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 for the private agreement — privately drafted; a California notary public notarizes it. Notaries are available at banks, shipping/UPS stores, law offices, and via mobile notaries. CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. (If you actually need the state-filed LP-1, request a certified copy from the SOS Corporations Division instead — that is the certified route.) Notarized route (steps): Finalize the executed partnership agreement. Each partner whose signature needs authentication signs in the physical presence of a California notary, with acceptable ID. The notary completes a current California acknowledgment, attaches it, and affixes the seal. Confirm legibility and that the commission number/expiration appear. Who can sign it: The partners who are parties to the agreement. Required forms: None statewide — the partners’ own agreement plus California notary.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the LP-1 filed with the state?
No. The LP-1 and Statement of Partnership Authority are state-filed records obtained as certified copies from the SOS Corporations Division. The internal partnership agreement is private and goes the notarized route.
Do all partners need notarization?
Only those whose signatures must be authenticated — but each one notarized must personally appear before the California notary.
Is there a government fee for the agreement?
No — it is a private contract; the cost is the notary fee plus the apostille.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Usually an acknowledgment of the signatures; confirm with the destination.
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).