California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 7729

Whenever a person becomes entitled to a patent, the commission, upon the surrender of the full-paid certificate of purchase or the submission of an affidavit by a person having an interest in the land or any portion thereof that the certificate of purchase is lost, destroyed or beyond the control of the owner or owners of the land, shall prepare a patent for the land.  The patent shall be issued in the name of the original applicant.  The commission shall send it to the Governor, together with a certificate that the laws in relation thereto have been complied with, that payment in full has been made, and that the person named in the prepared patent is entitled to it.  The patent so issued shall inure to the benefit of the assigns, grantees, or successors in interest of said original applicant.  The United States shall not be required to make payment for state land until the patent is delivered.