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: None — privately drafted; a California notary public notarizes the signatures. CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. Notarized route (steps): Finalize the executed agreement (all signature blocks complete). Each signatory whose signature needs authentication signs in the physical presence of a California notary, with acceptable ID. The notary completes a current California acknowledgment for each signature, attaches the certificate(s), and affixes the seal. Confirm legibility and that the commission number/expiration appear. Who can sign it: The parties (or their authorized officers). Required forms: None statewide — the parties’ own agreement plus California notary acknowledgment wording. Cost + timeline for THIS step (verified June 2026): Up to $15 per signature (Gov. Code §8211). Mobile/travel fees unregulated. Usually same-day. What the SOS needs to see: The.
Frequently asked questions
Do both parties need to be notarized?
Only those whose signatures the foreign authority needs authenticated — but each one notarized must personally appear.
Parties in different states — one apostille?
No. California authenticates only California notaries; an out-of-state signer apostilles through their own state.
Is there a government fee?
No — it is a private contract; the cost is the notary fee plus the apostille.
Acknowledgment or jurat?
Usually an acknowledgment of the signatures; confirm with the destination.
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).