NOTARY EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025
ALREADY PASSED!!
What are the requirements to becoming a Notary? - ANSWER1. Be a California resident
at the time of appointment (unless appointed to serve on a military or naval reservation);
2. Be at least 18 years of age
3. Complete a course of study approved by the California Secretary of State
4. Pass a written, proctored, closed-book examination; and
5. Pass a background check
How long is a Notary's term? - ANSWER4 years - starting with the commencement date
stated in the commission issued by Secretary of State
When is a notary officially a notary? - ANSWERboth oath and bond are filed with county
clerk within 30 days of commencement date
Is a notary limited to the county where their oath and bond are filed? - ANSWERNo
Can a California notary notarize outside of the borders of CA? - ANSWERNo
How much is the notary bond? - ANSWER$15,000
Where is the bond filed? - ANSWERCounty clerks office of the county in which notary
publics principle place of business is located
What is the notary bond? - ANSWERprovides a limited fund to reimburse members of
the public who are damaged by notarial misconduct
What is notarial misconduct? - ANSWERa notary public fails to perform their duties
properly, or performs an act that is prohibited
What are examples of notarial misconduct? - ANSWER1. Notarizing a document
without the signer being present
2. Failing to verify the signer's identity
3. Not following proper notarial procedures
4. Notarizing a document that contains false statements
5. Giving improper legal advice to a customer
what is notary errors and omissions insurance? - ANSWERprotects you should you
make an unintentional error or omission when notarizing that financially harms the
public
How can a notary file their oath of office? - ANSWER1. Certified mail
, 2. In person - get receipt for filing
How long does a notary have to file their bond and oath of office? - ANSWER30 days of
the commencement date stated in commission
How long does a notary have to notify of an address change? - ANSWER30 days
What is the fine for not notifying the Secretary of State of an address change? -
ANSWERinfraction - up to $500
How long does a notary have to notify of a name change? - ANSWER30 days
How many journals does a notary have? - ANSWER1 active sequential journal
If the notary surrounds their journal to a peace officer, how long do they have to notify
the Secretary of State? - ANSWER10 days, obtain receipt and send via certified mail or
physical delivery
What happens if a notary loses or misplaces their journal? - ANSWERimmediately notify
the Secretary of State and include
-dates covered in journal
-commission #
-expiration date of commission
What requires satisfactory evidence? - ANSWERAcknowledgements and Jurats
What is satisfactory evidence? - ANSWERabsence of any information, evidence, and
other circumstances which would lead to a reasonable person to believe that the
individual is not the individual he or she claims to be
What are types of identification documents? - ANSWER1. ID or drivers license issues
within 5 years
2. US Passport
3. Inmate card issued by CA Corrections
4. Any other inmate card by the sheriff
5. ID on applicants citizenship
6. ID issued by another state
7. ID issued by Armed forces
8. Employee ID
What is oath or affirmation of a single credible witness? - ANSWERIdentity of signer can
be established by oath of a single credible witness who personally knows the
SIGNER...notary MUST personally know credible witness
ALREADY PASSED!!
What are the requirements to becoming a Notary? - ANSWER1. Be a California resident
at the time of appointment (unless appointed to serve on a military or naval reservation);
2. Be at least 18 years of age
3. Complete a course of study approved by the California Secretary of State
4. Pass a written, proctored, closed-book examination; and
5. Pass a background check
How long is a Notary's term? - ANSWER4 years - starting with the commencement date
stated in the commission issued by Secretary of State
When is a notary officially a notary? - ANSWERboth oath and bond are filed with county
clerk within 30 days of commencement date
Is a notary limited to the county where their oath and bond are filed? - ANSWERNo
Can a California notary notarize outside of the borders of CA? - ANSWERNo
How much is the notary bond? - ANSWER$15,000
Where is the bond filed? - ANSWERCounty clerks office of the county in which notary
publics principle place of business is located
What is the notary bond? - ANSWERprovides a limited fund to reimburse members of
the public who are damaged by notarial misconduct
What is notarial misconduct? - ANSWERa notary public fails to perform their duties
properly, or performs an act that is prohibited
What are examples of notarial misconduct? - ANSWER1. Notarizing a document
without the signer being present
2. Failing to verify the signer's identity
3. Not following proper notarial procedures
4. Notarizing a document that contains false statements
5. Giving improper legal advice to a customer
what is notary errors and omissions insurance? - ANSWERprotects you should you
make an unintentional error or omission when notarizing that financially harms the
public
How can a notary file their oath of office? - ANSWER1. Certified mail
, 2. In person - get receipt for filing
How long does a notary have to file their bond and oath of office? - ANSWER30 days of
the commencement date stated in commission
How long does a notary have to notify of an address change? - ANSWER30 days
What is the fine for not notifying the Secretary of State of an address change? -
ANSWERinfraction - up to $500
How long does a notary have to notify of a name change? - ANSWER30 days
How many journals does a notary have? - ANSWER1 active sequential journal
If the notary surrounds their journal to a peace officer, how long do they have to notify
the Secretary of State? - ANSWER10 days, obtain receipt and send via certified mail or
physical delivery
What happens if a notary loses or misplaces their journal? - ANSWERimmediately notify
the Secretary of State and include
-dates covered in journal
-commission #
-expiration date of commission
What requires satisfactory evidence? - ANSWERAcknowledgements and Jurats
What is satisfactory evidence? - ANSWERabsence of any information, evidence, and
other circumstances which would lead to a reasonable person to believe that the
individual is not the individual he or she claims to be
What are types of identification documents? - ANSWER1. ID or drivers license issues
within 5 years
2. US Passport
3. Inmate card issued by CA Corrections
4. Any other inmate card by the sheriff
5. ID on applicants citizenship
6. ID issued by another state
7. ID issued by Armed forces
8. Employee ID
What is oath or affirmation of a single credible witness? - ANSWERIdentity of signer can
be established by oath of a single credible witness who personally knows the
SIGNER...notary MUST personally know credible witness
