Does VS 20 have to be notarized?
Yes, when you are requesting an authorized certified copy. CDPH returns an authorized-copy request that arrives without the notarized sworn statement.
Document Guides
California VS 20 Notarization: Sworn Statement for Authorized Copies
CDPH requires the notarized VS 20 sworn statement when an eligible applicant requests an authorized certified copy of a California birth, death, or marriage record.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 9, 2026
Quick Answer
Does California VS 20 need to be notarized?
Yes, for an authorized certified copy. The California Department of Public Health requires the notarized VS 20 sworn statement when an eligible applicant requests an authorized certified copy of a California birth, death, or marriage record.
CDPH says an authorized-copy request submitted without the notarized sworn statement is incomplete and is returned without processing. The applicant requesting the copy signs the sworn statement and identifies their relationship to the person on the record.
This page covers the notarization step on the current VS 20. It does not issue the certified copy. CDPH issues the record after it accepts a complete request.
Have your current VS 20 ready?
Complete the statement and leave the signature section unsigned until the notarial session. CDPH’s form says the remaining signature portion must be completed in the presence of a Notary Public or CDPH Vital Records staff.
Have your current VS 20 ready?
Start a request with the current unsigned form, or send it for a quick review of the signature section.
Who Signs California VS 20?
The applicant requesting the authorized copy completes and signs the sworn statement. That person identifies their relationship to the registrant named on the birth, death, or marriage record. The registrant is not always the signer. A parent, spouse, child, or other eligible applicant signs for the request they are making.
Which Records Use the Notarized Sworn Statement?
| Request | What CDPH requires | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Authorized birth certificate copy | Eligible applicant’s sworn statement | Notarized VS 20 |
| Authorized death certificate copy | Eligible applicant’s sworn statement | Notarized VS 20 |
| Authorized marriage certificate copy | Eligible applicant’s sworn statement | Notarized VS 20 |
| Informational copy | A different pathway | Sworn statement is not the authorized-copy step |
Do I Need a Separate VS 20 for Every Record?
CDPH’s VS 20 instructions allow one sworn statement to cover multiple records requested together when each person and the applicant’s relationship are identified on that statement. Read the current form before you add names.
Keep the Signature Section Unsigned Until the Notarial Session
Sign when the notary instructs you to sign. The acknowledgment on VS 20 identifies the signer. It does not certify that every fact in the statement is true beyond the sworn statement the applicant makes.
Current form completed except for the signature?
That is the right state for a notary session.
Signing VS 20 While Outside the United States
CDPH’s materials say a foreign notarization of the sworn statement generally requires an apostille. Specified exceptions exist for a U.S. ambassador, minister, consul, vice consul, or consular agent, and for a judge of a court of record who has a seal in a foreign country.
If you are considering U.S. remote online notarization while outside the United States, send the current unsigned VS 20 and the ordering instructions. Confirm that the channel receiving the request accepts that notarization. CDPH’s published materials reviewed on October 9, 2026 do not expressly endorse U.S. remote online notarization.
Outside the U.S.? Contact iRemoteNotary on WhatsApp at +1 (305) 608-4003 for international scheduling, document review, and time-zone coordination: https://wa.me/13056084003?text=Hello%2C%20I%20need%20the%20California%20VS%2020%20sworn%20statement%20reviewed%20for%20notarization%20while%20I%20am%20outside%20the%20United%20States.
See notarizing U.S. documents abroad and apostille information for an online-notarized document.
Applicant outside the United States?
Send the unsigned VS 20 and confirm the receiving channel before the session.
After the Notarization: What Still Has to Happen
A completed notarization does not issue the certified copy, does not prove eligibility for an authorized copy, and does not replace CDPH’s fee, identification, or mailing steps. Informational copies follow a different path and do not use this authorized-copy sworn statement. Law-enforcement and government-agency requests follow CDPH’s own exemption rules and still use the statement CDPH specifies.
Frequently asked questions
Who signs VS 20?
The applicant requesting the authorized copy signs and states their relationship to the person on the record.
Do I need a separate VS 20 for every record?
One sworn statement can cover multiple records requested together when each person and relationship is listed, as the current VS 20 instructions describe.
Should I sign before the notary session?
No. CDPH says the signature portion is completed in the presence of a notary public or CDPH Vital Records staff.
Is an informational copy the same thing?
No. An informational copy uses a different pathway and is not the authorized certified copy that requires this notarized sworn statement.
Can I sign VS 20 while outside the United States?
A foreign notary path generally needs an apostille, with the consular and judicial exceptions CDPH lists. A U.S. remote online notarization should be reviewed against the current form and the receiving channel before you rely on it.
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.
Sworn Statement (VS 20)(opens in a new tab)
California Department of Public Health
Accessed October 9, 2026
Authorized Copy vs. Informational Copy(opens in a new tab)
California Department of Public Health
Accessed October 9, 2026
Start the VS 20 notarization
Use the current CDPH form and leave the signature section blank until the session.