Embedded Files
NOTARY PUBLICJanuary 2009
Dear Californian:
Welcome to the official source of laws relating to notaries public in California. A notary public is a public official that
performs invaluable services for the legal, business, financial, and real estate communities. There are now more than
260,000 notaries public in our state.
This
Notary Public Handbook is designed to supplement your course of study, which will prepare you for the notary
public examination. Once commissioned, we strongly recommend that you keep your
Notary Public Handbook to use as
a ready reference to help you perform your duties as a notary public.
Newly adopted legislation effective January 1, 2009, amends Civil Code sections 1185 and 1196 and Government
Code section 8206. Civil Code section 1185 has been amended to add employee identification cards issued by an
agency or office of the State of California or a city, county or city and county in this state, to the list of identification
documents that can be used as satisfactory evidence to prove the identity of the signer. Civil Code section 1196
provides that the identity of a subscribing witness must now be proved by the oath of a credible witness who
provides the notary public with satisfactory evidence as described in Civil Code section 1185. The amendment to
Government Code section 8206 relating to the notary public’s journal contents does not require any change in
current practice.
A copy of the
Notary Public Handbook, as well as additional information regarding the qualifications and procedures
you must follow to become a notary public, are available on the Secretary of State’s website at
www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/notary.htm
.
On behalf of the people of California, thank you for your interest in serving our state as a notary public.
Sincerely,
Notary Public & Special Filings Section
Business Programs Division
January 2009
Dear Californian:
Welcome to the official source of laws relating to notaries public in California. A notary public
is a public official that performs invaluable services for the legal, business, financial, and real
estate communities. There are now more than 260,000 notaries public in our state.
This
Notary Public Handbook is designed to supplement your course of study, which will prepare
you for the notary public examination. Once commissioned, we strongly recommend that you
keep your
Notary Public Handbook to use as a ready reference to help you perform your duties
as a notary public.
Newly adopted legislation effective January 1, 2009, amends Civil Code sections 1185 and
1196 and Government Code section 8206. Civil Code section 1185 has been amended to add
employee identification cards issued by an agency or office of the State of California or a city,
county or city and county in this state, to the list of identification documents that can be used as
satisfactory evidence to prove the identity of the signer. Civil Code section 1196 provides that
the identity of a subscribing witness must now be proved by the oath of a credible witness who
provides the notary public with satisfactory evidence as described in Civil Code section 1185.
The amendment to Government Code section 8206 relating to the notary public’s journal contents
does not require any change in current practice.
A copy of the
Notary Public Handbook, as well as additional information regarding the
qualifications and procedures you must follow to become a notary public, are available on the
Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/notary.htm.
On behalf of the people of California, thank you for your interest in serving our state as a notary public.
Sincerely,
Notary Public & Special Filings Section
Business Programs Division
2
Correspondence should be addressed to:
Mailing address: Business Programs Division
Notary Public & Special Filings Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, California 94277-0001
Location: 1500 – 11
th Street
Sacramento, California 95814
(916) 653-3595
Website: www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/notary.htm
Approved Education Vendors: http://notaryeducation.sos.ca.gov/
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Page
General Information..................................................................................................................5
Appointment and Qualifications..................................................................................5
Convictions..........................................................................................................5
Notary Public Education......................................................................................5
Requirements and Time Limit for Qualifying.............................................................6
Notary Public Bond......................................................................................................6
Geographic Jurisdiction...............................................................................................6
Acts Constituting the Practice of Law.........................................................................6
Notary Public Seal.......................................................................................................7
Identification................................................................................................................8
Notary Public Journal..................................................................................................9
Conflict of Interest.....................................................................................................10
Acknowledgment.......................................................................................................10
Jurat...........................................................................................................................12
Proof of Execution by a Subscribing Witness............................................................12
Signature by Mark......................................................................................................14
Powers of Attorney - Certifying.................................................................................15
Notarization of Incomplete Documents.....................................................................16
Certified Copies.........................................................................................................16
Illegal Advertising......................................................................................................16
Immigration Documents............................................................................................16
Confidential Marriage Licenses.................................................................................16
Grounds for Denial, Revocation, or
Suspension of Appointment and Commission......................................................17
Disciplinary Guidelines.............................................................................................17
Fees...........................................................................................................................17
Change of Address.....................................................................................................18
Foreign Language......................................................................................................18
Common Questions and Answers..............................................................................18
Government Code...................................................................................................................23
Civil Code..............................................................................................................................40
Code of Civil Procedure..........................................................................................................44
Elections Code........................................................................................................................45
Commercial Code...................................................................................................................45
Probate Code...........................................................................................................................45
Penal Code.............................................................................................................................46
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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5
Appointment and Qualifications
In order to qualify to become a notary public you must meet all of the following requirements:
(Government Code section 8201)
• Be a legal resident of the State of California;
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Satisfactorily complete a course of study approved by the Secretary of State;
• Pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State; and
• Pass a background check.
To determine if a person meets the requirements to fulfill the responsibilities of the position,
a completed application and a 2” x 2” color passport photograph of the applicant shall be
submitted at the examination site, then forwarded to the Secretary of State’s office and reviewed
by Secretary of State staff for qualifying information. (Government Code section 8201.5)
To assist the Secretary of State in determining the identity of an applicant and whether the
applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying crime, state law requires all applicants to be
fingerprinted as part of a thorough background check prior to being granted an appointment as
a notary public. (Government Code section 8201.1) Information concerning the fingerprinting
requirements will be mailed to candidates who pass the examination.
Convictions
Applicants are required to disclose on their applications all arrests for which trials are pending
and all convictions, including convictions that have been dismissed under Penal Code section
1203.4 or 1203.4a. If you have any questions concerning the disclosure of convictions or
arrests, contact the Secretary of State’s office prior to signing the application. If you do not
recall the specifics about your arrest(s) and/or conviction(s), you can contact the California
Department of Justice at (916) 227-3849 for information.
The Secretary of State may deny an application for the following reasons: (For a complete
list of reasons the Secretary of State may deny an application, please refer to Government Code
section 8214.1 and the
Notary Public Disciplinary Guidelines (2001)).
- Failure to disclose any conviction;
- Conviction of a felony; or
- Conviction of a disqualifying lesser offense when less than 10 years have passed since
the completion of probation.
The applicant has the right to appeal the denial through the administrative hearing process.
(Government Code section 8214.3)
Please refer to the Secretary of State’s
Notary Public Disciplinary Guidelines (2001), for a
list of the most common disqualifying convictions. The disciplinary guidelines are available
on the Secretary of State’s website or can be mailed to you upon request. Please refer to the
inside front cover of this handbook for our website and mailing addresses.
Notary Public Education
All persons appointed on or after July 1, 2005, are required to take and satisfactorily complete
a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State prior to appointment as a notary
public. Please note that all persons being appointed, no matter how many commission terms
that person has held in the past, are required to take the initial six-hour course of study.
(Government Code section 8201(a)(3) and (b))
Persons who hold current California notary public commissions and who have completed an
approved six-hour course at least one time are required to take and satisfactorily complete an
approved three-hour refresher course prior to reappointment as a notary public. In order to meet
the requirement to take the three-hour refresher course, persons must apply for reappointment
before the current commission expires. If the commission expires before application is made for
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a new commission, a person must take an approved six-hour course before being reappointed
as a notary public, even if the person previously completed an approved six-hour course.
The Secretary of State reviews and approves courses of study. These approved courses include
all the material that a person is expected to know to pass the written examination. The Secretary
of State compiles a list of all persons offering an approved course of study. This list is available
on the Secretary of State’s website or can be mailed to you upon request. Please refer to the
inside front cover of this handbook for the Secretary of State’s website address for approved
education vendors and for our mailing address. (Government Code section 8201.2)
Requirements and Time Limit for Qualifying
Once the commission has been issued, a person has 30 calendar days from the beginning of
the term prescribed in the commission to take, subscribe, and file an oath of office and file a
$15,000 surety bond with the county clerk’s office. The commission does not take effect until the
oath and bond are filed with the county clerk’s office. The filing must take place in the county
where the notary public maintains a principal place of business as shown in the application
on file with the Secretary of State. If the oath and bond are not filed within the 30-calendarday
time period, the commission will not be valid, and the person commissioned may not act
as a notary public until a new appointment is obtained and the person has properly qualified
within the 30-calendar-day time limit. Government Code section 8213(a) permits the filing
of completed oaths and bonds by the applicable county clerk by certified mail. Exceptions
are not made to the 30-day filing requirement due to mail service delays or county clerk mail
processing delays or for any other reason. If mailing an oath and bond to the county clerk,
sufficient time must be allowed by the newly appointed notary public to ensure timely filing.
(Government Code sections 8212 and 8213)
Notary Public Bond
In order to provide some protection to the public, California law requires every notary public
to file an official bond in the amount of $15,000. The notary public bond is not an insurance
policy for the notary public. The bond is designed only to provide a limited source of funds
for paying claims against the notary public. The notary public remains personally liable to the
full extent of any damages sustained and may be required to reimburse the bonding company
for sums paid by the company because of misconduct or negligence of the notary public.
(Government Code sections 8212 to 8214)
Geographic Jurisdiction
A notary public can provide notarial services throughout the State of California. A notary
public is not limited to providing services only in the county where the oath and bond are on
file. In virtually all of the certificates the notary public is called on to complete, there will be
a venue heading such as “State of California, County of ___________.” The county named in
the heading in the notarial certificate is the county where the signer personally appeared before
the notary public. (Government Code section 8200)
Acts Constituting the Practice of Law
California notaries public are prohibited from performing any duties that may be construed
as the practice of law. Among the acts which constitute the practice of law are the preparation,
drafting, or selection or determination of the kind of any legal document, or giving advice in
relation to any legal documents or matters. If asked to perform such tasks, a California notary
public should decline and refer the requester to an attorney.
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Notary Public Seal
Each notary public is required to have and to use a seal. The seal must be kept in a locked
and secured area, under the direct and exclusive control of the notary public and must not be
surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment, whether or not the employer
paid for the seal, or to any other person.
Because of the legal requirement that the seal be photographically reproducible, the rubber
stamp seal is almost universal; however, notaries public may use an embosser seal in addition
to the rubber stamp. The legal requirements for a seal are shown below. (Government Code
section 8207)
The seal must:
• Be photographically reproducible when affixed to a document;
• Contain the State Seal and the words “Notary Public”;
• Contain the name of the notary public as shown on the commission;
• Contain the name of the county where the oath of office and notary public bond are on
file;
• Contain the expiration date of the notary public’s commission;
• Contain the sequential identification number (commission number) assigned to the notary
public, as well as the identification number assigned to the seal manufacturer or vendor;
and
• Be circular not over two inches in diameter, or be a rectangular form of not more than
one inch in width by two and one-half inches in length, with a serrated or milled edged
border.
Many documents that are acknowledged may later be recorded. A document may not be
accepted by the recorder if the notary public seal is illegible. Notaries public are cautioned
to make sure that the notary public stamp leaves a clear impression. All the elements must be
discernible. The seal should not be placed over signatures or over any printed matter on the
document. An illegible or improperly placed seal may result in rejection of the document for
recordation and result in inconveniences and extra expenses for all those involved.
The law allows a limited exception when a notary public may authenticate an official act
without using an official notary public seal. Because subdivision maps usually are drawn on
a material that will not accept standard stamp pad ink and other acceptable inks are not as
readily available, acknowledgments for California subdivision map certificates may be notarized
without the official seal. The notary public’s name, the county of the notary public’s principal
place of business, and the commission expiration date must be typed or printed below or
immediately adjacent to the notary public’s signature on the acknowledgment. (Government
Code section 66436(c))
A NOTARY PUBLIC SHALL NOT USE THE OFFICIAL SEAL OR THE TITLE NOTARY
PUBLIC FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN THE RENDERING OF NOTARIAL
SERVICE. (Government Code section 8207)
A notary public is guilty of a misdemeanor if the notary public willfully fails to keep his or
her notary public seal under the notary public’s direct and exclusive control or if the notary
public willfully surrenders the notary public’s seal to any person not authorized to possess it.
(Government Code section 8228.1)
When the notary public commission is no longer valid, the notary public seal must be
destroyed to protect the notary public from possible fraudulent use by another. (Government
Code section 8207)
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Identification
When completing a certificate of acknowledgment or a jurat, a notary public is required
to certify to the identity of the signer of the document (Civil Code sections 1185(a), 1189,
Government Code section 8202). Identity is established if the notary public is presented with
satisfactory evidence of the signer’s identity. (Civil Code section 1185(a))
Satisfactory Evidence
– “Satisfactory Evidence” means the absence of any information,
evidence, or other circumstances which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the
individual is not the individual he or she claims to be and (A) paper identification documents
or (B) the oath of a single credible witness or (C) the oaths of two credible witnesses under
penalty of perjury, as specified below:
A.
Paper Identification Documents – Identity of the signer can be established by the notary
public’s reasonable reliance on the presentation of any one of the following documents, if the
identification document is current or has been issued within five years (Civil Code section
1185(b)(3) & (4)):
1. An identification card or driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor
Vehicles;
2. A United States passport;
3. Other California-approved identification card, consisting of any one of the following,
provided that it also contains a photograph, description of the person, signature of the person,
and an identifying number:
(a) A passport issued by a foreign government, provided that it has been stamped by the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
(b) A driver’s license issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican public agency
authorized to issue driver’s licenses;
(c) An identification card issued by another state;
(d) A United States military identification card with the required photograph, description of
the person, signature of the person, and an identifying number. (Some military identification
cards do not contain all the required information.);
(e) An inmate identification card issued by the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in custody.
(f) An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California,
or an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in California.
Note: The notary public must include in his or her journal the type of identifying
document, the governmental agency issuing the document, the serial or identifying
number of the document, and the date of issue or expiration of the document that was
used to establish the identity of the signer. (Government Code section 8206(a)(2)(D))
B.
Oath of a Single Credible Witness – The identity of the signer can be established by
the oath of a single credible witness whom the notary public personally knows. (Civil Code
section 1185(b)(1)) The notary public must establish the identity of the credible witness by
the presentation of paper identification documents as set forth above. Under oath, the credible
witness must swear or affirm that each of the following is true (Civil Code section 1185(b)(1)
(A)(
i)-(v)):
1. The individual appearing before the notary public as the signer of the document is the
person named in the document;
2. The credible witness personally knows the signer;
3. The credible witness reasonably believes that the circumstances of the signer are
such that it would be very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of
identification;
4. The signer does not possess any of the identification documents authorized by law to
establish the signer’s identity;
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5. The credible witness does not have a financial interest and is not named in the document
signed.
Note: The single credible witness must sign the notary public’s journal or the notary
public must indicate in his or her journal the type of identifying document, the identifying
number of the document and the date of issuance or expiration of the document presented
by the witness to establish the identity of the witness. (Government Code section 8206(a)
(2)(D))
C.
Oaths of Two Credible Witnesses – The identity of the signer can be established by the
oaths of two credible witnesses whom the notary public does not personally know. (Civil Code
section 1185(b)(2)) The notary public first must establish the identities of the two credible
witnesses by the presentation of paper identification documents as listed above. Under oath,
the credible witnesses must swear or affirm under penalty of perjury to each of the things sworn
to or affirmed by a single credible witness, as set forth above. (Civil Code sections 1185(b)(2)
and 1185(b)(1)(A)(
i)-(v))
Note: The credible witnesses must sign the notary public’s journal and the notary public
must indicate in his or her journal the type of identifying documents, the identifying
numbers of the documents and the dates of issuance or expiration of the documents
presented by the witnesses to establish their identities. (Government Code section 8206(a)
(2)(E))
Notary Public Journal
A notary public is required to keep one active sequential journal at a time of all acts performed
as a notary public. The journal must be kept in a locked and secured area (such as a lock box
or locked desk drawer), under the direct and exclusive control of the notary public. The journal
shall include the items shown below. (Government Code section 8206(a))
• Date, time and type of each official act (e.g. acknowledgment, jurat).
• Character of every instrument sworn to, affirmed, acknowledged or proved before the
notary public (e.g. deed of trust).
• The signature of each person whose signature is being notarized.
• A statement that the identity of a person making an acknowledgment or taking an oath
or affirmation was based on “satisfactory evidence” pursuant to Civil Code section 1185.
If satisfactory evidence was based on:
1. Paper identification, the journal shall contain the type of identifying document, the
governmental agency issuing the document, the serial or identifying number of the document,
and the date of issue or expiration of the document;
2. A single credible witness personally known to the notary public, the journal shall contain
the signature of the credible witness or the type of identifying document, the governmental
agency issuing the document, the serial or identifying number of the document, and the date
of issue or expiration of the document establishing the identity of the credible witness; or
3. Two credible witnesses whose identities are proven upon the presentation of satisfactory
evidence, the journal shall contain the signatures of the credible witnesses and the type of
identifying document, the governmental agency issuing the document, the serial or identifying
number of the document, and the date of issue or expiration of the document establishing the
identity of the credible witnesses.
• The fee charged for the notarial service.
• If the document to be notarized is a deed, quitclaim deed, or deed of trust affecting real
property or a power of attorney document, the notary public shall require the party signing
the document to place his or her right thumbprint in the journal. If the right thumbprint is
not available, then the notary public shall have the party use his or her left thumb, or any
available finger and shall so indicate in the journal. If the party signing the document is
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physically unable to provide a thumb or fingerprint, the notary public shall so indicate in
the journal and shall also provide an explanation of that physical condition.
If the sequential journal is stolen, lost, misplaced, destroyed, damaged, or otherwise rendered
unusable, the notary public immediately must notify the Secretary of State by certified or
registered mail. The notification must include the periods of journal entries, the notary public
commission number, the commission expiration date, and, when applicable, a photocopy of
the police report that lists the journal. (Government Code section 8206(b))
A notary public must respond within 15 business days after the receipt of a written request
from any member of the public for a copy of a transaction in the notary public journal by
supplying either a photostatic copy of a line item from the notary public’s journal or an
acknowledgment that no such line item exists. The written request shall include the name of
the parties, the type of document, and the month and year in which the document was notarized.
The cost to provide the requested information must not exceed thirty cents ($0.30) per page.
(Government Code sections 8206(c) and 8206.5)
The sequential journal is the exclusive property of the notary public and shall not be surrendered
to an employer upon termination of employment, whether or not the employer paid for the
journal, or at any other time. The circumstances in which the notary public must relinquish
the journal or permit inspection and copying of journal transactions and the procedures the
notary public must follow are specified in Government Code section 8206(d).
A notary public is guilty of a misdemeanor if the notary public willfully fails to properly
maintain the notary public’s journal. (Government Code section 8228.1)
Within 30 days from the date the notary public commission is no longer valid, the notary
public must deliver all notarial journals, records and papers to the county clerk’s office where
the oath is on file. If the notary public willfully fails or refuses to do so, the notary public is
guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be personally liable for damages to any person injured by
that action or inaction. (Government Code section 8209) Any notarial journals, records and
papers delivered to the Secretary of State will be returned to the sender.
Conflict of Interest
A notary public is not prohibited from notarizing for relatives or others, unless doing so
would provide a direct financial or beneficial interest to the notary public. With California’s
community property law, care should be exercised if notarizing for a spouse or a domestic
partner.
A notary public would have a direct financial or beneficial interest to a transaction in the
following situations (Government Code section 8224):
• If a notary public is named, individually, as a principal to a financial transaction.
• If a notary public is named, individually, as any of the following to a real property
transaction: beneficiary, grantor, grantee, mortgagor, mortgagee, trustor, trustee, vendor,
vendee, lessor, or lessee.
A notary public does not have a direct financial or beneficial interest in a transaction if a
notary public is acting in the capacity of an agent, employee, insurer, attorney, escrow, or lender
for a person having a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction.
If in doubt as to whether or not to notarize, the notary public should seek the advice of an
attorney.
Acknowledgment
The form most frequently completed by the notary public is the certificate of acknowledgment.
The certificate of acknowledgment must be in the form set forth in Civil Code section 1189.
In the certificate of acknowledgment, the notary public certifies:
• That the signer personally appeared before the notary public on the date indicated in the
county indicated.
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• To the identity of the signer.
• That the signer acknowledged executing the document.
The notary public sequential journal
must contain a statement that the identity of a person
making the acknowledgment or taking the oath or affirmation was based on satisfactory
evidence. If identity was established based on the oath of a credible witness personally known
to the notary public, then the journal must contain the signature of the credible witness or the
type of identifying document used to establish the witness’ identity, the governmental agency
issuing the document, the serial or identifying number of the document, and the date of issue
or expiration of the document. If the identity of the person making the acknowledgment or
taking the oath or affirmation was established by the oaths or affirmations of two credible
witnesses whose identities are proven to the notary public upon the presentation of satisfactory
evidence, then the journal must contain the signatures of the credible witnesses and the type
of identifying documents, the identifying numbers of the documents and the dates of issuance
or expiration of the documents presented by the witnesses to establish their identities.
The certificate of acknowledgment must be filled completely out at the time the notary
public’s signature and seal are affixed. The certificate of acknowledgment is executed under
penalty of perjury. (Civil Code section 1189(a)(1))
The completion of a certificate of acknowledgment that contains statements that the notary public
knows to be false not only may cause the notary public to be liable for civil penalties and administrative
action, but is also a criminal offense. The notary public who willfully states as true any material fact
known to be false is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000. (Civil Code section 1189(a)(2))
A notary public may complete a certificate of acknowledgment required in another state or jurisdiction
of the United States on documents to be filed in that other state or jurisdiction, provided the form does
not require the notary public to determine or certify that the signer holds a particular representative
capacity or to make other determinations and certifications not allowed by California law.
Any certificate of acknowledgment taken within this state shall be in the following form:
State of California
}
County of _________
On __________ before me, (here insert name and title of the officer), personally
appeared
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ ,
who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are
subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same
in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the
person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.
I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing
paragraph is true and correct.
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
Notary Public Signature Notary Public Seal
Note:
Key wording of an acknowledgment is “personally appeared.” An acknowledgment
cannot be affixed to a document mailed or otherwise delivered to a notary public whereby
the signer did
not personally appear before the notary public, even if the signer is known by
the notary public. Also, a notary public seal and signature cannot be affixed to a document
without the correct notarial wording.
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Jurat
The second form most frequently completed by a notary public is the jurat. (Government Code
section 8202) The jurat is identified by the wording “Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed)”
contained in the form. In the jurat, the notary public certifies:
• That the signer personally appeared before the notary public on the date indicated and in
the county indicated.
• That the signer signed the document in the presence of the notary public.
• That the notary public administered the oath or affirmation.*
• To the identity of the signer.
Any jurat taken within this state shall be in the following form:
State of California
County of ________________
Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on this _____ day of _______, 20__,
by _______________________, proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be
the person(s) who appeared before me.
Notary Public Signature Notary Public Seal
Note
:
Key wording of a jurat is “subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me.” A jurat
cannot be affixed to a document mailed or otherwise delivered to a notary public whereby the
signer did
not personally appear, take an oath, and sign in the presence of the notary public,
even if the signer is known by the notary public. Also, a notary public seal and signature cannot
be affixed to a document without the correct notarial wording.
*There is no prescribed wording for the oath, but an acceptable oath would be “Do you
swear or affirm that the statements in this document are true?” When administering the oath,
the signer and notary public traditionally each raise their right hand but this is not a legal
requirement.
Proof of Execution by a Subscribing Witness
If a person, called the principal, has signed a document, but does not personally appear before
a notary public, another person can appear on the principal’s behalf to prove the principal
signed (or “executed”) the document. That person is called a subscribing witness. (Code of
Civil Procedure section 1935)
Note
: A proof of execution by a subscribing witness cannot be used in conjunction with
any quitclaim deed, grant deed (other than a trustee’s deed or deed of reconveyance),
mortgage, deed of trust, or security agreement. (Government Code section 27287 and
Civil Code section 1195(b))
The requirements for proof of execution by a subscribing witness are as follows:
• The subscribing witness must prove (say under oath) that the person who signed the
document as a party, the principal, is the person described in the document, and the
subscribing witness personally knows the principal (Civil Code section 1197); and
• The subscribing witness must say, under oath, that the subscribing witness saw the principal
sign the document or in the presence of the principal heard the principal acknowledge
that the principal signed the document (Code of Civil Procedure 1935 and Civil Code
section 1197); and
• The subscribing witness must say, under oath, that the subscribing witness was requested
by the principal to sign the document as a witness and that the subscribing witness did so
(Code of Civil Procedure 1935 and Civil Code section 1197); and
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• The notary public must establish the identity of the subscribing witness by the oath of
a credible witness whom the notary personally knows and who personally knows the
subscribing witness. The credible witness must
also present to the notary public any
identification document satisfying the requirements for satisfactory evidence as described
in Civil Code section 1185(b)(3) or (4) (Civil Code section 1196); and
• The subscribing witness must sign the notary public’s official journal. The credible
witness must sign the notary public’s official journal or the notary public must record
in the notary public’s official journal the type of identification document presented, the
governmental agency issuing the document, the serial number of the document, and the
date of issue or expiration of the document. (Government Code section 8206(a)(2)(C)
and (D))
Note
: The identity of the subscribing witness must be established by the oath of a credible
witness who personally knows the subscribing witness and who is known personally by
the notary public. In addition, the credible witness must present an identification document
satisfying the requirements of Civil Code section 1185(b)(3) or (4).
Because proof of execution by a subscribing witness is not commonly used, the following
scenario is provided as an example of how proof by a subscribing witness may be used:
The principal, Paul, needs to have his signature on a document notarized but cannot appear
before a notary public because Paul is in the hospital. So Paul asks a long time friend, Sue,
to visit the hospital and act as a subscribing witness. When Sue comes to the hospital, Sue
must watch Paul sign the document. If Paul has signed the document prior to Sue’s arrival,
Paul must say to Sue that Paul signed the document. Then Paul should ask Sue to sign the
document as a subscribing witness, and Sue must do so.
Next, Sue must take the document to a notary public. Sue must bring a credible witness with
Sue to the notary public. Sue chooses Carl, a long time friend, as a credible witness because
Carl has worked with Nancy, the notary public, for several years. Therefore, Carl can act as
Sue’s credible witness.
Sue and Carl appear together before Nancy. Nancy determines Nancy personally knows Carl
and also examines Carl’s California Driver’s License to establish Carl’s identity. Then Nancy
puts Carl under oath. Under oath, Carl swears that Carl personally knows Sue, that Sue is the
person who signed the document as a subscribing witness, and Carl, does not have a financial
interest in the document signed by Paul and subscribed by Sue. Then Nancy puts Sue under
oath. Under oath, Sue swears Sue personally knows Paul, that Paul is the person described as
a party in the document, that Sue watched Paul sign the document or heard Paul acknowledge
Paul signed the document, that Paul requested Sue sign the document as subscribing witness
and that Sue did so.
Sue signs Nancy’s notary journal as a subscribing witness. Carl must sign Nancy’s notary
journal as a credible witness, or Nancy must record in Nancy’s notary journal the type of
identification document Carl presented, the governmental agency issuing the document, the
serial number of the document, and the date of issue or expiration of the document.
Nancy completes Nancy’s notary public journal entry. Nancy then completes a Proof of
Execution Certificate and attaches the Proof of Execution Certificate to the document. Sue
takes the notarized document back to Paul.
Civil Code section 1195 provides a proof of execution by a subscribing witness form.
However, the form does not comply with the statutory changes to Civil Code section 1196
effective January 1, 2009. The law allows that other formats with similar wording are acceptable;
therefore, we have included a suggested format for the form that complies with both Civil Code
sections 1195 and 1196.
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Note
: It is not acceptable to affix a notary public seal and signature to a document without
the notarial wording.
Signature by Mark
When the signer of an instrument cannot write (sign) his or her name, that person may sign
the document by mark. (Civil Code section 14) The requirements for notarizing a signature
by mark are as follows:
• The person signing the document by mark must be identified by the notary public by
satisfactory evidence. (Civil Code section 1185)
• The signer’s mark must be witnessed by two persons who must subscribe their own names
as witnesses on the document. One witness should write the person’s name next to the
person’s mark and then the witness should sign his or her name as a witness. The witnesses
are only verifying that they witnessed the individual make his or her mark on the document.
A notary public is not required to identify the two persons who witnessed the signing by
mark or to have the two witnesses sign the notary public’s journal.
Exception: If the
witnesses were acting in the capacity of credible witnesses in establishing the
identity of
the person signing by mark, then the witnesses’ signatures must be entered in the notary
public’s journal.
• The signer by mark must include his or her mark in the notary public journal. To qualify
as a signature, the making of the mark in the notary public journal, must be witnessed by
an individual who must write the person’s name next to the mark and then sign his or her
own name as a witness.
Following is an example of a document executed by Signature by Mark:
State of California
} ss.
County of _____________
On _____________ (date), before me, the undersigned, a notary public for the state,
personally appeared ______________________ (subscribing witness’s name), proved
to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, as a witness
thereto, on the oath of _________________ (credible witness’s name), a credible witness
who is known to me and provided a satisfactory identifying document. ____________
(subscribing witness’s name) being by me duly sworn, deposed and said that he/she
was present and saw/heard ___________________ (name(s) of principal(s)), the same
person(s) described in and whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within, or attached,
instrument in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies) as (a) party(ies) thereto, execute or
acknowledge executing the same, and that said affiant subscribed his/her name to the within
instrument as a witness at the request of ________________ (name(s) of principal(s)).
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
Notary Public Signature Notary Public Seal
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Note
: A notary public seal and signature cannot be affixed to a document without the correct
notarial wording.
Powers of Attorney - Certifying
A notary public can certify copies of powers of attorney. A certified copy of a power of
attorney that has been certified by a notary public has the same force and effect as the original
power of attorney. (Probate Code section 4307)
A suggested format for the certification is shown below. Other formats with similar wording
may also be acceptable.
Note
:
A notary public seal and signature cannot be affixed to a document without the correct
notarial wording.
State of California
}
County of _______________
I (name of notary public) , Notary Public, certify that on (date) , I examined
the original power of attorney and the copy of the power of attorney. I further certify that
the copy is a true and correct copy of the original power of attorney.
Notary Public Signature Notary Public Seal
I, Bob Smith, give my power of attorney to Jane Brown to act as my attorney-in-fact on all
matters pertaining to the handling of my estate, finances, and investments. This Power of
Attorney is to remain in effect until another document revoking this instrument has been
filed of record thereby rendering this instrument null and void.
Date: Feb. 5, 2008 Name: By:
Witness #1
Witness #2
State of California
}
County of ___________
On February 5, 2008, before me, John Doe, a notary public, personally appeared Bob Smith,
who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s)
is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed
the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s)
on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted,
executed the instrument.
I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the
foregoing paragraph is true and correct.
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
Notary Public Signature Notary Public Seal
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Notarization of Incomplete Documents
A notary public may not notarize a document that is incomplete. If presented with a document
for notarization, which the notary public knows from his or her experience to be incomplete or
is without doubt on its face incomplete, the notary public must refuse to notarize the document.
(Government Code section 8205)
Certified Copies
A notary public may only certify copies of powers of attorney under Probate Code section
4307 and his or her notary public journal. (Government Code sections 8205(a)(4), 8205(b)(1),
and 8206(e))
Certified copies of birth, fetal death, death, and marriage records may be made only by the
State Registrar, by duly appointed and acting local registrars during their term of office, and
by county recorders. (Health & Safety Code section 103545)
Illegal Advertising
California law requires any non-attorney notary public who advertises notarial services in
a language other than English to post a prescribed notice, in English and the other language,
that the notary public is not an attorney and cannot give legal advice about immigration or
any other legal matters. The notary public also must list the fees set by statute that a notary
public may charge for notarial services. In any event, a notary public may not translate the term
“Notary Public,” defined as “notario publico” or “notario,” into Spanish, even if the prescribed
notice also is posted. A first offense for violation of this law is grounds for the suspension or
revocation of a notary public’s commission. A second offense is grounds for the permanent
revocation of a notary public’s commission. (Government Code section 8219.5)
A notary public legally is barred from advertising in any manner whatsoever that he or she
is a notary public if the notary public promotes himself or herself as an immigration specialist
or consultant. (Government Code section 8223)
Immigration Documents
Contrary to popular belief, there is no prohibition against notarizing immigration documents.
However, several laws specifically outline what a notary public can and cannot do. Only a
person who is qualified and bonded as an immigration consultant under the Business and
Professions Code may assist a client in completing immigration forms. A notary public may
not charge any individual more than $10 for each set of forms, unless the notary public is also
an attorney who is rendering professional services as an attorney. (Government Code section
8223)
Confidential Marriage Licenses
A notary public who is interested in obtaining authorization to issue confidential marriage
licenses may apply for approval to the county clerk in the county in which the notary public
resides. A notary public
must not issue a confidential marriage license unless he or she is
approved by the county clerk having jurisdiction. The county clerk offers a course of instruction,
which a notary public must complete before authorization will be granted. Additionally, in
order for a notary public to
perform the marriage, he/she must be one of the persons authorized
under Family Code sections 400 to 402, e.g., priest, minister, or rabbi. The county clerk in
the county where the notary public resides may or may not approve the authorization to issue
confidential marriage licenses. The county clerk should be consulted if the notary public is
interested in obtaining approval. (Family Code section 530)
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Grounds for Denial, Revocation, or Suspension of
Appointment and Commission
The Secretary of State may refuse to appoint any person as notary public or may revoke or
suspend the commission of a notary public for specific reasons. These reasons include but are
not limited to: a substantial misstatement or omission in the application; conviction of a felony
or a disqualifying criminal conviction; failure to furnish the Secretary of State with certified
copies of the notary public journal when requested to do so or to provide information relating
to official acts performed by the notary public; charging more than the fee prescribed by law;
failure to complete the acknowledgment at the time the notary public’s seal and signature are
attached to the document; executing a false certificate; failure to submit to the Secretary of State
any court ordered money judgment, including restitution; failure to secure the sequential journal
or the official seal; willful failure to report the theft or loss of the sequential journal; making a
false certificate or writing containing statements known to be false; fraud relating to a deed of
trust; improper notarial acts; unlawfully acting as a notary; filing false or forged documents;
forgery; grand theft; falsely obtaining personal information; willful failure to provide access
to a journal when requested by a peace officer; and illegal advertising. (Government Code
sections 8205, 8214.1, 8219.5 and 8223)
In addition, the Secretary of State may deny the notary public application or suspend the
notary public commission of a person who has not complied with child or family support
obligations. (Family Code section 17520)
Disciplinary Guidelines
The Secretary of State has instituted disciplinary guidelines in order to facilitate due process
and to maintain consistency in reviewing applications, investigating alleged violations, and
implementing administrative actions. (Government Code section 8220)
The disciplinary guidelines are designed to assist administrative law judges, in addition to
attorneys, notaries public, applicants, and others involved in the disciplinary process. The
disciplinary guidelines are used to determine what action will be taken for violations of notary
public law. The disciplinary guidelines are available on the Secretary of State’s website or can
be mailed to you upon request. Please refer to the inside front cover of this handbook for our
website and mailing addresses.
Fees
Government Code section 8211 specifies the maximum fees that may be charged for notary
public services. However, a notary public may decide to charge no fee or an amount that is less
than the maximum amount prescribed by law. The charging of a fee and the amount of the fee
charged is at the discretion of the notary public or the notary public’s employer provided it does
not exceed the maximum fees. The notary public is required to make an entry in the notary public
journal even if no fee was charged, such as “no fee” or “0.” (Government Code section 8206)
EXCEPTIONS:
1) Pursuant to Government Code section 8203.6, no fees shall be collected
by notaries public appointed to military and naval reservations in accordance with 8203.1;
2) pursuant to Elections Code section 8080, no fee shall be collected by notaries public for
verifying any nomination document or circulator’s affidavit; and 3) pursuant to Government
Code section 6107, no fee may be charged to a United States military veteran for notarization
of an application or a claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance, or
any other veteran’s benefit.
In addition, Government Code section 6100 requires any notary public who is appointed to
act for and on behalf of certain public agencies, pursuant to Government Code section 8202.5,
to charge for all services and remit the fees received to the employing agency. The fee charged
must be entered in the journal.
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Change of Address
A notary public is required to notify the Secretary of State of any change of business or
residence address in writing, by certified mail, within 30 days. (Government Code section
8213.5) Willful failure to notify the Secretary of State of a change of address is punishable as
an infraction by a fine of not more than $500. (Government Code section 8213.5)
Upon the change of a business address to a new county, a notary public may elect to file
a new oath of office and bond in the new county. However, filing a new oath and bond is
optional. Once commissioned, a notary public may perform notary public services anywhere
in the state. The original oath and bond must be filed in the county where the notary public
maintains their principal place of business as shown in the application filed with the Secretary
of State. Whether or not a county transfer is filed with the new county after the original
oath and bond have been filed in the original county is permissive should the notary public
move. (Government Code section 8213) There is no fee for the processing of address change
notifications with the Secretary of State.
Note:
To ensure proper processing, please include the following information when submitting
the written address change notification to the Secretary of State:
• name of the notary public exactly as it appears on the commission certificate;
• commission number and expiration date of the commission;
• whether the address change is for the business, residence, and/or for mailing purposes;
and
• new business, including business name; residence; and/or mailing address.
Please be sure the address change notification is signed and dated by the notary public. The
change of address can be submitted in letter form or, for convenience, an address change form
is available on the Secretary of State’s website or can be mailed to you upon request. Please
refer to the inside front cover of this handbook for our website and mailing addresses.
Foreign Language
A notary public can notarize a signature on a document in a foreign language with which they
are not familiar, since a notary public’s function only relates to the signature and not the contents
of the document. The notary public should be able to identify the type of document being
notarized for entry in the notary public’s journal. If unable to identify the type of document, the
notary public must make an entry to that effect in their journal, e.g. “a document in a foreign
language.” The notary public should be mindful of the completeness of the document and must
not notarize the signature on the document if the document appears to be incomplete. The notary
public is responsible for completing the acknowledgment or jurat form. When notarizing a
signature on a document, a notary public must be able to communicate with their customer in
order for the signer either to swear to or affirm the contents of the affidavit or to acknowledge
the execution of the document. An interpreter should not be used, as vital information could
be lost in the translation. If a notary public is unable to communicate with a customer, the
customer should be referred to a notary public who speaks the customer’s language.
Common Questions and Answers
1Q. My neighbor of 20 years has asked me to notarize a document for her. Because I have
known her all these years, do I still need to ask for proof of her identity?
A. Yes. An acknowledgment may not be taken or a jurat executed on the basis of personal
knowledge alone. Satisfactory evidence of the signer’s identity must be provided and
noted in the journal.
2Q. I am currently a commissioned notary public applying for reappointment without a
break in my commission. Am I still required to submit my fingerprints each time I
reapply?
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19
A. Yes. Effective January 1, 2008, all notary public applicants, whether or not they have
held a previous commission, must submit fingerprints to the Department of Justice for
the purpose of a background check. The Department of Justice will forward fingerprint
images to the Federal Bureau of Investigation requesting a federal summary of criminal
information that will be provided to the Secretary of State.
3Q. If a person was convicted of a DUI, petty theft, trespass, or other crimes, will that person
be disqualified from becoming a notary public?
A. The Secretary of State cannot make a determination as to whether or not a person
meets the qualifications to become a notary public until a thorough background check
has been completed. If you are concerned as to whether you may be disqualified from
becoming a notary public based upon past conviction information, please refer to the
Notary Public Disciplinary Guidelines (2001),
which also includes a list of the most
common disqualifying convictions. The disciplinary guidelines are available on the
Secretary of State’s website or can be mailed to you upon request. Please refer to the
inside front cover of this handbook for our website and mailing addresses.
4Q. I had a conviction over 25 years ago. Do I still need to disclose this conviction on my
application?
A. Yes. There is no time limit for disclosure of convictions. If you have
ever been convicted,
including a conviction for a DUI, you must disclose the conviction on your application.
Failure to disclose all conviction information on each application for an appointment or
reappointment is grounds for denial.
5Q. How soon can I take the test for reappointment if I currently hold a notary public
commission?
A. To avoid a break in commission terms, you should take the exam at least six months
prior to the expiration date of your current commission. Test results are valid for one
year from the date of the examination. (Title 2, California Code of Regulations, section
20803)
6Q. I have been a notary public for over 20 years. Will I still be required to take the initial
six-hour approved course of study?
A. Yes, initially everyone, including those notaries public who have held previous
commission terms, are required to complete the six-hour course of study from an
approved vendor prior to reappointment as a notary public. A list of approved vendors
is available on the Secretary of State’s website or can be mailed to you upon request.
(Government Code section 8201(a)(3))
7Q. Will I be required to take an approved course of study each time I apply for
reappointment?
A. Yes, an applicant for notary public who holds a California notary public commission
and who has completed the initial six-hour course of study from an approved vendor
will be required to complete a three-hour refresher course of study from an approved
vendor prior to reappointment as a notary public for all subsequent terms. In order to
meet the requirement to take the three-hour refresher course, a person must apply for
reappointment before the current commission expires. An applicant whose commission
expires before application is made for a new commission must take an approved six-hour
course, even if the applicant previously has completed an approved six-hour course.
(Government Code section 8201(b)(2))
8Q. I have taken courses in the past prior to taking the exam. Will I still be required to take
the six-hour course?
A. Yes, because in the past you were not required to take these courses prior to being
appointed as a notary public and those courses were not approved by the Secretary of
State. However, now that mandatory education is one of the qualifications you must
20
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meet in order to become a notary public, you are required to complete the approved
course of study in order to qualify. (Government Code section 8201(a)(3))
9Q. I have completed my approved six-hour course of study and received my Proof of
Completion. What do I do with it?
A. Once you have completed your six-hour course of study from an approved vendor,
staple your Proof of Completion to the application and take both items with you to
the exam.
10Q. Can a six-hour notary public education course be taken in place of a three-hour
refresher course?
A. Yes. A six-hour approved notary public education course satisfies the requirement
for a three-hour refresher course. A six-hour approved education course always
satisfies the education requirement, regardless if you are a new applicant or applying
for reappointment.
11Q. What are the requirements for applicants to be eligible to take an approved three-hour
refresher education course?
A. Notaries public who have previously completed an approved six-hour notary public
education course are eligible to take an approved three-hour refresher course if they
have taken the notary public exam and submitted the application at the exam site prior
to the expiration date of their current commission.
12Q. I applied for reappointment prior to the expiration date of my current notary public
commission and took an approved three-hour notary public education course, but I
failed the notary public exam. What do I do now?
A. If you can take the exam again prior to the expiration date of your current commission,
the Proof of Completion certificate from the three-hour course would still be valid.
Attach the Proof of Completion certificate to your application, along with a 2” x 2”
color passport photo of yourself and a check for $20.00 when you go to the exam site.
However, if your commission expires prior to retaking the exam, you will be required
to take an approved six-hour notary public course, even though you already took an
approved three-hour course. You will need to attach the Proof of Completion certificate
from the approved six-hour notary public education course to the application, along
with a 2” x 2” color passport photo of yourself and a check for $20.00.
13Q. I have changed my business, mailing or home address, what do I do?
A. Send the Secretary of State a letter or a change of address form by certified mail within
30 days of the change. (Government Code section 8213.5)
14Q. I have changed my business from one county to another, what do I do?
A. Your commission allows you to notarize throughout the State of California, regardless
of where your oath and bond are on file. If the location of your business has changed,
you are required to send the Secretary of State an address change by certified mail
within 30 days of the change. If the address change is for your business, please include
the business name in your notification. If the address change includes a change of
county, you may choose to file a new oath of office and bond in the county to which
your business has moved, however, a county transfer is not required. To file a county
change, you must request an oath of office form from the Secretary of State. The oath
will have the name of your original county, however, you will take and file your oath
of office in the new county, checking the county transfer box at the bottom of the oath
form. You also must take a new bond or a duplicate of the original bond and file it
together with your oath of office in the new county. A certificate of authorization to
manufacture a notary public seal will be sent to you once the Secretary of State has
received and processed your oath of office filed in the new county. Your stamp must
reflect the county where your most recent oath and bond are filed. (Government Code
sections 8213 and 8213.5)
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15Q. Am I required to see the person sign the document at the time I perform the
notarization?
A. No. Not if you are preparing a certificate of acknowledgment. The document can be
executed before the person brings it to you for notarization. In an acknowledgment,
the signer must personally appear before you and acknowledge that the signer
executed the document, not that the signer executed the document in your presence.
However, when preparing a jurat, then the person requesting the jurat must appear
before you, take an oath, and sign the document in your presence. In addition, for
both an acknowledgment and a jurat, the notary public must certify to the identity of
the signer. (Civil Code section 1189 and Government Code section 8202)
16Q. I lost my stamp or journal, what do I do?
A. Send a letter immediately by certified mail to the Secretary of State explaining what
happened and, if applicable, a photocopy of a police report. Upon written request,
the Secretary of State will send an authorization so you can have a new stamp made.
(Government Code sections 8206 and 8207.3(e))
17Q. I have changed my name. What do I do?
A. Send a completed name change form to the Secretary of State and, once approved, you
will be issued an amended commission that reflects your new name. Next, you will
need to file a new oath of office and an amendment to your bond with the county clerk
within 30 days from the date the amended commission was issued in order for the name
change to take effect. Within 30 days of the filing, you must obtain a new seal that reflects
the new name. Once the amended oath and bond are filed, you may no longer use the
commission, including the stamp, that was issued in your previous name. If you fail
to file your amended oath and bond within the 30-day time limit, the name change will
become void and your commission will revert back to the previous name and you will
be required to submit another name change application. (Government Code sections
8213 and 8213.6)
18Q. I need to request a new certificate of authorization to have a new stamp made. Is there
a fee?
A. No. However, you must send the Secretary of State a written request for a certificate of
authorization. (Government Code section 8207.3(e))
19Q. How do I resign my commission?
A. If you want to resign your commission, send a letter of resignation to our office and within
30 days deliver all of your notarial journals, records and papers to the county clerk in
which your current oath of office is on file, and destroy your seal. (Government Code
section 8209)
20Q. I did not file my oath and bond on time. What do I do?
A. • If you are a new applicant and took an approved six-hour notary public education
course, you must attach a current Proof of Completion certificate to a new
application, along with a 2” x 2” color passport photo of yourself and a check for
$20.00. You will also need to have your fingerprints retaken at a live scan site.
• If you are a notary public seeking reappointment and took an approved three-hour
notary public refresher education course, you will still need to take an approved
six-hour course. The three-hour course no longer meets the education requirements
because your current commission has expired. You will need to attach the Proof
of Completion certificate for the six-hour course to a new application, along with
a 2” x 2” color passport photo of yourself and a check for $20.00. You will also
need to have your fingerprints retaken at a live scan site.
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• If you are a notary public seeking reappointment and took an approved six-hour
education course, you must attach a current Proof of Completion certificate to a new
application, along with a 2” x 2” color passport photo of yourself and a check for
$20.00. You will also need to have your fingerprints retaken at a live scan site.
21Q. Where can I get a live scan fingerprint form?
A. The live scan fingerprint form is available online at the Secretary of State’s website address
listed in the front of the handbook or upon request from the Secretary of State’s office.
22Q. I have completed an approved course of study and taken the exam, but my current
commission doesn’t expire until another four months. When will I receive my new
commission?
A. Your notary public commission for reappointment will be issued 30 days prior to the
expiration date of your current commission if you have complied with all the requirements
to become a notary public
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23
GOVERNMENT CODE
Notaries Public
(Chapter 3, Division 1, Title 2)
§ 8200. Appointment and commission; number; jurisdiction
The Secretary of State may appoint and commission notaries public in such number as the
Secretary of State deems necessary for the public convenience. Notaries public may act as
such notaries in any part of this state.
§ 8201. Qualifications to be a notary public; proof of course completion;
reappointment
(a) Every person appointed as notary public shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Be at the time of appointment a legal resident of this state, except as otherwise provided
in Section 8203.1.
(2) Be not less than 18 years of age.
(3) For appointments made on or after July 1, 2005, have satisfactorily completed a six-hour
course of study approved by the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 8201.2 concerning the
functions and duties of a notary public.
(4) Have satisfactorily completed a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State
to determine the fitness of the person to exercise the functions and duties of the office of notary
public. All questions shall be based on the law of this state as set forth in the booklet of the
laws of California relating to notaries public distributed by the Secretary of State.
(b) (1) Commencing July 1, 2005, each applicant for notary public shall provide satisfactory
proof that he or she has completed the course of study required pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a) prior to approval of his or her appointment as a notary public by the Secretary
of State.
(2) Commencing July 1, 2005, an applicant for notary public who holds a California notary
public commission, and who has satisfactorily completed the six-hour course of study required
pursuant to paragraph (1) at least one time, shall provide satisfactory proof when applying
for reappointment as a notary public that he or she has satisfactorily completed a three-hour
refresher course of study prior to reappointment as a notary public by the Secretary of State.
§ 8201.1. Additional qualifications; determination; identification; fingerprints
(a) Prior to granting an appointment as a notary public, the Secretary of State shall determine
that the applicant possesses the required honesty, credibility, truthfulness, and integrity to fulfill
the responsibilities of the position. To assist in determining the identity of the applicant and
whether the applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying crime specified in subdivision (b)
of Section 8214.1, the Secretary of State shall require that applicants be fingerprinted.
(b) Applicants shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related
information required by the department for the purpose of obtaining information as to the
existence and content of a record of state and federal convictions and arrests and information
as to the existence and content of a record of state and federal arrests for which the department
establishes that the person is free on bail, or on his or her recognizance, pending trial or
appeal.
(c) The department shall forward the fingerprint images and related information received
pursuant to subdivision (a) to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and request a federal summary
of criminal information.
(d) The department shall review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and compile and disseminate a response to the Secretary of State pursuant to
paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.
(e) The Secretary of State shall request from the department subsequent arrest notification
service, pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for each person who submitted
information pursuant to subdivision (a).
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(f) The department shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests
described in this section.
§ 8201.2. Review of course of study for notary public; approval of education course of
study, violation of regulations; civil penalties
(a) The Secretary of State shall review the course of study proposed by any vendor to be
offered pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of
Section 8201. If the course of study includes all material that a person is expected to know to
satisfactorily complete the written examination required pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision
(a) of Section 8201, the Secretary of State shall approve the course of study.
(b) (1) The Secretary of State shall, by regulation, prescribe an application form and adopt a
certificate of approval for the notary public education course of study proposed by a vendor.
(2) The Secretary of State may also provide a notary public education course of study.
(c) The Secretary of State shall compile a list of all persons offering an approved course of
study pursuant to subdivision (a) and shall provide the list with every booklet of the laws of
California relating to notaries public distributed by the Secretary of State.
(d) (1) A person who provides notary public education and violates any of the regulations
adopted by the Secretary of State for approved vendors is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation and shall be required to pay restitution where
appropriate.
(2) The local district attorney, city attorney, or the Attorney General may bring a civil action
to recover the civil penalty prescribed pursuant to this subdivision. A public prosecutor shall
inform the Secretary of State of any civil penalty imposed under this section.
§ 8201.5. Application form; confidential nature; use of information
The Secretary of State shall require an applicant for appointment and commission as a notary
public to complete an application form and submit a photograph of their person as prescribed
by the Secretary of State. Information on this form filed by an applicant with the Secretary of
State, except for his or her name and address, is confidential and no individual record shall be
divulged by an official or employee having access to it to any person other than the applicant,
his or her authorized representative, or an employee or officer of the federal government,
the state government, or a local agency, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 6252 of the
Government Code, acting in his or her official capacity. That information shall be used by the
Secretary of State for the sole purpose of carrying out the duties of this chapter.
§ 8202. Execution of jurat; administration of oath or affirmation to affiant; attachment
to affidavit
(a) When executing a jurat, a notary shall administer an oath or affirmation to the affiant and
shall determine, from satisfactory evidence as described in Section 1185 of the Civil Code,
that the affiant is the person executing the document. The affiant shall sign the document in
the presence of the notary.
(b) To any affidavit subscribed and sworn to before a notary, there shall be attached a jurat
in the following form:
State of California
County of _______________
Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on this _______ day of _______, 20__, by
___________________, proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s)
who appeared before me.
Seal________________________________
Signature____________________________
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§ 8202.5. State, county and school district employees; certificates; expenses
The Secretary of State may appoint and commission the number of state, city, county, and
public school district employees as notaries public to act for and on behalf of the governmental
entity for which appointed which the Secretary of State deems proper. Whenever a notary is
appointed and commissioned, a duly authorized representative of the employing governmental
entity shall execute a certificate that the appointment is made for the purposes of the employing
governmental entity, and whenever the certificate is filed with any state or county officer, no
fees shall be charged by the officer for the filing or issuance of any document in connection
with the appointment.
The state or any city, county, or school district for which the notary public is appointed and
commissioned pursuant to this section may pay from any funds available for its support the
premiums on any bond and the cost of any stamps, seals, or other supplies required in connection
with the appointment, commission, or performance of the duties of the notary public.
Any fees collected or obtained by any notary public whose documents have been filed without
charge and for whom bond premiums have been paid by the employer of the notary public
shall be remitted by the notary public to the employing agency which shall deposit the funds
to the credit of the fund from which the salary of the notary public is paid.
§ 8202.7. Private employers; agreement to pay premium on bonds and costs of supplies;
remission of fees to employer
A private employer, pursuant to an agreement with an employee who is a notary public, may
pay the premiums on any bond and the cost of any stamps, seals, or other supplies required
in connection with the appointment, commission, or performance of the duties of such notary
public. Such agreement may also provide for the remission of fees collected by such notary
public to the employer, in which case any fees collected or obtained by such notary public
while such agreement is in effect shall be remitted by such notary public to the employer which
shall deposit such funds to the credit of the fund from which the compensation of the notary
public is paid.
§ 8202.8. Private employers; limitation on provision of notarial services
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a private employer of a notary public who has
entered into an agreement with his or her employee pursuant to Section 8202.7 may limit,
during the employee’s ordinary course of employment, the providing of notarial services
by the employee solely to transactions directly associated with the business purposes of the
employer.
§ 8203.1. Military and naval reservations; appointment and commission of notaries;
qualifications
The Secretary of State may appoint and commission notaries public for the military and
naval reservations of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marine Corps of the United
States, wherever located in the state; provided, however, that the appointee shall be a citizen
of the United States, not less than 18 years of age, and must meet the requirements set forth
in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 8201.
§ 8203.2. Military and naval reservations, recommendation of commanding officer;
jurisdiction of notary
Such notaries public shall be appointed only upon the recommendation of the commanding
officer of the reservation in which they are to act, and they shall be authorized to act only
within the boundaries of this reservation.
§ 8203.3. Military and naval reservations, qualifications of notaries
In addition to the qualifications established in Section 8203.1, appointment will be made
only from among those persons who are federal civil service employees at the reservation in
which they will act as notaries public.
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§ 8203.4. Military and naval reservations; term of office; termination; resignation
The term of office shall be as set forth in Section 8204, except that the appointment shall
terminate if the person shall cease to be employed as a federal civil service employee at the
reservation for which appointed. The commanding officer of the reservation shall notify the
Secretary of State of termination of employment at the reservation for which appointed within
30 days of such termination. A notary public whose appointment terminates pursuant to this
section will have such termination treated as a resignation.
§ 8203.5. Military and naval reservations, jurat
In addition to the name of the State, the jurat shall also contain the name of the reservation
in which the instrument is executed.
§ 8203.6. Military and naval reservations, fees
No fees shall be collected by such notaries public for service rendered within the reservation
in the capacity of a notary public.
§ 8204. Term of office
The term of office of a notary public is for four years commencing with the date specified
in the commission.
§ 8204.1. Cancellation of Commission; failure to pay; notice
The Secretary of State may cancel the commission of a notary public if a check or other
remittance accepted as payment for the examination, application, commission, and fingerprint
fee is not paid upon presentation to the financial institution upon which the check or other
remittance was drawn. Upon receiving written notification that the item presented for payment
has not been honored for payment, the Secretary of State shall first give a written notice of
the applicability of this section to the notary public or the person submitting the instrument.
Thereafter, if the amount is not paid by a cashier’s check or the equivalent, the Secretary of
State shall give a second written notice of cancellation and the cancellation shall thereupon be
effective. This second notice shall be given at least 20 days after the first notice, and no more
than 90 days after the commencement date of the commission.
§ 8205. Duties
(a) It is the duty of a notary public, when requested:
(1) To demand acceptance and payment of foreign and inland bills of exchange, or promissory
notes, to protest them for nonacceptance and nonpayment, and, with regard only to the
nonacceptance or nonpayment of bills and notes, to exercise any other powers and duties that
by the law of nations and according to commercial usages, or by the laws of any other state,
government, or country, may be performed by notaries.
(2) To take the acknowledgment or proof of advance health care directives, powers of
attorney, mortgages, deeds, grants, transfers, and other instruments of writing executed by any
person, and to give a certificate of that proof or acknowledgment, endorsed on or attached to
the instrument. The certificate shall be signed by the notary public in the notary public’s own
handwriting. A notary public may not accept any acknowledgment or proof of any instrument
that is incomplete.
(3) To take depositions and affidavits, and administer oaths and affirmations, in all matters
incident to the duties of the office, or to be used before any court, judge, officer, or board. Any
deposition, affidavit, oath, or affirmation shall be signed by the notary public in the notary
public’s own handwriting.
(4) To certify copies of powers of attorney under Section 4307 of the Probate Code. The
certification shall be signed by the notary public in the notary public’s own handwriting.
(b) It shall further be the duty of a notary public, upon written request:
(1) To furnish to the Secretary of State certified copies of the notary’s journal.
(2) To respond within 30 days of receiving written requests sent by certified mail from the
Secretary of State’s office for information relating to official acts performed by the notary.
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§ 8206. Sequential journal; contents; thumbprint; loss of journal; copies of pages;
exclusive property of notary public; limitations on surrender
(a) (1) A notary public shall keep one active sequential journal at a time, of all official acts
performed as a notary public. The journal shall be kept in a locked and secured area, under
the direct and exclusive control of the notary. Failure to secure the journal shall be cause for
the Secretary of State to take administrative action against the commission held by the notary
public pursuant to Section 8214.1.
(2) The journal shall be in addition to, and apart from, any copies of notarized documents
that may be in the possession of the notary public and shall include all of the following:
(A) Date, time, and type of each official act.
(B) Character of every instrument sworn to, affirmed, acknowledged, or proved before the
notary.
(C) The signature of each person whose signature is being notarized.
(D) A statement as to whether the identity of a person making an acknowledgment or taking
an oath or affirmation was based on satisfactory evidence. If identity was established by
satisfactory evidence pursuant to Section 1185 of the Civil Code, then the journal shall contain
the signature of the credible witness swearing or affirming to the identity of the individual or
the type of identifying document, the governmental agency issuing the document, the serial
or identifying number of the document, and the date of issue or expiration of the document.
(E) If the identity of the person making the acknowledgment or taking the oath or affirmation
was established by the oaths or affirmations of two credible witnesses whose identities are
proven to the notary public by presentation of any document satisfying the requirements of
paragraph (3) or (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 1185 of the Civil Code, the notary public
shall record in the journal the type of documents identifying the witnesses, the identifying
numbers on the documents identifying the witnesses, and the dates of issuance or expiration
of the documents identifying the witnesses.
(F) The fee charged for the notarial service.
(G) If the document to be notarized is a deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust affecting real
property, or a power of attorney document, the notary public shall require the party signing
the document to place his or her right thumbprint in the journal. If the right thumbprint is not
available, then the notary shall have the party use his or her left thumb, or any available finger
and shall so indicate in the journal. If the party signing the document is physically unable to
provide a thumbprint or fingerprint, the notary shall so indicate in the journal and shall also
provide an explanation of that physical condition. This paragraph shall not apply to a trustee’s
deed resulting from a decree of foreclosure or a nonjudicial foreclosure pursuant to Section
2924 of the Civil Code, nor to a deed of reconveyance.
(b) If a sequential journal of official acts performed by a notary public is stolen, lost,
misplaced, destroyed, damaged, or otherwise rendered unusable as a record of notarial acts
and information, the notary public shall immediately notify the Secretary of State by certified
or registered mail. The notification shall include the period of the journal entries, the notary
public commission number, and the expiration date of the commission, and when applicable,
a photocopy of any police report that specifies the theft of the sequential journal of official
acts.
(c) Upon written request of any member of the public, which request shall include the name
of the parties, the type of document, and the month and year in which notarized, the notary
shall supply a photostatic copy of the line item representing the requested transaction at a cost
of not more than thirty cents ($0.30) per page.
(d) The journal of notarial acts of a notary public is the exclusive property of that notary
public, and shall not be surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment, whether
or not the employer paid for the journal, or at any other time. The notary public shall not
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surrender the journal to any other person, except the county clerk, pursuant to Section 8209, or
immediately, or if the journal is not present then as soon as possible, upon request to a peace
officer investigating a criminal offense who has reasonable suspicion to believe the journal
contains evidence of a criminal offense, as defined in Sections 830.1, 830.2, and 830.3 of the
Penal Code, acting in his or her official capacity and within his or her authority. If the peace
officer seizes the notary journal, he or she must have probable cause as required by the laws of
this state and the United States. A peace officer or law enforcement agency that seizes a notary
journal shall notify the Secretary of State by facsimile within 24 hours, or as soon possible
thereafter, of the name of the notary public whose journal has been seized. The notary public
shall obtain a receipt for the journal, and shall notify the Secretary of State by certified mail
within 10 days that the journal was relinquished to a peace officer. The notification shall include
the period of the journal entries, the commission number of the notary public, the expiration
date of the commission, and a photocopy of the receipt. The notary public shall obtain a new
sequential journal. If the journal relinquished to a peace officer is returned to the notary public
and a new journal has been obtained, the notary public shall make no new entries in the returned
journal. A notary public who is an employee shall permit inspection and copying of journal
transactions by a duly designated auditor or agent of the notary public’s employer, provided
that the inspection and copying is done in the presence of the notary public and the transactions
are directly associated with the business purposes of the employer. The notary public, upon
the request of the employer, shall regularly provide copies of all transactions that are directly
associated with the business purposes of the employer, but shall not be required to provide
copies of any transaction that is unrelated to the employer’s business. Confidentiality and
safekeeping of any copies of the journal provided to the employer shall be the responsibility
of that employer.
(e) The notary public shall provide the journal for examination and copying in the presence
of the notary public upon receipt of a subpoena duces tecum or a court order, and shall certify
those copies if requested.
(f) Any applicable requirements of, or exceptions to, state and federal law shall apply to a
peace officer engaged in the search or seizure of a sequential journal.
§ 8206.5. Notaries; supplying photostatic copies on request; defending position in a
disciplinary proceeding
Upon receiving a request for a copy of a transaction pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
8206, the notary shall respond to the request within 15 business days after receipt of the request
and either supply the photostatic copy requested or acknowledge that no such line item exists.
In a disciplinary proceeding for noncompliance with subdivision (c) of Section 8206 or this
section, a notary may defend his or her delayed action on the basis of unavoidable, exigent
business or personal circumstances.
§ 8207. Seal
A notary public shall provide and keep an official seal, which shall clearly show, when
embossed, stamped, impressed or affixed to a document, the name of the notary, the State Seal,
the words “Notary Public,” and the name of the county wherein the bond and oath of office
are filed, and the date the notary public’s commission expires. The seal of every notary public
commissioned on or after January 1, 1992, shall contain the sequential identification number
assigned to the notary and the sequential identification number assigned to the manufacturer
or vendor. The notary public shall authenticate with the official seal all official acts.
A notary public shall not use the official notarial seal except for the purpose of carrying out
the duties and responsibilities as set forth in this chapter. A notary public shall not use the title
“notary public” except for the purpose of rendering notarial service.
The seal of every notary public shall be affixed by a seal press or stamp that will print or
emboss a seal which legibly reproduces under photographic methods the required elements
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of the seal. The seal may be circular not over two inches in diameter, or may be a rectangular
form of not more than one inch in width by two and one-half inches in length, with a serrated
or milled edged border, and shall contain the information required by this section.
The seal shall be kept in a locked and secured area, under the direct and exclusive control of the
notary. Failure to secure the seal shall be cause for the Secretary of State to take administrative
action against the commission held by the notary public pursuant to Section 8214.1.
The official seal of a notary public is the exclusive property of that notary public, and shall
not be surrendered to an employer upon the termination of employment, whether or not the
employer paid for the seal, or to any other person. The notary, or his or her representative,
shall destroy or deface the seal upon termination, resignation, or revocation of the notary’s
commission.
This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
§ 8207.1. Identification number
The Secretary of State shall assign a sequential identification number to each notary which
shall appear on the notary commission.
This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
§ 8207.2. Manufacture, duplication, and sale of seal or stamp; procedures and guidelines
for issuance of seals; certificate of authorization
(a) No notary seal or press stamp shall be manufactured, duplicated, sold, or offered for sale
unless authorized by the Secretary of State.
(b) The Secretary of State shall develop and implement procedures and guidelines for the
issuance of notary seals on or before January 1, 1992.
(c) The Secretary of State shall issue a permit with a sequential identification number to
each manufacturer or vendor authorized to issue notary seals. The Secretary of State may
establish a fee for the issuance of the permit which shall not exceed the actual costs of issuing
the permit.
(d) The Secretary of State shall develop a certificate of authorization to purchase a notary
stamp from an authorized vendor.
(e) The certificate of authorization shall be designed to prevent forgeries and shall contain
a sequential identification number.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
§ 8207.3. Certificates of authorization; authorization to provide seal; lost, misplaced,
damaged or otherwise unworkable seal
(a) The Secretary of State shall issue certificates of authorization with which a notary public
can obtain an official notary seal.
(b) A vendor or manufacturer is authorized to provide a notary with an official seal only
upon presentation by the notary public of a certificate of authorization.
(c) A vendor of official seals shall note the receipt of certificates of authorization and
sequential identification numbers of certificates presented by a notary public upon a certificate
of authorization.
(d) A copy of a certificate of authorization shall be retained by a vendor and the original, which
shall contain a sample impression of the seal issued to the notary public, shall be submitted to
the Secretary of State for verification and recordkeeping. The Secretary of State shall develop
guidelines for submitting certificates of authorization by vendors.
(e) Any notary whose official seal is lost, misplaced, destroyed, broken, damaged, or is
rendered otherwise unworkable shall immediately mail or deliver written notice of that fact
to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State, within five working days after receipt of the
notice, if requested by a notary, shall issue a certificate of authorization which a notary may
use to obtain a replacement seal.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
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§ 8207.4. Violations; penalties
(a) Any person who willfully violates any part of Section 8207.1, 8207.2, 8207.3, or 8207.4
shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for
each violation, which may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Attorney General or
the district attorney or city attorney, or by a city prosecutor in any city and county.
(b) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy, and does not affect any
other relief or remedy provided by law.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
§ 8208. Protest of bill or note for nonacceptance or nonpayment
The protest of a notary public, under his or her hand and official seal, of a bill of exchange
or promissory note for nonacceptance or nonpayment, specifying any of the following is prima
facie evidence of the facts recited therein:
(a) The time and place of presentment.
(b) The fact that presentment was made and the manner thereof.
(c) The cause or reason for protesting the bill.
(d) The demand made and the answer given, if any, or the fact that the drawee or acceptor
could not be found.
§ 8209. Resignation, disqualification or removal of notary; records delivered to clerk;
misdemeanor; death; destruction of records
(a) If any notary public resigns, is disqualified, removed from office, or allows his or her
appointment to expire without obtaining reappointment within 30 days, all notarial records and
papers shall be delivered within 30 days to the clerk of the county in which the notary public’s
current official oath of office is on file. If the notary public willfully fails or refuses to deliver
all notarial records and papers to the county clerk within 30 days, the person is guilty of a
misdemeanor and shall be personally liable for damages to any person injured by that action
or inaction.
(b) In the case of the death of a notary public, the personal representative of the deceased
shall promptly notify the Secretary of State of the death of the notary public and shall deliver
all notarial records and papers of the deceased to the clerk of the county in which the notary
public’s official oath of office is on file.
(c) After 10 years from the date of deposit with the county clerk, if no request for, or reference
to such records has been made, they may be destroyed upon order of court.
§ 8211. Fees
Fees charged by a notary public for the following services shall not exceed the fees prescribed
by this section.
(a) For taking an acknowledgment or proof of a deed, or other instrument, to include the seal
and the writing of the certificate, the sum of ten dollars ($10) for each signature taken.
(b) For administering an oath or affirmation to one person and executing the jurat, including
the seal, the sum of ten dollars ($10).
(c) For all services rendered in connection with the taking of any deposition, the sum of
twenty dollars ($20), and in addition thereto, the sum of five dollars ($5) for administering the
oath to the witness and the sum of five dollars ($5) for the certificate to the deposition.
(d) For every protest for the nonpayment of a promissory note or for the nonpayment or
nonacceptance of a bill of exchange, draft, or check, the sum of ten dollars ($10).
(e) For serving every notice of nonpayment of a promissory note or of nonpayment or
nonacceptance of a bill of exchange, order, draft, or check, the sum of five dollars ($5).
(f) For recording every protest, the sum of five dollars ($5).
(g) No fee may be charged to notarize signatures on vote by mail ballot identification envelopes
or other voting materials.
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(h) For certifying a copy of a power of attorney under Section 4307 of the Probate Code the
sum of ten dollars ($10).
(i) In accordance with Section 6107, no fee may be charged to a United States military veteran
for notarization of an application or a claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation,
insurance, or any other veteran’s benefit.
§ 8212. Bond; amount; form
Every person appointed a notary public shall execute an official bond in the sum of fifteen
thousand dollars ($15,000). The bond shall be in the form of a bond executed by an admitted
surety insurer and not a deposit in lieu of bond.
§ 8213. Bonds and oaths; filing; certificate; copy of oath as evidence; transfer to new
county; name changes; fees
(a) No later than 30 days after the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission, every
person appointed a notary public shall file an official bond and an oath of office in the office of
the county clerk of the county within which the person maintains a principal place of business
as shown in the application submitted to the Secretary of State, and the commission shall not
take effect unless this is done within the 30-day period. A person appointed to be a notary
public shall take and subscribe the oath of office either in the office of that county clerk or
before another notary public in that county. If the oath of office is taken and subscribed before
a notary public, the oath and bond may be filed with the county clerk by certified mail. Upon
the filing of the oath and bond, the county clerk shall immediately transmit to the Secretary
of State a certificate setting forth the fact of the filing and containing a copy of the official
oath, personally signed by the notary public in the form set forth in the commission and shall
immediately deliver the bond to the county recorder for recording. The county clerk shall
retain the oath of office for one year following the expiration of the term of the commission
for which the oath was taken, after which the oath may be destroyed or otherwise disposed
of. The copy of the oath, personally signed by the notary public, on file with the Secretary of
State may at any time be read in evidence with like effect as the original oath, without further
proof.
(b) If a notary public transfers the principal place of business from one county to another,
the notary public may file a new oath of office and bond, or a duplicate of the original bond
with the county clerk to which the principal place of business was transferred. If the notary
public elects to make a new filing, the notary public shall, within 30 days of the filing, obtain
an official seal which shall include the name of the county to which the notary public has
transferred. In a case where the notary public elects to make a new filing, the same filing and
recording fees are applicable as in the case of the original filing and recording of the bond.
(c) If a notary public submits an application for a name change to the Secretary of State,
the notary public shall, within 30 days from the date an amended commission is issued, file a
new oath of office and an amendment to the bond with the county clerk in which the principal
place of business is located. The amended commission with the name change shall not take
effect unless the filing is completed within the 30-day period. The amended commission
with the name change takes effect the date the oath and amendment to the bond is filed with
the county clerk. If the principal place of business address was changed in the application
for name change, either a new or duplicate of the original bond shall be filed with the county
clerk with the amendment to the bond. The notary public shall, within 30 days of the filing,
obtain an official seal that includes the name of the notary public and the name of the county
to which the notary public has transferred, if applicable.
(d) The recording fee specified in Section 27361 of the Government Code shall be paid by the
person appointed a notary public. The fee may be paid to the county clerk who shall transmit
it to the county recorder.
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(e) The county recorder shall record the bond and shall thereafter mail, unless specified to
the contrary, it to the person named in the instrument and, if no person is named, to the party
leaving it for recording.
§ 8213.5. Change in location or address of business or residence; notice
A notary public shall notify the Secretary of State by certified mail within 30 days as to any
change in the location or address of the principal place of business or residence. A notary
public shall not use a commercial mail receiving agency or post office box as his or her principal
place of business or residence, unless the notary public also provides the Secretary of State
with a physical street address as the principal place of residence. Willful failure to notify the
Secretary of State of a change of address shall be punishable as an infraction by a fine of not
more than five hundred dollars ($500).
§ 8213.6. Name changes; application; filing
If a notary public changes his or her name, the notary public shall complete an application
for name change form and file that application with the Secretary of State. Information on
this form shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions described in Section 8201.5. Upon
approval of the name change form, the Secretary of State shall issue a commission that reflects
the new name of the notary public. The term of the commission and commission number shall
remain the same. Willful failure to notify the Secretary of State of a name change shall be
punishable as an infraction by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
§ 8214. Misconduct or neglect
For the official misconduct or neglect of a notary public, the notary public and the sureties
on the notary public’s official bond are liable in a civil action to the persons injured thereby
for all the damages sustained.
§ 8214.1. Grounds for refusal, revocation or suspension of commission
The Secretary of State may refuse to appoint any person as notary public or may revoke or
suspend the commission of any notary public upon any of the following grounds:
(a) Substantial and material misstatement or omission in the application submitted to the
Secretary of State to become a notary public.
(b) Conviction of a felony, a lesser offense involving moral turpitude, or a lesser offense
of a nature incompatible with the duties of a notary public. A conviction after a plea of nolo
contendere is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this subdivision.
(c) Revocation, suspension, restriction, or denial of a professional license, if the revocation,
suspension, restriction, or denial was for misconduct based on dishonesty, or for any cause
substantially relating to the duties or responsibilities of a notary public.
(d) Failure to discharge fully and faithfully any of the duties or responsibilities required of
a notary public.
(e) When adjudicated liable for damages in any suit grounded in fraud, misrepresentation,
or for a violation of the state regulatory laws, or in any suit based upon a failure to discharge
fully and faithfully the duties as a notary public.
(f) The use of false or misleading advertising wherein the notary public has represented that
the notary public has duties, rights, or privileges that he or she does not possess by law.
(g) The practice of law in violation of Section 6125 of the Business and Professions Code.
(h) Charging more than the fees prescribed by this chapter.
(i) Commission of any act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit with the intent to
substantially benefit the notary public or another, or substantially injure another.
(j) Failure to complete the acknowledgment at the time the notary’s signature and seal are
affixed to the document.
(k) Failure to administer the oath or affirmation as required by paragraph (3) of subdivision
(a) of Section 8205.
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(l) Execution of any certificate as a notary public containing a statement known to the notary
public to be false.
(m) Violation of Section 8223.
(n) Failure to submit any remittance payable upon demand by the Secretary of State under
this chapter or failure to satisfy any court-ordered money judgment, including restitution.
(o) Failure to secure the sequential journal of official acts, pursuant to Section 8206, or
the official seal, pursuant to Section 8207, or willful failure to report the theft or loss of the
sequential journal, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8206.
(p) Violation of Section 8219.5.
(q) Commission of an act in violation of Section 6203, 8214.2, 8225, or 8227.3 of the
Government Code or of Section 115, 470, 487, or 530.5 of the Penal Code.
(r) Willful failure to provide access to the sequential journal of official acts upon request
by a police officer.
§ 8214.15. Civil penalties
(a) In addition to any commissioning or disciplinary sanction, a violation of subdivision (f),
(i), (l), (m), or (p) of Section 8214.1 is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand
five hundred dollars ($1,500).
(b) In addition to any commissioning or disciplinary sanction, a violation of subdivision (h),
(j), or (k) of Section 8214.1, or a negligent violation of subdivision (d) of Section 8214.1 is
punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750).
(c) The civil penalty may be imposed by the Secretary of State if a hearing is not requested
pursuant to Section 8214.3. If a hearing is requested, the hearing officer shall make the
determination.
(d) Any civil penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the General
Fund. It is the intent of the Legislature that to the extent General Fund moneys are raised by
penalties collected pursuant to this section, that money shall be made available to the Secretary
of State’s office to defray its costs of investigating and pursuing commissioning and monetary
remedies for violations of the notary public law.
§ 8214.2. Fraud relating to deed of trust; single-family residence; felony
(a) A notary public who knowingly and willfully with intent to defraud performs any notarial
act in relation to a deed of trust on real property consisting of a single-family residence
containing not more than four dwelling units, with knowledge that the deed of trust contains
any false statements or is forged, in whole or in part, is guilty of a felony.
(b) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy and does not affect any
other relief or remedy provided by law.
§ 8214.21. Failure to provide access to the sequential journal of notarial acts; civil
penalties
A notary public who willfully fails to provide access to the sequential journal of notarial acts
when requested by a peace officer shall be subject to a civil penalty not exceeding two thousand
five hundred dollars ($2,500). An action to impose a civil penalty under this subdivision may
be brought by the Secretary of State in an administrative proceeding or any public prosecutor
in superior court, and shall be enforced as a civil judgment. A public prosecutor shall inform
the secretary of any civil penalty imposed under this section.
§ 8214.23. Failure to obtain thumbprint; civil penalties; limitations
(a) A notary public who fails to obtain a thumbprint, as required by Section 8206, from a
party signing a document shall be subject to a civil penalty not exceeding two thousand five
hundred dollars ($2,500). An action to impose a civil penalty under this subdivision may be
brought by the Secretary of State in an administrative proceeding or any public prosecutor in
superior court, and shall be enforced as a civil judgment. A public prosecutor shall inform the
secretary of any civil penalty imposed under this section.
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(b) Not withstanding any other limitation of time described in Section 802 of the Penal Code,
or any other provision of law, prosecution for a violation of this offense shall be commenced
within four years after discovery of the commission of the offense, or within four years after
the completion of the offense, whichever is later.
§ 8214.3. Hearing prior to denial or revocation of commission or imposition of civil
penalties; law governing; exceptions
Prior to a revocation or suspension pursuant to this chapter or after a denial of a commission,
or prior to the imposition of a civil penalty, the person affected shall have a right to a hearing on
the matter and the proceeding shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing
with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3, except that a person shall not have a right to a
hearing after a denial of an application for a notary public commission in either of the following
cases:
(a) The Secretary of State has, within one year previous to the application, and after
proceedings conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of
Part 1 of Division 3, denied or revoked the applicant’s application or commission.
(b) The Secretary of State has entered an order pursuant to Section 8214.4 finding that the
applicant has committed or omitted acts constituting grounds for suspension or revocation of
a notary public’s commission.
§ 8214.4. Resignation or expiration of commission not a bar to investigation or
disciplinary proceedings
Notwithstanding this chapter or Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of
Division 3, if the Secretary of State determines, after proceedings conducted in accordance
with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3, that any notary
public has committed or omitted acts constituting grounds for suspension or revocation of a
notary public’s commission, the resignation or expiration of the notary public’s commission
shall not bar the Secretary of State from instituting or continuing an investigation or instituting
disciplinary proceedings. Upon completion of the disciplinary proceedings, the Secretary of
State shall enter an order finding the facts and stating the conclusion that the facts would or
would not have constituted grounds for suspension or revocation of the commission if the
commission had still been in effect.
§ 8214.5. Revocation of commission; filing copy with county clerk
Whenever the Secretary of State revokes the commission of any notary public, the Secretary
of State shall file with the county clerk of the county in which the notary public’s principal place
of business is located a copy of the revocation. The county clerk shall note such revocation
and its date upon the original record of such certificate.
§ 8214.8. Revocation upon certain convictions
Upon conviction of any offense in this chapter, or of Section 6203, or of any felony, of a
person commissioned as a notary public, in addition to any other penalty, the court shall revoke
the commission of the notary public, and shall require the notary public to surrender to the
court the seal of the notary public. The court shall forward the seal, together with a certified
copy of the judgment of conviction, to the Secretary of State.
§ 8216. Release of surety
When a surety of a notary desires to be released from responsibility on account of future
acts, the release shall be pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 996.110), and not
by cancellation or withdrawal pursuant to Article 13 (commencing with Section 996.310), of
Chapter 2 of Title 14 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. For this purpose the surety shall
make application to the superior court of the county in which the notary public’s principal place
of business is located and the copy of the application and notice of hearing shall be served on
the Secretary of State as the beneficiary.
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§ 8219.5. Advertising in language other than English; posting of notice relating to legal
advice and fees; translation of notary public into Spanish; suspension
(a) Every notary public who is not an attorney who advertises the services of a notary public
in a language other than English by signs or other means of written communication, with the
exception of a single desk plaque, shall post with that advertisement a notice in English and
in the other language which sets forth the following:
(1) This statement: I am not an attorney and, therefore, cannot give legal advice about
immigration or any other legal matters.
(2) The fees set by statute which a notary public may charge.
(b) The notice required by subdivision (a) shall be printed and posted as prescribed by the
Secretary of State.
(c) Literal translation of the phrase “notary public” into Spanish, hereby defined as “notario
publico” or “notario,” is prohibited. For purposes of this subdivision, “literal translation” of a
word or phrase from one language to another means the translation of a word or phrase without
regard to the true meaning of the word or phrase in the language which is being translated.
(d) The Secretary of State shall suspend for a period of not less than one year or revoke the
commission of any notary public who fails to comply with subdivision (a) or (c). However,
on the second offense the commission of such notary public shall be revoked permanently.
§ 8220. Rules and regulations
The Secretary of State may adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this
chapter.
The regulations shall be adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act
(Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3).
§ 8221. Destruction, defacement or concealment of records or papers; misdemeanor;
liability for damages
(a) If any person shall knowingly destroy, deface, or conceal any records or papers belonging
to the office of a notary public, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be liable in
a civil action for damages to any person injured as a result of such destruction, defacing, or
concealment.
(b) Notwithstanding any other limitation of time described in Section 802 of the Penal Code,
or any other provision of law, prosecution for a violation of this offense shall be commenced
within four years after discovery of the commission of the offense, or within four years after
the completion of the offense, whichever is later.
(c) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy and does not affect any
other relief or remedy provided by law.
§ 8222. Injunction; reimbursement for expenses
(a) Whenever it appears to the Secretary of State that any person has engaged or is about to
engage in any acts or practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of any provision
of this chapter or any rule or regulation prescribed under the authority thereof, the Secretary
of State may apply for an injunction, and upon a proper showing, any court of competent
jurisdiction has power to issue a permanent or temporary injunction or restraining order to
enforce the provisions of this chapter, and any party to the action has the right to prosecute an
appeal from the order or judgment of the court.
(b) The court may order a person subject to an injunction or restraining order provided for
in this section to reimburse the Secretary of State for expenses incurred in the investigation
related to the petition. The Secretary of State shall refund any amount received as reimbursement
should the injunction or restraining order be dissolved by an appellate court.
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§ 8223. Notary public with expertise in immigration matters; advertising status as
notary public; entry of information on forms; fee limitations
(a) No notary public who holds himself or herself out as being an immigration specialist,
immigration consultant or any other title or description reflecting an expertise in immigration
matters shall advertise in any manner whatsoever that he or she is a notary public.
(b) A notary public qualified and bonded as an immigration consultant under Chapter 19.5
(commencing with Section 22440) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code may
enter data, provided by the client, on immigration forms provided by a federal or state agency.
The fee for this service shall not exceed ten dollars ($10) per individual for each set of forms.
If notary services are performed in relation to the set of immigration forms, additional fees
may be collected pursuant to Section 8211. This fee limitation shall not apply to an attorney,
who is also a notary public, who is rendering professional services regarding immigration
matters.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt a notary public who enters data
on an immigration form at the direction of a client, or otherwise performs the services of an
immigration consultant, as defined by Section 22441 of the Business and Professions Code,
from the requirements of Chapter 19.5 (commencing with Section 22440) of Division 8 of
the Business and Professions Code. A notary public who is not qualified and bonded as an
immigration consultant under Chapter 19.5 (commencing with Section 22440) of Division 8
of the Business and Professions Code may not enter data provided by a client on immigration
forms nor otherwise perform the services of an immigration consultant.
§ 8224. Conflict of interest; financial or beneficial interest in transaction; exceptions
A notary public who has a direct financial or beneficial interest in a transaction shall not
perform any notarial act in connection with such transaction.
For purposes of this section, a notary public has a direct financial or beneficial interest in a
transaction if the notary public:
(a) With respect to a financial transaction, is named, individually, as a principal to the
transaction.
(b) With respect to real property, is named, individually, as a grantor, grantee, mortgagor,
mortgagee, trustor, trustee, beneficiary, vendor, vendee, lessor, or lessee, to the transaction.
For purposes of this section, a notary public has no direct financial or beneficial interest
in a transaction where the notary public acts in the capacity of an agent, employee, insurer,
attorney, escrow, or lender for a person having a direct financial or beneficial interest in the
transaction.
§ 8224.1. Writings, depositions or affidavits of notary public; prohibitions against proof
or taking by that notary public
A notary public shall not take the acknowledgment or proof of instruments of writing executed
by the notary public nor shall depositions or affidavits of the notary public be taken by the
notary public.
§ 8225. Improper notarial acts, solicitation, coercion or influence of performance;
misdemeanor
(a) Any person who solicits, coerces, or in any manner influences a notary public to perform
an improper notarial act knowing that act to be an improper notarial act, including any act
required of a notary public under Section 8206, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) Notwithstanding any other limitation of time described in Section 802 of the Penal Code,
or any other provision of law, prosecution for a violation of this offense shall be commenced
within four years after discovery of the commission of the offense, or within four years after
the completion of the offense, whichever is later.
(c) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy, and does not affect any
other relief or remedy provided by law.
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§ 8227.1. Unlawful acts by one not a notary public; misdemeanor
It shall be a misdemeanor for any person who is not a duly commissioned, qualified, and
acting notary public for the State of California to do any of the following:
(a) Represent or hold himself or herself out to the public or to any person as being entitled
to act as a notary public.
(b) Assume, use or advertise the title of notary public in such a manner as to convey the
impression that the person is a notary public.
(c) Purport to act as a notary public.
§ 8227.3. Unlawful acts by one not a notary public; deeds of trust on single-family
residences; felony
Any person who is not a duly commissioned, qualified, and acting notary public who does
any of the acts prohibited by Section 8227.1 in relation to any document or instrument affecting
title to, placing an encumbrance on, or placing an interest secured by a mortgage or deed of
trust on, real property consisting of a single-family residence containing not more than four
dwelling units, is guilty of a felony.
§ 8228. Enforcement of chapter; examination of notarial books, records, etc.
The Secretary of State or a peace officer, as defined in Sections 830.1, 830.2, and 830.3 of
the Penal Code, possessing reasonable suspicion and acting in his or her official capacity and
within his or her authority, may enforce the provisions of this chapter through the examination
of a notary public’s books, records, letters, contracts, and other pertinent documents relating
to the official acts of the notary public.
§ 8228.1. Willful failure to perform duty or control notarial seal
(a) Any notary public who willfully fails to perform any duty required of a notary public
under Section 8206, or who willfully fails to keep the seal of the notary public under the direct
and exclusive control of the notary public, or who surrenders the seal of the notary public to
any person not otherwise authorized by law to possess the seal of the notary, shall be guilty of
a misdemeanor.
(b) Notwithstanding any other limitation of time described in Section 802 of the Penal Code
or any other provision of law, prosecution for a violation of this offense shall be commenced
within four years after discovery of the commission of the offense, or within four years after
the completion of the offense, whichever is later.
(c) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy, and does not affect any
other relief or remedy provided by law.
§ 8230. Identification of affiant; verification
If a notary public executes a jurat and the statement sworn or subscribed to is contained in
a document purporting to identify the affiant, and includes the birthdate or age of the person
and a purported photograph or finger or thumbprint of the person so swearing or subscribing,
the notary public shall require, as a condition to executing the jurat, that the person verify the
birthdate or age contained in the statement by showing either:
(a) A certified copy of the person’s birth certificate, or
(b) An identification card or driver’s license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
For the purposes of preparing for submission of forms required by the United States
Immigration and Naturalization Service, and only for such purposes, a notary public may
also accept for identification any documents or declarations acceptable to the United States
Immigration and Naturalization Service.
* * *
§ 1360. Necessity of taking constitutional oath
Unless otherwise provided, before any officer enters on the duties of his office, he shall take
and subscribe the oath or affirmation set forth in Section 3 of Article XX of the Constitution
of California.
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§ 1362. Administration by authorized officer
Unless otherwise provided, the oath may be taken before any officer authorized to administer
oaths.
§ 6100. Performance of services; officers; notaries public
Officers of the state, or of a county or judicial district, shall not perform any official services
unless upon the payment of the fees prescribed by law for the performance of the services,
except as provided in this chapter.
This section shall not be construed to prohibit any notary public, except a notary public
whose fees are required by law to be remitted to the state or any other public agency, from
performing notarial services without charging a fee.
§ 6107. Veterans
(a) No public entity, including the state, a county, city, or other political subdivision, nor
any officer or employee thereof, including notaries public, shall demand or receive any fee or
compensation for doing any of the following:
(1) Recording, indexing, or issuing certified copies of any discharge, certificate of service,
certificate of satisfactory service, notice of separation, or report of separation of any member
of the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2) Furnishing a certified copy of, or searching for, any public record that is to be used in an
application or claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance (including
automatic insurance), or any other benefits under any act of Congress for service in the Armed
Forces of the United States or under any law of this state relating to veterans’ benefits.
(3) Furnishing a certified copy of, or searching for, any public record that is required by the
Veterans Administration to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to participate
in benefits made available by the Veterans Administration.
(4) Rendering any other service in connection with an application or claim referred to in
paragraph (2) or (3).
(b) A certified copy of any record referred to in subdivision (a) may be made available only
to one of the following:
(1) The person who is the subject of the record upon presentation of proper photo
identification.
(2) A family member or legal representative of the person who is the subject of the record
upon presentation of proper photo identification and certification of their relationship to the
subject of the record.
(3) A county office that provides veteran’s benefits services upon written request of that
office.
(4) A United States official upon written request of that official. A public officer or employee
is liable on his or her official bond for failure or refusal to render the services.
§ 6108. Oaths of office; claim against counties
No officer of a county or judicial district shall charge or receive any fee or compensation for
administering or certifying the oath of office or for filing or swearing to any claim or demand
against any county in the State.
§ 6109. Receipt of fees; written account; officer liability
Every officer of a county or judicial district, upon receiving any fees for official duty or
service, may be required by the person paying the fees to make out in writing and to deliver
to the person a particular account of the fees. The account shall specify for what the fees,
respectively, accrued, and the officer shall receipt it. If the officer refuses or neglects to do so
when required, he is liable to the person paying the fees in treble the amount so paid.
§ 6110. Performance of services following payment; officer liability
Upon payment of the fees required by law, the officer shall perform the services required.
For every failure or refusal to do so, the officer is liable upon his official bond.
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§ 6203. False certificate or writing by officer
(a) Every officer authorized by law to make or give any certificate or other writing is guilty
of a misdemeanor if he or she makes and delivers as true any certificate or writing containing
statements which he or she knows to be false.
(b) Notwithstanding any other limitation of time described in Section 802 of the Penal Code,
or any other provision of law, prosecution for a violation of this offense shall be commenced
within four years after discovery of the commission of the offense, or within four years after
the completion of the offense, whichever is later.
(c) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy, and does not affect any
other relief or remedy provided by law.
§ 6800. Computation of time in which act is to be done
The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first
day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded.
§ 27287. Acknowledgment of execution or proof by subscribing witness required before
recording; exceptions
* * * before an instrument can be recorded its execution shall be acknowledged by the person
executing it, or if executed by a corporation, by its president or secretary or other person
executing it on behalf of the corporation, or, except for any quitclaim deed or grant deed other
than a trustee’s deed or a deed of reconveyance, mortgage, deed of trust, or security agreement,
proved by subscribing witness or as provided in Sections 1198 and 1199 of the Civil Code,
and the acknowledgment or proof certified as prescribed by law.
§ 66433. Content and form; application of article
The content and form of final maps shall be governed by the provisions of this article.
§ 66436. Statement of consent; necessity; exceptions; nonliability for omission of
signature; notary acknowledgment
(a) A statement, signed and acknowledged by all parties having any record title interest in
the subdivided real property, consenting to the preparation and recordation of the final map is
required, * * *
(c) A notary acknowledgment shall be deemed complete for recording without the official
seal of the notary, so long as the name of the notary, the county of the notary’s principal
place of business, and the notary’s commission expiration date are typed or printed below or
immediately adjacent to the notary’s signature in the acknowledgment.
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CIVIL
CODE
§ 14. Words and phrases; construction; tense; gender; number
* * * signature or subscription includes mark, when the person cannot write, his name being
written near it, by a person who writes his own name as a witness; provided, that when a
signature is by mark it must in order that the same may be acknowledged or may serve as the
signature to any sworn statement be witnessed by two persons who must subscribe their own
names as witnesses thereto. * * *
§ 1181. Notaries public; officers before whom proof or acknowledgment may be made
The proof or acknowledgment of an instrument may be made before a notary public at any
place within this state, or within the county or city and county in this state in which the officer
specified below was elected or appointed, before either:
(a) A clerk of a superior court.
(b) A county clerk.
(c) A court commissioner.
(d) A retired judge of a municipal or justice court.
(e) A district attorney.
(f) A clerk of a board of supervisors.
(g) A city clerk.
(h) A county counsel.
(i) A city attorney.
(j) Secretary of the Senate.
(k) Chief Clerk of the Assembly.
§ 1185. Acknowledgments; requisites
(a) The acknowledgment of an instrument shall not be taken unless the officer taking it has
satisfactory evidence that the person making the acknowledgment is the individual who is
described in and who executed the instrument.
(b) For the purposes of this section “satisfactory evidence” means the absence of any
information, evidence, or other circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe
that the person making the acknowledgment is not the individual he or she claims to be and
any one of the following:
(1)(A) The oath or affirmation of a credible witness personally known to the officer, whose
identity is proven to the officer upon presentation of any document satisfying the requirements
of paragraph (3) or (4), that the person making the acknowledgment is personally known to
the witness and that each of the following are true:
(i) The person making the acknowledgment is the person named in the document.
(ii) The person making the acknowledgment is personally known to the witness.
(iii) That it is the reasonable belief of the witness that the circumstances of the person making
the acknowledgment are such that it would be very difficult or impossible for that person to
obtain another form of identification.
(iv) The person making the acknowledgment does not possess any of the identification
documents named in paragraphs (3) and (4).
(v) The witness does not have a financial interest in the document being acknowledged and
is not named in the document.
(B) A notary public who violates this section by failing to obtain the satisfactory evidence
required by subparagraph (A) shall be subject to a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand
dollars ($10,000). An action to impose this civil penalty may be brought by the Secretary
of State in an administrative proceeding or any public prosecutor in superior court, and shall
be enforced as a civil judgment. A public prosecutor shall inform the secretary of any civil
penalty imposed under this subparagraph.
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(2) The oath or affirmation under penalty of perjury of two credible witnesses, whose identities
are proven to the officer upon the presentation of any document satisfying the requirements of
paragraph (3) or (4), that each statement in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is true.
(3) Reasonable reliance on the presentation to the officer of any one of the following, if the
document is current or has been issued within five years:
(A) An identification card or driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor
Vehicles.
(B) A passport issued by the Department of State of the United States.
(4) Reasonable reliance on the presentation of any one of the following, provided that a
document specified in subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive, shall either be current or have been
issued within five years and shall contain a photograph and description of the person named
on it, shall be signed by the person, shall bear a serial or other identifying number, and, in the
event that the document is a passport, shall have been stamped by the United States Immigration
and Naturalization Service:
(A) A passport issued by a foreign government.
(B) A driver’s license issued by a state other than California or by a Canadian or Mexican
public agency authorized to issue drivers’ licenses.
(C) An identification card issued by a state other than California.
(D) An identification card issued by any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.
(E) An inmate identification card issued on or after January 1, 1988, by the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in custody.
(F) An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California,
or by an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in this state.
(G) An inmate identification card issued prior to January 1, 1988, by the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in custody.
(c) An officer who has taken an acknowledgment pursuant to this section shall be presumed
to have operated in accordance with the provisions of law.
(d) Any party who files an action for damages based on the failure of the officer to establish
the proper identity of the person making the acknowledgment shall have the burden of proof
in establishing the negligence or misconduct of the officer.
(e) Any person convicted of perjury under this section shall forfeit any financial interest in
the document.
§ 1188. Certificate of acknowledgment
An officer taking the acknowledgment of an instrument shall endorse thereon or attach thereto
a certificate substantially in the form prescribed in Section 1189.
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§ 1189. Certificate of acknowledgment; form; sufficiency of out of state
acknowledgment; force and effect of acknowledgment under prior laws
(a)(1) Any certificate of acknowledgment taken within this state shall be in the following
form:
State of California
}
County of _________
On __________ before me, (here insert name and title of the officer), personally appeared
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ ________________
_____________________________________________________,
who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s)
is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed
the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s)
on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted,
executed the instrument.
I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the
foregoing paragraph is true and correct.
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
Signature __________________________________ (Seal)
(2) A notary public who willfully states as true any material fact that he or she knows to be
false shall be subject to a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000). An action
to impose a civil penalty under this subdivision may be brought by the Secretary of State in an
administrative proceeding or any public prosecutor in superior court, and shall be enforced as
a civil judgment. A public prosecutor shall inform the secretary of any civil penalty imposed
under this section.
(b) Any certificate of acknowledgment taken in another place shall be sufficient in this state
if it is taken in accordance with the laws of the place where the acknowledgment is made.
(c) On documents to be filed in another state or jurisdiction of the United States, a California
notary public may complete any acknowledgment form as may be required in that other state
or jurisdiction on a document, provided the form does not require the notary to determine or
certify that the signer holds a particular representative capacity or to make other determinations
and certifications not allowed by California law.
(d) An acknowledgment provided prior to January 1, 1993, and conforming to applicable
provisions of former Sections 1189, 1190, 1190a, 1190.1, 1191, and 1192, as repealed by
Chapter 335 of the Statutes of 1990, shall have the same force and effect as if those sections
had not been repealed.
§ 1190. Certificate of acknowledgment as prima facie evidence; duly authorized
person
The certificate of acknowledgment of an instrument executed on behalf of an incorporated or
unincorporated entity by a duly authorized person in the form specified in Section 1189 shall
be prima facie evidence that the instrument is the duly authorized act of the entity named in the
instrument and shall be conclusive evidence thereof in favor of any good faith purchaser, lessee,
or encumbrancer. “Duly authorized person,” with respect to a domestic or foreign corporation,
includes the president, vice president, secretary, and assistant secretary of the corporation.
§ 1193. Certificate of acknowledgment; authentication
Officers taking and certifying acknowledgments or proof of instruments for record, must
authenticate their certificates by affixing thereto their signatures, followed by the names
of their offices; also, their seals of office, if by the laws of the State or country where the
acknowledgment or proof is taken, or by authority of which they are acting, they are required
to have official seals.
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§ 1195. Proof of execution; methods; certificate form
(a) Proof of the execution of an instrument, when not acknowledged, may be made any of
the following:
1. By the party executing it, or either of them.
2. By a subscribing witness.
3. By other witnesses, in cases mentioned in Section 1198.
(b) Proof of the execution of a grant deed, mortgage, deed of trust, quitclaim deed, or security
agreement is not permitted pursuant to Section 27287 of the Government Code, though proof
of the execution of a trustee’s deed or deed of reconveyance is permitted.
(c) Any certificate for proof of execution taken within this state may be in the following
form, although the use of other, substantially similar forms is not precluded:
State of California
} ss.
County of _________
On __________ (date), before me, the undersigned, a notary public for the state, personally
appeared _________________ (subscribing witness’s name), personally known to me (or
proved to me on the oath of _________________ (credible witness’s name), who is personally
known to me) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, as a witness
thereto, who, being by me duly sworn, deposed and said that he/she was present and saw
_________________ (name(s) of principal(s)), the same person(s) described in and whose
name(s) is/are subscribed to the within and annexed instrument in his/her/their authorized
capacity(ies) as (a) party (ies) thereto, execute the same, and that said affiant subscribed his/her
name to the within instrument as a witness at the request of _________________ (name(s) of
principal(s)).
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
Signature ______________________________________ (Seal)
§ 1196. Subscribing witness; establishment of identity
A witness shall be proved to be a subscribing witness by the oath of a credible witness who
provides the officer with any document satisfying the requirements of paragraph (3) or (4) of
subdivision (b) of Section 1185.
§ 1197. Subscribing witness; items to be proved
The subscribing witness must prove that the person whose name is subscribed to the instrument
as a party is the person described in it, and that such person executed it, and that the witness
subscribed his name thereto as a witness.
§ 1633.11. Notarization and signature under penalty of perjury requirements
(a) If a law requires that a signature be notarized, the requirement is satisfied with respect to
an electronic signature if an electronic record includes, in addition to the electronic signature
to be notarized, the electronic signature of a notary public together with all other information
required to be included in a notarization by other applicable law.
* * *
§ 1633.12. Retaining records; electronic satisfaction
(a) If a law requires that a record be retained, the requirement is satisfied by retaining an
electronic record of the information in the record, if the electronic record reflects accurately
the information set forth in the record at the time it was first generated in its final form as
an electronic record or otherwise, and the electronic record remains accessible for later
reference.
(b) A requirement to retain a record in accordance with subdivision (a) does not apply to
any information the sole purpose of which is to enable the record to be sent, communicated,
or received.
(c) A person may satisfy subdivision (a) by using the services of another person if the
requirements of subdivision (a) are satisfied.
44
code of civil procedure
CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
§ 12a. Computation of time; holidays; application of section
(a) If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed
within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and
including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all
day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section
12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays.
* * *
§ 1935. Subscribing witness defined
A subscribing witness is one who sees a writing executed or hears it acknowledged, and at
the request of the party thereupon signs his name as a witness.
§ 2093. Officers authorized to administer oaths or affirmations
(a) Every court, every judge, or clerk of any court, every justice, and every notary public,
and every officer or person authorized to take testimony in any action or proceeding, or to
decide upon evidence, has the power to administer oaths or affirmations.
(b) (1) Every shorthand reporter certified pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section
8020) of Chapter 13 of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code has the power to
administer oaths or affirmations and may perform the duties of the deposition officer pursuant
to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2025.010) of Title 4. The certified shorthand reporter
shall be entitled to receive fees for services rendered during a deposition, including fees
for deposition services, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 8211 of the Government
Code.
(2) This subdivision shall also apply to depositions taken by telephone or other remote
electronic means as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2017.010), Chapter 3
(commencing with Section 2017.710), and Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2025.010)
of Title 4.
(c) A former judge or justice of a court of record in this state who retired or resigned from
office, other than a judge or justice who was retired by the Supreme Court for disability, shall
have the power to administer oaths or affirmations, if the former judge or justice requests and
receives a certification from the Commission on Judicial Performance that there was no formal
disciplinary proceeding pending at the time of retirement or resignation. Where no formal
disciplinary proceeding was pending at the time of retirement or resignation, the Commission
on Judicial Performance shall issue the certification.
No law, rule, or regulation regarding the confidentiality of proceedings of the Commission on
Judicial Performance shall be construed to prohibit the Commission on Judicial Performance
from issuing a certificate as provided for in this section.
(c) A person may satisfy subdivision (a) by using the services of another person if the
requirements of subdivision (a) are satisfied.
(d) If a law requires a record to be retained in its original form, or provides consequences
if the record is not retained in its original form, that law is satisfied by an electronic record
retained in accordance with subdivision (a).
(e) If a law requires retention of a check, that requirement is satisfied by retention of an
electronic record of the information on the front and back of the check in accordance with
subdivision (a).
(f) A record retained as an electronic record in accordance with subdivision (a) satisfies a
law requiring a person to retain a record for evidentiary, audit, or like purposes, unless a law
enacted after the effective date of this title specifically prohibits the use of an electronic record
for a specified purpose.
(g) This section does not preclude a governmental agency from specifying additional
requirements for the retention of a record subject to the agency’s jurisdiction.
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§ 2094. Oath to witness; form
(a) An oath, affirmation, or declaration in an action or a proceeding, may be administered
by obtaining an affirmative response to one of the following questions:
(1) “Do you solemnly state that the evidence you shall give in this issue (or matter) shall be
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
(2) “Do you solemnly state, under penalty of perjury, that the evidence that you shall give
in this issue (or matter) shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
* * *
ELECTIONS CODE
§ 8080. Fee for verification
No fee or charge shall be made or collected by any officer for verifying any nomination
document or circulator’s affidavit.
COMMERCIAL CODE
§ 3505. Protest; Noting for Protest
* * *
(b) A protest is a certificate of dishonor made by a United States consul or vice consul, or
a notary public or other person authorized to administer oaths by the law of the place where
dishonor occurs. It may be made upon information satisfactory to that person. The protest shall
identify the instrument and certify either that presentment has been made or, if not made, the
reason why it was not made, and that the instrument has been dishonored by nonacceptance
or nonpayment. The protest may also certify that notice of dishonor has been given to some
or all parties.
PROBATE CODE
§ 4307. Certified copies of power of attorney
(a) A copy of a power of attorney certified under this section has the same force and effect
as the original power of attorney.
(b) A copy of a power of attorney may be certified by any of the following:
(1) An attorney authorized to practice law in this state.
(2) A notary public in this state.
(3) An official of a state or of a political subdivision who is authorized to make
certifications.
(c) The certification shall state that the certifying person has examined the original power
of attorney and the copy and that the copy is a true and correct copy of the original power of
attorney.
(d) Nothing in this section is intended to create an implication that a third person may be liable
for acting in good faith reliance on a copy of a power of attorney that has not been certified
under this section.
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penal code
PENAL CODE
§ 17. Felony; misdemeanor; infraction; classification of offenses
(a) A felony is a crime which is punishable with death or by imprisonment in the state prison.
Every other crime or public offense is a misdemeanor except those offenses that are classified
as infractions. * * *
§ 115.5. Filing false or forged documents relating to single-family residences;
punishment; false statement to notary public
(a) Every person who files any false or forged document or instrument with the county
recorder which affects title to, places an encumbrance on, or places an interest secured by a
mortgage or deed of trust on, real property consisting of a single-family residence containing
not more than four dwelling units, with knowledge that the document is false or forged, is
punishable, in addition to any other punishment, by a fine not exceeding seventy-five thousand
dollars ($75,000).
(b) Every person who makes a false sworn statement to a notary public, with knowledge
that the statement is false, to induce the notary public to perform an improper notarial act
on an instrument or document affecting title to, or placing an encumbrance on, real property
consisting of a single-family residence containing not more than four dwelling units is guilty
of a felony.
§ 118. Perjury defined; evidence necessary to support conviction
(a) Every person who, having taken an oath that he or she will testify, declare, depose, or
certify truly before any competent tribunal, officer, or person, in any of the cases in which the
oath may by law of the State of California be administered, willfully and contrary to the oath,
states as true any material matter which he or she knows to be false, and every person who
testifies, declares, deposes, or certifies under penalty of perjury in any of the cases in which
the testimony, declarations, depositions, or certification is permitted by law of the State of
California under penalty of perjury and willfully states as true any material matter which he
or she knows to be false, is guilty of perjury.
This subdivision is applicable whether the statement, or the testimony, declaration, deposition,
or certification is made or subscribed within or without the State of California.
(b) No person shall be convicted of perjury where proof of falsity rests solely upon
contradiction by testimony of a single person other than the defendant. Proof of falsity may
be established by direct or indirect evidence.
§ 126. Punishment
Perjury is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three or four years.
§ 470. Forgery; signatures or seals; corruption of records
* * *
(b) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, counterfeits or forges the seal or handwriting
of another is guilty of forgery.
* * *
(d) Every person who, with the intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits,
utters, publishes, passes or attempts or offers to pass, as true and genuine, any of the following
items, knowing the same to be false, altered, forged, or counterfeited, is guilty of forgery:
… or falsifies the acknowledgment of any notary public, or any notary public who issues an
acknowledgment knowing it to be false; or any matter described in subdivision (b).
* * *
§ 473. Forgery; punishment
Forgery is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, or by imprisonment in the county
jail for not more than one year.
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§ 830.3. Peace officers; employing agencies; authority
The following persons are peace officers whose authority extends to any place in the state
for the purpose of performing their primary duty or when making an arrest pursuant to Section
836 of the Penal Code as to any public offense with respect to which there is immediate danger
to person or property, or of the escape of the perpetrator of that offense, or pursuant to Section
8597 or 8598 of the Government Code. * * *
(o) Investigators of the office of the Secretary of State designated by the Secretary of State,
provided that the primary duty of these peace officers shall be the enforcement of the law
as prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 8200) of Division 1 of Title 2 of, and
Section 12172.5 of, the Government Code. * * *
OSP 08 111465
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