What does California call proof of service?
Declaration or officer certificate
Document Guides
California POS-010 proof of service
Do not schedule a notarization because the title says proof of service. The current summons form is a declaration. A different California page could print a jurat. The January 1, 2027 photo and GPS amendments are not current.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
What proof does California use, and does it explicitly require a notary?
Declaration or officer certificate. Do not schedule a notarization because the title says proof of service. The current summons form is a declaration. A different California page could print a jurat. The January 1, 2027 photo and GPS amendments are not current.
Do not assume a notary is required from the document title. Send the unsigned page if the signature block is unclear.
Proof at a glance
| Question | This jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Proof name | Declaration or officer certificate |
| Private server | Perjury declaration |
| Officer | Sheriff or marshal certificate |
| Traditional notary explicit? | No on current POS-010 |
| Perjury alternative? | Yes |
| Recipient acceptance of remote notarization | No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed. |
Current controlling rule
California proof is controlled, for this guide, by CCP 417.10 and CCP 2015.5; POS-010. Do not schedule a notarization because the title says proof of service. The current summons form is a declaration. A different California page could print a jurat. The January 1, 2027 photo and GPS amendments are not current.
The date stored for the current text is 2007-01-01. A later amendment is not described as current.
What this jurisdiction calls the proof
The opened materials call it: Declaration or officer certificate. Classification used in the authority record: declaration under penalty of perjury.
Private process server
The current POS-010 signature path is a declaration under penalty of perjury. CCP 2015.5 is the statutory declaration alternative to an affidavit.
Sheriff, officer, or other listed server
A sheriff or marshal may use a certificate.
Is an oath or notary explicitly required?
The controlling proof sentence reviewed here does not name a notary or other oath officer.
A penalty-of-perjury or unsworn-declaration alternative is part of the official path.
Current official form
Proof of Service of Summons (POS-010), revision January 1, 2007. Signature block: declaration.
Fields the server has to complete
- Registered process-server information where the form asks for it
- Registration fields printed on POS-010
A later effective date that is not current
Effective 2027-01-01: CCP 417.10 photo and GPS changes, associated with AB 747 and Judicial Council proposal SPR26-08, are operative January 1, 2027. They are not the current POS-010. Do not treat that text as the form in force today.
Remote online notarization and court acceptance
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. When the commission is a Florida commission, Florida's remote online notarization statute governs the notarial act. The court or other recipient still decides whether to accept the return.
If the page is only a declaration, certificate, or signed return, do not add a notary certificate.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
What to send iRemoteNotary
- The unsigned proof, return, or affidavit
- The court, and that the case is connected to California
- The form number and revision if one is printed
- Whether the signature block is a jurat or a perjury declaration
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Process-serving companies and law firms
A coordinator can submit the request. The signer is the person named on the certificate. There is no organization account, dashboard, volume price, or court-filing service.
One signer and one notarization is $25 domestically. Each additional notarization is $15. An additional signer is $10. A witness is $15. An international session coordination fee of $25 applies when a signer is outside the United States. An international session commonly starts at $50 for one signer and one notarization.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sheriff or officer use the same signature block?
A sheriff or marshal may use a certificate.
Is a penalty-of-perjury declaration an alternative?
Yes, on the path described on this page.
Did the official materials expressly accept remote notarization of the proof?
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Related pages
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
California
Accessed October 7, 2026
POS-010 form information(opens in a new tab)
California
Accessed October 7, 2026
Send the unsigned page
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.