Updated November 2025 — Valid for 2026 • Verified: November 22, 2025
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A Single Status Affidavit is a sworn statement where a person declares that they are single, widowed, or divorced and not currently married, made under penalty of perjury. It is often requested by foreign civil registries, consulates, or immigration offices as proof that you are legally free to marry or to support residency/visa applications.
In California it is usually a personal affidavit that you:
The California Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents signed by California public officials and for original notarized documents executed in California.
For a Single Status Affidavit, the document must be:
Give a practical drafting checklist (without giving legal advice):
• Some consulates provide their own affidavit template and, whenever available, it is usually safest to follow the consulate's wording and layout requirements.
• The affidavit must leave enough space for a California notarial certificate (acknowledgment or jurat) and the notary's stamp.
Bring the unsigned affidavit and valid ID to a California notary public.
Sign in front of the notary (or swear/affirm, if using a jurat form).
The notary will: verify your identity, complete the proper California notarial certificate, sign and affix an official notary seal.
• The notary's seal must be clear and fully legible. Smudged or incomplete stamps are a common reason for rejection at the apostille office.
• California apostille guidance and local clerk resources stress that the Secretary of State requires an original notarized document, not a photocopy.
Mail-in apostille requests are processed only by the Sacramento office.
The original, notarized Single Status Affidavit (no copies).
Use the official Apostille Mail Request Cover Sheet or an equivalent cover letter. The sheet must specify the country where the document will be used and include sender contact details.
Check or money order payable to "Secretary of State" for $20 per apostille requested.
A self-addressed return envelope; if tracking is desired, include pre-paid postage (USPS or courier). If prepaid postage is not provided, the Secretary of State returns via regular mail.
Secretary of State – Sacramento
1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Secretary of State – Los Angeles
300 South Spring Street, Room 12513
Los Angeles, CA 90013
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille fee (mail or in person) | $20 per document | State fee charged by California Secretary of State |
| Special handling (in person only) | $6 per public official's signature | Extra fee for each distinct notary/public official signature authenticated |
| Notary fee | Varies | Set by California law; paid separately to the notary |
• Mail-in requests often processed within about 1–2+ weeks from receipt, depending on volume; users should check current processing dates on the CA SOS website.
• In-person requests in Sacramento and Los Angeles are usually same day, but subject to daily limits and queue length.
❌ Affidavit not notarized in California
→ Solution: CA SOS can only apostille documents notarized or issued in California.
❌ Photocopy instead of original
→ Solution: Mail and guidance documents clearly state that a photocopy is not acceptable; the Secretary of State needs the original, notarized document.
❌ Missing destination country on cover sheet
→ Solution: The cover sheet must state the country where the document will be used; missing this can cause delays.
❌ Illegible or incomplete notary seal
→ Solution: If the notary seal is smudged, missing details, or not in compliance with California requirements, the apostille may be refused.
❌ Incorrect payment amount or payee
→ Solution: Checks/money orders must be made payable to "Secretary of State" with the correct total (including special handling for in-person requests).
❌ Document notarized outside California
→ Solution: If the affidavit was notarized in another state, it must be apostilled by that state's competent authority, not by California.
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Get My Personalized GuideReviewed by: Amelia Rivera — Compliance Editor, Apostille Pro USA
Updated: November 2025 — Valid for 2026
Change Summary: Verified California apostille fee structure: $20 per document plus $6 special handling fee for each public official's signature in in-person requests, based on Secretary of State and county guidance. Confirmed that mail requests are processed only by the Sacramento office, with USPS P.O. Box and courier street address, and that originals (not photocopies) are required. Confirmed in-person offices and addresses in Sacramento (1500 11th Street) and Los Angeles (300 South Spring Street, Room 12513) and same-day service language from official and consular sources. Cross-checked external explanations of Single Status Affidavits for Californians marrying abroad and ensured the guidance is consistent with California notarization + apostille practice.
Next Review Due: May 2026 or earlier if the California Secretary of State updates apostille fees, addresses, or procedures.
Reviewer Profile: /team/amelia-rivera