Quick facts
- Category: Financial / Real Estate
- 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
County Recorder-certified copy. 1. Confirm the deed of trust is recorded with the County Recorder. 2. Request a certified copy of the recorded instrument from the County Recorder. 3. The Recorder issues the certified copy: $1.00 certification (Gov. Code §27364) + per-page copy fee (county-set, Gov. Code §27366). A deed of trust can run several pages, so per-page copy fees add up. Who issues it. The County Recorder. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): $1.00 certification + county-set per-page copy fee; turnaround varies by county. What the SOS needs to see: a County Recorder-certified copy with the Recorder’s official certification, signature, and seal. The SOS verifies the official’s signature, then attaches the apostille. No notary in the apostille step — the Recorder’s certification is the official act. Keep all pages of the (often lengthy) instrument intact and.
Frequently asked questions
Deed of trust or mortgage?
California typically uses a deed of trust as the recorded security instrument; a “mortgage document” (#275) may apply elsewhere or for specific loans.
Can I notarize a copy?
No — get a County Recorder-certified copy; the SOS authenticates the Recorder.
Does it have to be recorded?
Yes — only a recorded instrument is a public record the Recorder can certify.
It’s many pages — does that matter?
Yes — ensure the complete instrument is certified; per-page copy fees apply.
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).