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. California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division. Order channels: - Online: bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov (certified copies / certificates for LPs available online — typically fastest). - Mail: Secretary of State, Certification and Records, P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2600. - Drop-off (in person): 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (priority over mail; special handling fee applies). Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Identify the LP exactly — name as registered and the SOS entity (file) number (search free at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov). 2. Order a CERTIFIED copy of the filed Certificate of Limited Partnership (LP-1) — say “certified copy for apostille / international use.” Add a Certificate of Status if proof of active status is wanted. 3. Pay the fees (below). Confirm the SOS certification stamp, signature, and State Seal are present.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the filed Certificate of Limited Partnership (LP-1) from the California Secretary of State. Say “certified copy for apostille.”
Is the partnership agreement the same thing?
No — the agreement is internal and not filed with the SOS; it takes the notarized route (#90).
Can I just print it from the state website?
No — a free image isn’t certified. The apostille authenticates the SOS certification on a paid certified copy.
How much is the certified copy?
$5 certification plus copy fees ($1 first page, $0.50 each additional) — about $6–$7.
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).