Quick facts
- Category: Power of Attorney / Authorization
- 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
Self-prepared — no issuing office. 1. Draft the authorization. Identify the child, the parent(s)/guardian(s), exactly what is authorized, and any limits/period; add a clear consent statement. Attach the child’s birth certificate copy if asked. 2. Sign before a California notary. Each signing parent/guardian personally appears with satisfactory ID; the notary completes an acknowledgment (or jurat if sworn). Each signature is its own $15 notarization. 3. Confirm the notary’s seal, signature, commission number, and expiration are present and legible. Who can create it. A parent or legal guardian with authority over the child. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 per signature (Gov. Code §8211(a)/(b)); usually same-day. Drafting is free. What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s certificate (acknowledgment or jurat) for each signer — current commission,.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from a travel consent?
Travel consent (#235) is travel-specific; this covers broader matters (medical, school, activities). Use the tighter fit when one exists.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Usually an acknowledgment; a jurat if the letter is sworn. Either way the SOS authenticates the notary.
Do both parents sign?
Where both share custody, yes — each separately notarized.
Is this guardianship or a POA?
No — it’s a consent/authorization. For caregiving authority use the child-care POA (#232); for guardianship, the court (#41/#43).
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).