California Fictitious Business Name DBA Apostille

Proving a business’s registered trade name abroad — opening a foreign bank account in the business name, foreign contracts and registrations using the DBA, and confirming to a foreign counterparty/authority that the name is officially registered. Common destinations: wherever the business name must be evidenced.

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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. The County Clerk / Recorder of the county where the FBN was filed. (Example: LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Norwalk — certified copies of FBN statements obtained in person or by mail.) Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Identify the filing county, the exact business name, and (helpfully) the FBN file number. 2. Request a CERTIFIED copy of the filed FBN statement from that county clerk/recorder — say “certified copy for apostille / international use.” (If you don’t have the file number, a search fee may apply.) 3. Pay the county’s fee (see below). Confirm the county clerk’s certification stamp and seal are present before submitting for apostille. Who can request it. Anyone — filed FBN statements are public record; no eligibility affidavit needed. Required forms. The specific county’s records/copy request process (in person or by mail). Cost +.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly do I order?

A certified copy of the filed Fictitious Business Name statement from the county clerk/recorder where it was filed. Say “certified copy for apostille.”

Is this an SOS document?

No — DBAs are county records. Order the certified copy from the county, not the Secretary of State. (The SOS only issues the apostille.)

How much is the certified copy?

It’s county-set — LA County charges $2.00; other counties vary. Confirm with your county clerk.

Do I need to notarize it?

No — for the apostille, the county clerk’s certification is what’s authenticated. Don’t add a notary to the 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