Will Social Security accept a notarized copy of divorce decree instead of original document?

Unfortunately, SSA typically requires certified copies of legal documents like divorce decrees, not notarized photocopies. The certification needs to come directly from the court that issued it. A notary can only verify that a copy matches another document, not that the original document itself is authentic. I went through this last year and had to pay the fee for the court-certified copy.

my sister tried using a copy last yr & they REJECTED it!! had to wait 2 more months for proper docs & almost missed her medicare enrollment period!! dont risk it

Just wondering - have you checked if your state has online court records where you might be able to get a certified copy electronically? Some states now offer this service and it's faster than mail requests. Might be worth looking into before paying the $75.

I work as a paralegal, and I can confirm that Social Security is very strict about requiring certified court documents with the original seal. A notarized copy won't work because the notary is only verifying that your copy matches another document, not that the document itself is authentic. If the $75 fee is a hardship, you might ask the court clerk if they have a fee waiver process. Some courts will reduce or waive fees based on financial need. Also, you can still submit your application for ex-spouse benefits now and note that the certified decree is forthcoming. This establishes your filing date while you wait for the document.

When I applied for survivor benefits last year I had a similar problem with my marriage certificate. I tried explaining to SSA that getting a new copy would take 8 weeks from the county office, and the agent just said "that's not our problem" and told me to come back when I had proper documentation. So frustrating!

I had a nightmare trying to reach SSA about this exact issue! Kept calling for 3 weeks and either got disconnected or was on hold for hours. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a real agent in under 15 minutes. They confirmed I needed a court-certified copy but were able to start my application process while I waited for it. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent also gave me a special fax number to send the document once I received it, which saved me another office visit.

cant u just say u never got married?? how would they know?

One more thing to consider - if you're applying for divorced spouse benefits, remember you need to have been married for at least 10 years to qualify. Make sure your divorce decree clearly shows the marriage and divorce dates. If it's been less than 10 years, you won't be eligible regardless of having the proper documentation.

My friend went through this and she said she mailed her application with a note explaining that the certified divorce decree was on its way from the court. She included her receipt from the court showing she had ordered it. SSA started processing her application and just put a note that the file needed the decree before finalizing. Not sure if all offices do this, but might be worth trying.

Just wanted to add that I went through this exact situation with my divorce decree from 2001. Called the courthouse and they actually offered to email me a PDF copy with their digital seal for $25, which SSA accepted as valid documentation. Not all courts offer this service, but it might be worth asking if yours does - could save you time and money compared to waiting for a physical certified copy to be mailed.

Based on everyone's experiences shared here, I'd strongly recommend calling your courthouse first to ask about digital certified copies before paying the full $75. As several people mentioned, many courts now offer email delivery with embedded digital seals for much less money and faster turnaround - sometimes the same day! I also want to emphasize what the paralegal mentioned about submitting your SSA application now to establish your filing date while you wait for the document. This is crucial since you mentioned your FRA is in 3 months. SSA can backdate benefits to your initial filing date once you provide the required documentation. One more tip - when you do call SSA (or use a service like Claimyr to get through faster), ask specifically about their document submission process. Some offices accept faxed certified copies, which could save you time once you get your divorce decree. Good luck with your application!