California Notary Public Exam Questions
With Complete Solutions 2025
/. Critical commencement date - Answer-commencement date stated in the commission
NOT date commission was issued or mailed
/.Who issues commission? - Answer-Secretary of State
/.When does commission become valid - Answer-After taking oath of office and bond
are filed on time
/.Who do you file oath and bond with - Answer-county clerk
/.Where is a notary's commission limited to? - Answer-State of california; not only a
certain county
/.What kind of bond and how much needs to be filed - Answer-Surety bond for 15,000
/.What is the purpose of the surety bond - Answer-reimburse members of the public that
are damaged by notarial misconduct
May still be liable for damages, costs and attorney's fees exceeding policy limits
/.What kind of notary publics are not allowed to perform notorial acts on their own time?
- Answer-Notaries appointed by Secretart of State who serve as notary public on behalf
of the state, city or county public agency
/.What are the restrictions of becoming a notary on a military or naval reservation -
Answer--doesnt have to be a CA resident
-cannot collect fees
-can only collect fees on the naval reservtion
/.With who should the oath and bond be filed - Answer-county clerk in the county where
the notary holds her principal place of business
/.How much time and who must a notary notify of an address change? - Answer-Notify
Secretary of State by certified mail within 30 days of changing residence or business
address
/.Fine for failing to notify of address change: - Answer-$500
, /.What are the two duties to respond to written requests - Answer-1-respond in 30 days
to written requests for information
2-respond in time specified when certified copies of journal are requested
/.Can an employer request that fees be turned over to employer? - Answer-yes.
/.How many journals can a notary keep - Answer-one
/.Who can request photostatic copies of a notary's journal? - Answer--any member of
the general public can request to see their line item in the journal
/.What must the request include when requesting copies of a notorial journal - Answer--
Name of properties
-type of document
-month and year the act occurred
/.Maximum fee per page of copy requests - Answer-$0.30
/.How long does the notary have to respond to requests for copies of the journal -
Answer-15 calendar days
/.Does an employee have to permit their employer, employer's auditor or agent to
inspect journal - Answer-yes
/.Who has to be present when showing employer journal - Answer-the notary public
/.How long does notary have to notify the Secretary of state of journal being taken by
peace officer - Answer-10 days
/.How long goes notary have to notify secretary of state of lost, stolen or misplaced -
Answer-immediately
/.How long after expiration does notary public have to return journal - Answer-30 days
/.What items does notary seal have to include - Answer--words Notary Public
-notary's name
-commission expiration date
-county where oath and bond were filed
-commission number
-sequential ID number for seal
/.When may someone use an embosser seal - Answer-if it is also inked
/.When is a seal not required - Answer-acknowledgements on a CA subdivision map
since the material used for maps isnt compatible with inks
With Complete Solutions 2025
/. Critical commencement date - Answer-commencement date stated in the commission
NOT date commission was issued or mailed
/.Who issues commission? - Answer-Secretary of State
/.When does commission become valid - Answer-After taking oath of office and bond
are filed on time
/.Who do you file oath and bond with - Answer-county clerk
/.Where is a notary's commission limited to? - Answer-State of california; not only a
certain county
/.What kind of bond and how much needs to be filed - Answer-Surety bond for 15,000
/.What is the purpose of the surety bond - Answer-reimburse members of the public that
are damaged by notarial misconduct
May still be liable for damages, costs and attorney's fees exceeding policy limits
/.What kind of notary publics are not allowed to perform notorial acts on their own time?
- Answer-Notaries appointed by Secretart of State who serve as notary public on behalf
of the state, city or county public agency
/.What are the restrictions of becoming a notary on a military or naval reservation -
Answer--doesnt have to be a CA resident
-cannot collect fees
-can only collect fees on the naval reservtion
/.With who should the oath and bond be filed - Answer-county clerk in the county where
the notary holds her principal place of business
/.How much time and who must a notary notify of an address change? - Answer-Notify
Secretary of State by certified mail within 30 days of changing residence or business
address
/.Fine for failing to notify of address change: - Answer-$500
, /.What are the two duties to respond to written requests - Answer-1-respond in 30 days
to written requests for information
2-respond in time specified when certified copies of journal are requested
/.Can an employer request that fees be turned over to employer? - Answer-yes.
/.How many journals can a notary keep - Answer-one
/.Who can request photostatic copies of a notary's journal? - Answer--any member of
the general public can request to see their line item in the journal
/.What must the request include when requesting copies of a notorial journal - Answer--
Name of properties
-type of document
-month and year the act occurred
/.Maximum fee per page of copy requests - Answer-$0.30
/.How long does the notary have to respond to requests for copies of the journal -
Answer-15 calendar days
/.Does an employee have to permit their employer, employer's auditor or agent to
inspect journal - Answer-yes
/.Who has to be present when showing employer journal - Answer-the notary public
/.How long does notary have to notify the Secretary of state of journal being taken by
peace officer - Answer-10 days
/.How long goes notary have to notify secretary of state of lost, stolen or misplaced -
Answer-immediately
/.How long after expiration does notary public have to return journal - Answer-30 days
/.What items does notary seal have to include - Answer--words Notary Public
-notary's name
-commission expiration date
-county where oath and bond were filed
-commission number
-sequential ID number for seal
/.When may someone use an embosser seal - Answer-if it is also inked
/.When is a seal not required - Answer-acknowledgements on a CA subdivision map
since the material used for maps isnt compatible with inks
