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 — privately drafted; a California notary public notarizes the signatures. CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. Notarized route (steps): Finalize the executed license (identify the licensed IP, territory, term, and royalties). Each signatory whose signature needs authentication signs in the physical presence of a California notary, with acceptable ID. The notary completes a current California acknowledgment for each signature, attaches the certificate(s), and affixes the seal. Confirm legibility and that the commission number/expiration appear. Who can sign it: The licensor and licensee (or their authorized officers). Required forms: None statewide — the parties’ own agreement 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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the license agreement the same as the IP registration?
No. The agreement is a private contract (notarized route). The underlying registration is separate — a CA SOS trademark is a certified copy (#82); a USPTO trademark/patent is federal (U.S. Department of State).
My country requires the license to be registered — is the apostille enough?
The apostille authenticates the signature; some countries then require local registration/translation. Check the destination’s IP-license rules.
Do both parties need to be notarized?
Only those whose signatures must be authenticated — but each one notarized must personally appear.
Is there a government fee?
No — it is a private contract; the cost is the notary fee plus the apostille.
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).