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. Name the dependent and the relationship, describe the nature and extent of the dependency, and add identity details. Attach proof of relationship/support 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. The person providing for the dependent (or another with knowledge, per the recipient’s requirement). 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.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I submit?
Your sworn Affidavit of Dependency, notarized with a jurat. The SOS apostilles the notary’s signature.
Do I also need a relationship or support affidavit?
Often yes — destinations may want the relationship (#208) and/or support (#203) documented too. Apostille each separately if required.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Jurat — it’s sworn.
Do I have to appear in person before the notary?
Yes — sign in the notary’s presence with valid ID.
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).