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. California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division. Order channels for GENERAL PARTNERSHIPS: - Mail: Secretary of State, Certification and Records, P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2600 (written request). - Drop-off (in person): 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (priority over mail; special handling fee applies). - Note: certified copies for general partnerships are generally NOT available through bizfileOnline (that online ordering is for corporations, LLCs, and LPs). Certified route (how to obtain a certified copy): 1. Identify the partnership and the specific GP-1 filing — partnership name and SOS file number. 2. Submit a written/in-person request for a CERTIFIED copy of the filed Statement of Partnership Authority — say “certified copy for apostille / international use.” 3. Pay the fees (below). Confirm the SOS certification stamp, signature, and.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I order?
A certified copy of the filed Statement of Partnership Authority (GP-1) from the California Secretary of State. Say “certified copy for apostille.”
Can I order it online?
Generally no — certified copies for general partnerships are requested by mail or in person at the Sacramento office, not via bizfileOnline.
Is the partnership agreement the same thing?
No — the agreement is internal and not filed with the SOS; it takes the notarized route (#90).
How much is the certified copy?
$5 certification plus copy fees ($1 first page, $0.50 each additional) — about $6–$7.
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).