Quick facts
- Category: Affidavit / Sworn Statement
- 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 declaration. State the personal facts/intentions clearly, with identity details and any destination-required wording. 2. Personally appear before a California notary with satisfactory ID. The notary administers an oath/affirmation and completes a jurat; you sign in the notary’s presence. 3. Confirm the notary’s seal, signature, commission number, and expiration are present and legible. Who can swear it. You, about yourself. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): notary $15 for the jurat (Gov. Code §8211(b)); usually same-day. Drafting is free. What the SOS needs to see: a California notary’s jurat — current commission, legible seal/signature, commission number and expiration shown. The SOS verifies the notary, then attaches the apostille. Jurat, not acknowledgment — personal declarations are sworn/affirmed. Notarial wording.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I submit?
Your sworn personal declaration, notarized with a jurat. The SOS apostilles the notary’s signature.
How is this different from an Affidavit of Identity?
Identity (#199) attests specifically to who you are; a personal declaration can cover any personal facts or intentions.
Can I just sign under penalty of perjury?
Not for apostille — it needs a California notary’s jurat (see #219).
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Jurat — it’s sworn/affirmed.
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).