California Certificate of Dissolution Apostille

Proving a corporation has been dissolved abroad — closing a foreign branch, subsidiary, or bank account, ending foreign registrations, settling cross-border affairs, and confirming to a foreign counterparty/authority that the entity has ceased to exist. Common destinations: wherever the company had a foreign presence that must be wound down.

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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. California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division. Order channels: - Online: bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov (certified copies / certificates available online — typically fastest). - Mail: Secretary of State, Certification and Records, P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2600. - Drop-off (in person): 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (priority over mail; special handling fee applies). Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Identify the entity exactly — name as registered and the SOS entity (file) number (search free at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov). 2. Order a CERTIFIED copy of the filed Certificate of Dissolution — say “certified copy for apostille / international use.” 3. Pay the fees (below). Confirm the SOS certification stamp, signature, and State Seal are present before submitting for apostille. Who can request it. Anyone — filed dissolution.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly do I order?

A certified copy of the filed Certificate of Dissolution from the California Secretary of State. Say “certified copy for apostille.”

Is dissolution the same as cancellation?

No — corporations dissolve; LLCs cancel (that’s #76). Order the one matching your entity type and the destination’s request.

Why apostille a dissolution?

To prove abroad that the company has ceased to exist — e.g., to close a foreign account or registration.

Can I just print it from the state website?

No — a free image isn’t certified. The apostille authenticates the SOS certification on a paid certified copy.

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).

Compliant with the rules that actually get documents accepted