Quick facts
- Category: Business / Corporate
- 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
Issuing office: None — there is no government issuer. The corporation prepares the minutes; a California notary public notarizes the officer’s certifying signature. CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. Notarized route (steps): Prepare the minutes (or a Secretary’s Certificate attesting they are a true and correct copy of minutes of a meeting held on a stated date). The authorized officer (usually the corporate secretary) signs in the physical presence of a California notary, with acceptable ID. The notary completes a current California acknowledgment (or a jurat if a sworn statement is required), attaches it, and affixes the seal. Confirm legibility and that the commission number/expiration appear. Who can sign it: An officer authorized to attest corporate records (typically the secretary). Required forms: None statewide — the corporation’s own minutes/certificate plus.
Frequently asked questions
Who signs the minutes for notarization?
Typically the corporate secretary signs a certification that the minutes are a true and correct record; that signature is notarized.
Can the SOS certify the minutes directly?
No — minutes are not filed with the state, so there is no certified copy. They go the notarized route.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
An acknowledgment of the officer’s signature is common; some authorities want a sworn jurat — confirm with the receiving party.
Is there a government fee?
No — only the notary fee (up to $15/signature) plus the $20/$26 apostille.
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).