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CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC EXAM 2026-
COMPREHENSIVE Q&A FOR CERTIFICATION
SUCCESS
Critical commencement date - correct-answer -commencement date stated in the
commission NOT date commission was issued or mailed
Who issues commission? - correct-answer -Secretary of State
When does commission become valid - correct-answer -After taking oath of office
and bond are filed on time
Who do you file oath and bond with - correct-answer -county clerk
Where is a notary's commission limited to? - correct-answer -State of california;
not only a certain county
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What kind of bond and how much needs to be filed - correct-answer -Surety bond
for 15,000
What must occur in the notary's journal when signing with a mark - correct-
answer -Signers mark must go in the journal and should be witnessed by one
person. Witness must sign his or her name next to the mark and write the name
of the signer next to the mark.
Can the notary public serve as a witness for the signers journal - correct-answer -
YES
Does the notary have to verify the identity of the two witnesses when signing by
mark? Do their signatures have to go in the journal? - correct-answer -NO to both.
The only time the signatures need to go in the journal is if the witness is acting as
a credible witness in establishing the identity of the personas signing mark
What types of documents can a notary public certify - correct-answer --powers of
attorney
-copies of his sequential journal or purchase of the journal
Who can certify copies of vital records - correct-answer -State Registrar
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What must be done to certify copies of a power of attorney - correct-answer --
compare the document to the original
-attach notarial certificate to the copy
-complete a journal entry
What can a notary notarize on immigration docs? - correct-answer -signatures and
dates on document
Who can advise an individual on which document or form the person can
complete - correct-answer -only an attorney
How much can a registered and bonded immigration consultant charge for
completing immigration forms? - correct-answer -$10
What are the advertising limitations for a notary that is also an immigration
consultant - correct-answer -cannot advertise that they are a notary if they also
promote themselves as an immigration specialist or consultant
CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC EXAM 2026-
COMPREHENSIVE Q&A FOR CERTIFICATION
SUCCESS
Critical commencement date - correct-answer -commencement date stated in the
commission NOT date commission was issued or mailed
Who issues commission? - correct-answer -Secretary of State
When does commission become valid - correct-answer -After taking oath of office
and bond are filed on time
Who do you file oath and bond with - correct-answer -county clerk
Where is a notary's commission limited to? - correct-answer -State of california;
not only a certain county
,2|Page
What kind of bond and how much needs to be filed - correct-answer -Surety bond
for 15,000
What must occur in the notary's journal when signing with a mark - correct-
answer -Signers mark must go in the journal and should be witnessed by one
person. Witness must sign his or her name next to the mark and write the name
of the signer next to the mark.
Can the notary public serve as a witness for the signers journal - correct-answer -
YES
Does the notary have to verify the identity of the two witnesses when signing by
mark? Do their signatures have to go in the journal? - correct-answer -NO to both.
The only time the signatures need to go in the journal is if the witness is acting as
a credible witness in establishing the identity of the personas signing mark
What types of documents can a notary public certify - correct-answer --powers of
attorney
-copies of his sequential journal or purchase of the journal
Who can certify copies of vital records - correct-answer -State Registrar
, 3|Page
What must be done to certify copies of a power of attorney - correct-answer --
compare the document to the original
-attach notarial certificate to the copy
-complete a journal entry
What can a notary notarize on immigration docs? - correct-answer -signatures and
dates on document
Who can advise an individual on which document or form the person can
complete - correct-answer -only an attorney
How much can a registered and bonded immigration consultant charge for
completing immigration forms? - correct-answer -$10
What are the advertising limitations for a notary that is also an immigration
consultant - correct-answer -cannot advertise that they are a notary if they also
promote themselves as an immigration specialist or consultant
