Quick facts
- Category: Affidavit / Sworn Statement
- Apostilled by the California Secretary of State (Sacramento or Los Angeles)
- Fee: $20 per document (mail) or $26 (walk-in) at the California Secretary of State
- Free document review before you pay any government fee
- Tracked outbound and return shipping included
What to know
Self-prepared — no issuing office. 1. Draft the affidavit. State your legal name and the alias/AKA exactly as each appears, confirm both refer to you, and explain the reason for the alias. Reference or attach the documents showing each name if the destination asks. 2. Personally appear before a California notary with satisfactory ID. The notary administers an oath/affirmation and completes a jurat; you sign in the notary’s presence. 3. Confirm the notary’s seal, signature, commission number, and expiration are present and legible. Who can swear it. You, about your own names. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 for the jurat (Gov. Code §8211(b)); usually same-day. Drafting is free. What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s jurat — current commission, legible seal/signature, commission number and expiration shown. The SOS verifies the notary, then.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I submit?
Your sworn alias/AKA affidavit, notarized with a jurat. The SOS apostilles the notary’s signature.
How is this different from “one and the same”?
“One and the same” (#206) links name versions of one identity (e.g., maiden/married); an alias affidavit attests you’re also known by another name (AKA).
Does this change my name?
No — a legal change requires the court Decree Changing Name (#31).
Should spellings match my documents?
Yes — copy each name exactly, or the affidavit won’t reconcile the records.
Common destinations
Countries this document is most often sent to (pulled from this page's own guidance). Every destination has its own rulebook — apostille (Hague) or full legalization (non-Hague).