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. List each name version exactly as it appears on the relevant documents, state that they all refer to you, and explain the reason (marriage, spelling/transliteration, etc.). Reference or attach the documents that show the differing names if the destination asks. 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. 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.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I submit?
Your sworn “one and the same person” affidavit, notarized with a jurat. The SOS apostilles the notary’s signature.
Does this change my name?
No — it only explains that different names refer to you. A legal change requires the court Decree Changing Name (registry #31).
How is this different from an Affidavit of Identity?
Identity (registry #199) attests to who you are; this one specifically links multiple name versions to the same person.
Should the spellings match my documents exactly?
Yes — copy each name precisely as it appears, or the affidavit won’t resolve the discrepancy.
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).