Quick facts
- Include all pages — distribution orders itemize assets and recipients; a partial copy may be rejected.
- Many foreign uses require an EXEMPLIFIED copy ($50 + pages, §70628) — confirm before ordering.
- The destination may also need certified Letters (#39/#40) alongside the distribution order.
- Never notarize the order — it's authenticated by the clerk's certification.
- General condition rules: no lamination · no post-notarization alterations · no tape · staple multipage · legible signatures/seals.
What to know
Issuing office. The probate clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the estate is probated. Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. After the judge signs the order/judgment of distribution, request a CERTIFIED copy from the probate clerk — "for apostille / international use." 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. Who can request it. The personal representative, heirs/beneficiaries, and their attorneys (parties to the probate). Confirm any access nuances with the court. Required forms. The court's records/copy request form, if any. Order the distribution order; also order Letters (#39/#40) if the destination needs proof of authority. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): - Certified copy of the distribution order:.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the Order/Judgment of (Final) Distribution from the probate court.
How much is the certified copy?
$40 (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)).
Do I also need the Letters?
Often yes — foreign banks/registries may want both the distribution order and proof of the representative's authority.
Do I need an exemplified copy?
Frequently yes for foreign asset transfers ($50 + page fees).
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).