Quick facts
- If instead you have a standalone NOTARIZED satisfaction instrument, the SOS authenticates the notary's signature (notarized route) — don't mix the two.
- Some foreign uses require an EXEMPLIFIED copy ($50 + pages, §70628) — confirm before ordering.
- Specify full vs. partial satisfaction matches what the destination needs.
- Never notarize the court-certified copy — 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 Superior Court clerk (civil / records division) where the satisfaction was filed. Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Confirm the Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment (EJ-100) has been filed with the court. 2. Request a CERTIFIED copy of the filed EJ-100 — "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 case and their attorneys (civil records are generally public). Required forms. The court's records/copy request form, if any. Order the filed EJ-100. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): - Certified copy of the EJ-100: $40 (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)). - Exemplified / triple-certified copy: $50 (§70628) + page fees. - Copy preparation:.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the filed Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment (EJ-100) from the Superior Court.
What does it prove?
That a judgment has been paid/discharged and the lien released.
How much is the certified copy?
$40 (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)).
Court route or notarized route?
Usually the court-certified copy of the filed EJ-100. A standalone notarized instrument would instead have the notary's signature authenticated.
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).