California Death Certificate Apostille for Use in Saudi
A Death Certificate issued in California must be apostilled by the California Secretary of State before it can be used in Saudi. This certification confirms the authenticity of the document and ensures its legal recognition in Saudi under The Hague Apostille Convention.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| ApostillePrice | 20 |
| Processing Time | In Person: Typically within 30 minutes after submission Mail Requests: Processing dates vary based on workload and are published by the Secretary of State |
| Mailing Address (FedEx) | 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 |
| Phone Number | (916) 657-5448 |
Please fill the form 
Avoiding Rejection: A Guide to the California Death Certificate Apostille Process
Rules for Death Certificate
Must Be a Certified Copy
You must start with an original, certified copy of the death certificate issued by the California State Vital Records Office or a County Vital Records Office.
County Clerk Certification is REQUIRED First
This is the most critical and often-missed step. Do NOT send the death certificate directly to the California Secretary of State. You must first take the certified death certificate to the County Clerk's office in the same county where the death certificate was originally issued. The County Clerk will verify the vital records registrar's signature and attach a cover sheet (often called a "Apostille Authentication Request Form" or "BCIA 6720") with their own certification.
Certificate Must Be Recent
While the state's official policy may not specify a strict timeframe, the County Clerk and Secretary of State will reject documents if the Vital Records Registrar's signature is too old to be verified. A certification date within one year is a very safe and commonly recommended practice.
Do Not Notarize the Certificate
The certified death certificate itself should never be notarized. The entire authentication is based on the chain of signatures from the Vital Records Registrar to the County Clerk to the Secretary of State.
Complete the Request Package
After getting the county certification, send the packet to the Secretary of State with: The document with the County Clerk's certification. The correct fee (check the CA Secretary of State website for the current apostille fee). A self-addressed, stamped envelope for return shipping.
