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 person/obligation, the scope and duration of your responsibility, and (if required) your income/assets. Attach supporting proof (bank letter, proof-of-funds) if the destination asks — each may need its own notarization/apostille if separately required. 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 accepting responsibility. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 for the jurat (Gov. Code §8211(b)); usually same-day. Drafting is free. (Supporting financial documents are priced/issued separately.) What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s jurat.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as an Affidavit of Support?
Very close — both are sworn financial commitments. Use whichever name/wording the destination asks for; the route is identical.
Is it the federal I-864?
No — that’s a U.S.-immigration form and isn’t apostilled.
What exactly do I submit?
Your sworn affidavit, notarized with a jurat. The SOS apostilles the notary’s signature.
Do I attach proof of funds?
Only if required; attach it (and apostille separately if the destination requires that too).
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).