and its legal dissolution.
INM residency applications based on marriage to a Mexican national may require a sworn affidavit of civil status as part of the personal history and family documentation package.
Some Mexican civil registry offices or consular processes require an affidavit of single status to update civil records, process CURP corrections, or support other administrative legal procedures.
How it works
Send the completed affidavit provided by your Mexican attorney, Registro Civil office, or Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles. We confirm the California notarial certificate requirements before you sign.
We meet you anywhere in Los Angeles, Orange, or Ventura County. You present valid government photo ID, raise your right hand, swear the statement is true, and sign in front of us. We apply the California jurat.
We submit the notarized affidavit to the California Secretary of State for apostille and ship the apostilled document to you. Arrange a certified Spanish translation by a Mexican perito traductor before presenting to the Registro Civil.
What will and won't be accepted
Realistic timelines
Before you contact us
Single-Status Affidavit Apostille FAQ — Mexico Use
A single-status affidavit, also called an affidavit of eligibility to marry, is a sworn statement that you are legally free to marry. It covers never-married applicants and those whose prior marriages were legally dissolved. Requirements vary by Registro Civil office, so confirm the document and wording with the receiving office or your Mexican attorney.
Yes — typically both. The affidavit references the prior marriage and its dissolution. An apostilled divorce decree, or death certificate for a widowed applicant, provides documentary proof. Bring both apostilled documents to the Registro Civil. Confirm with the specific Registro Civil office for its exact requirements.
The Mexican Consulate General in Los Angeles offers consular notarization services for some documents, including sworn statements, which Mexican authorities may accept without the California apostille chain. However, consulate appointments can be limited. Confirm with the Registro Civil office in Mexico where your marriage will be registered whether they prefer a consular notarization or a California notarization + apostille before booking either option.
The Mexican Registro Civil typically requires a certified Spanish translation of the affidavit by a Mexican perito traductor if the affidavit is in English. Some clients bring both an English and a Spanish version; we notarize the English version and the perito handles the certified translation. Confirm with your Registro Civil or Mexican attorney which format they prefer.
A CENOMAR (Constancia de No Registro de Matrimonio) is a Mexican civil registry document confirming no marriage is registered in Mexican records. Some offices accept a CENOMAR instead of an affidavit for Mexican nationals. U.S. citizens or residents are typically asked for an affidavit because Mexico lacks centralized U.S. civil records. Confirm with your specific Registro Civil office.
The Mexican Consulate General in Los Angeles, your Mexican attorney, or the receiving Registro Civil office may provide a template. Confirm the format with the receiving office before using any template. Once finalized, send the affidavit before your notarization appointment so we can confirm California notarial certificate requirements.
Other Mexico documents