Quick facts
- Order a RECENTLY certified copy — stale Letters may be rejected by the foreign institution even with a valid apostille.
- Many foreign uses require an EXEMPLIFIED copy ($50 + pages, §70628) — confirm before ordering.
- Never notarize the Letters — they're authenticated by the clerk's certification.
- General condition rules: no lamination · no post-notarization alterations · no tape · staple multipage · legible signatures/seals.
- Submitting a plain photocopy or download instead of a clerk-certified copy.
What to know
Issuing office. The probate clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the estate is being administered. Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. After the court appoints the executor and issues Letters (DE-150), request a freshly CERTIFIED copy from the probate clerk — say it's "for apostille / international use." Order extra certified copies if multiple foreign institutions each need one. 2. If a foreign jurisdiction requires it, request an EXEMPLIFIED (triple-certified) copy instead. 3. Pay the fees (see below). Confirm the clerk's seal and signature are legible and the certification date is recent. Who can request it. The personal representative (executor) and their attorney; certified Letters are commonly issued on request to the appointed representative. Required forms. The court's records/copy request form, if any. Order the DE-150 Letters, not the Order for.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the Letters (DE-150) from the probate court that appointed the executor.
How much is the certified copy?
$40 (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)). Some sources quote ~$25–30, but the statewide statutory rate is $40 — confirm locally.
Why does the date matter?
Foreign institutions often require Letters certified within the last ~60 days to confirm current authority.
Do I need an exemplified copy?
Frequently yes for foreign assets/ancillary probate ($50 + page fees) — confirm with the asset's jurisdiction.
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).