Quick facts
- Category: Financial / Real Estate
- 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
County Recorder-certified copy. 1. Confirm the quitclaim deed is recorded with the County Recorder. If not recorded, record it first (recording requires the original notarized deed; recording fees apply). 2. Request a certified copy of the recorded deed from the County Recorder. 3. The Recorder issues the certified copy: $1.00 certification (Gov. Code §27364) + per-page copy fee (county-set, Gov. Code §27366). Who issues it. The County Recorder. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): $1.00 certification + county-set per-page copy fee; turnaround varies by county. What the SOS needs to see: a County Recorder-certified copy with the Recorder’s official certification, signature, and seal. The SOS verifies the official’s signature, then attaches the apostille. No notary in the apostille step — the Recorder’s certification is the official act. The certified copy must be.
Frequently asked questions
Can I notarize a copy of my quitclaim deed?
No — get a County Recorder-certified copy; the SOS authenticates the Recorder.
Does it have to be recorded?
Yes — only a recorded deed is a public record the Recorder can certify.
Quitclaim vs. grant deed?
A quitclaim transfers only the grantor’s interest (no warranties); a grant deed (#269) carries implied warranties. Same apostille route.
Does the apostille confirm what I received?
No — it authenticates the Recorder’s certification, not the interest’s validity or extent.
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).