California Sworn Statement (VS 20)
Official state formOther requestsForm VS 20Free downloadLast verified November 10, 2026
Notarized statement in which the applicant declares, under penalty of perjury, the right under state law to receive an authorized copy (the state's name for one type of certified copy) of a birth, death or marriage certificate. It is sent with the copy application.
Who can use this form
- The person named on the record, or that person's parent, legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner
- A party with a court order, an attorney for the person or the estate, or a person acting for them by law or court appointment
- Law enforcement, government agencies and funeral establishments (death records only) fill in the top part but do not need a notary
- Not needed for an informational copy request
What to send with it
- The statement, signed in front of a notary public
- One sworn statement covers more than one record
- A copy of the court order, power of attorney or executor document, when the request is based on one
- An apostille if a foreign notary notarized it, with the exceptions listed on the form
Where to send it
- Mail to
- See the form for where to file it.
- State fee
- Not provided
- Typical processing
- Not provided
- Form revision
- 7/24
- Source
- Official government page