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. Describe the lost item precisely (type, number, date, issuer), the circumstances of the loss, and a statement that it hasn’t been transferred or pledged (if relevant, e.g., securities). Attach what the recipient requires. 2. Personally appear before a California notary with satisfactory ID. The notary administers an oath 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 who lost/owned the item. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 for the jurat (Gov. Code §8211(b)); usually same-day. Drafting is free. (Replacement of the item, and any surety bond, are separate costs from the issuer.) What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s jurat — current commission, legible.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I submit?
Your sworn Affidavit of Loss, notarized with a jurat. The SOS apostilles the notary’s signature.
Does this replace the lost item?
No — it attests to the loss. The replacement comes from the issuer (passport agency, transfer agent, registrar, etc.).
Lost a stock certificate — anything special?
Yes; the transfer agent usually requires specific wording and a surety bond. Match their requirements before notarizing.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Jurat — it’s sworn.
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).