Quick facts
- Make sure you're apostilling the CORRECT specific order — confirm with the foreign authority.
- Some foreign uses require an EXEMPLIFIED copy ($50 + pages, §70628) — confirm before ordering.
- 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.
- Submitting a plain photocopy or download instead of a clerk-certified copy.
What to know
Issuing office. The probate clerk of the Superior Court in the county handling the estate/conservatorship/guardianship matter. Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Identify the exact order (form number/title and date) the foreign authority needs. 2. Request a CERTIFIED copy of that order from the probate clerk — "for apostille / international use." 3. If a foreign jurisdiction requires it, request an EXEMPLIFIED (triple-certified) copy instead. 4. Pay the fees (see below). Confirm the clerk's seal and signature are legible. Who can request it. Parties to the probate proceeding and their attorneys; access to some probate records may be limited — confirm with the court. Required forms. The court's records/copy request form, if any. Identify the specific order to order. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): - Certified copy of the probate order: $40 (Gov. Code.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the specific probate order (by form number/title and date) from the probate court.
How do I know which order I need?
Ask the foreign authority for the exact ruling/document they require, then order that order.
How much is the certified copy?
$40 (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)).
Do I need an exemplified copy?
Only if the destination requires it ($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).