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 — the company prepares the letter; a California notary public notarizes the officer’s signature. CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. Notarized route (steps): Prepare the profile on company letterhead with accurate company details. The authorized officer signs in the physical presence of a California notary, with acceptable ID. The notary completes a current California acknowledgment, attaches it, and affixes the seal. Confirm legibility and that the commission number/expiration appear. Who can sign it: An authorized officer of the company. Required forms: None statewide — the company’s own letter plus California notary acknowledgment wording. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): Up to $15 per signature (Gov. Code §8211). Mobile/travel fees unregulated. Usually same-day. What the SOS needs to see: The California notary’s signature, seal,.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as a Certificate of Good Standing?
No. Good Standing/Status is a state-filed SOS document (certified route #68–69); a company profile is the company’s own descriptive letter (notarized route).
Who signs it?
An authorized officer of the company, before a California notary.
Is there a government fee?
No — it is a private document; the cost is the notary fee plus the apostille.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Usually an acknowledgment; confirm with the destination.
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).