Quick facts
- Category: Academic
- 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 high school / district registrar’s office issues the diploma (a lost original usually requires a school-ordered replacement, which can take several weeks). A California notary public notarizes the school official’s or the custodian’s signature. Many registrar offices do not have an in-house notary, so a mobile notary visiting the school is common. CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. Notarized route (steps): Obtain the diploma (original, or a clear color copy for the custodian route). Either the school official signs an authenticity statement, or the holder signs a Copy Certification by Document Custodian affidavit — in the physical presence of a California notary, with acceptable ID. The notary completes a current California acknowledgment (official’s signature) or jurat (custodian affidavit), attaches it, and affixes the seal. Confirm legibility and that.
Frequently asked questions
Can a California notary just stamp my diploma copy “true copy”?
No — CA notaries can directly certify a copy only of a power of attorney. For a diploma, the holder signs a Copy Certification by Document Custodian affidavit, which the notary jurat-notarizes.
Do I use the original or a copy?
Either works: the school official can sign/notarize on the original, or you can apostille a notarized custodian copy. Many people keep the original and apostille a certified copy.
My school has no notary — what now?
Arrange a mobile notary to visit the registrar’s office, or use the custodian-affidavit route on a copy.
Is there a government fee?
No SOS fee beyond the apostille; the school may charge for a replacement.
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).