Quick facts
- Category: Professional License
- 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
Notarized true-copy route (most common): 1. Make a clear copy of your commission certificate. 2. Appear before another California notary with satisfactory ID; swear a short true-copy affidavit and sign in the notary’s presence; the notary completes the jurat and staples the copy. 3. Confirm the notary’s seal, signature, commission number, and expiration are present and legible. County Clerk-certified route (alternative): request a certified copy of your filed oath and bond from the County Clerk where they’re on record (§8213); the County Clerk’s certification is then authenticated by the SOS. Who signs. You (the commission-holder, as affiant) — or the County Clerk (certified route). Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 for the jurat (Gov. Code §8211(b)); usually same-day. County Clerk certified-copy fees vary by county. What the SOS needs to see: a California.
Frequently asked questions
Can I notarize my own commission copy?
No — a different California notary must execute the jurat.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Jurat — the true-copy affidavit is sworn.
Can the County Clerk certify it instead?
Yes — a certified copy of your filed oath and bond (§8213) is an accepted alternative; the SOS authenticates the Clerk.
Who issues the commission?
The California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section (four-year term).
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).