"Master the CA Notary Handbook: 100
Exam-Style Questions with Rationales"
1. To qualify for a Notary Public commission in California, an applicant must be at least what age?
A) 16 years of age
B) 18 years of age
C) 21 years of age
D) 25 years of age
Answer: B
Rationale: California Government Code Section 8201 requires that all applicants be at least 18 years old
at the time of appointment.
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2. What is one requirement for becoming a California Notary Public?
A) Own a business in California
B) Be a legal resident of California
C) Have a college degree
D) Be a U.S. citizen
Answer: B
,Rationale: One requirement for becoming a California Notary Public is to be a legal resident of California.
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3. What is the term length for a California Notary Public commission?
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 10 years
Answer: B
Rationale: A California Notary Public commission is valid for a term of four years.
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4. Who issues the Notary Public commission in California?
A) County Clerk
B) Governor
C) Secretary of State
D) Department of Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: The Secretary of State issues the notary public commission.
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5. When does a notary's commission officially become valid?
A) On the date the commission is issued
B) On the date the commission is mailed
,C) After taking the oath of office and filing the bond on time
D) On the date the exam is passed
Answer: C
Rationale: A commission becomes valid after the notary takes the oath of office and the bond is filed on
time with the county clerk.
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6. Where must a notary file the oath of office and bond?
A) Secretary of State's office
B) County clerk in the county where the notary holds their principal place of business
C) Department of Justice
D) Local courthouse
Answer: B
Rationale: The oath and bond must be filed with the county clerk in the county where the notary holds
their principal place of business.
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7. What is the "critical commencement date" for a notary commission?
A) The date the commission was issued
B) The date the commission was mailed
C) The commencement date stated in the commission
D) The date the exam was passed
Answer: C
Rationale: The critical commencement date is the commencement date stated in the commission, NOT
the date the commission was issued or mailed.
, ---
8. To avoid a break in notary public commission terms, when should a notary take the exam before
expiration?
A) At least 1 month prior
B) At least 3 months prior
C) At least 6 months prior
D) At least 12 months prior
Answer: C
Rationale: To avoid a break in notary public commission terms, you should take the exam at least six
months prior to the expiration date of your current commission.
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9. What is the required surety bond amount for a California Notary Public?
A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $15,000
D) $25,000
Answer: C
Rationale: A California notary is required to obtain a surety bond in the amount of $15,000.
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10. Who does the surety bond primarily protect?
A) The notary
Exam-Style Questions with Rationales"
1. To qualify for a Notary Public commission in California, an applicant must be at least what age?
A) 16 years of age
B) 18 years of age
C) 21 years of age
D) 25 years of age
Answer: B
Rationale: California Government Code Section 8201 requires that all applicants be at least 18 years old
at the time of appointment.
---
2. What is one requirement for becoming a California Notary Public?
A) Own a business in California
B) Be a legal resident of California
C) Have a college degree
D) Be a U.S. citizen
Answer: B
,Rationale: One requirement for becoming a California Notary Public is to be a legal resident of California.
---
3. What is the term length for a California Notary Public commission?
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 10 years
Answer: B
Rationale: A California Notary Public commission is valid for a term of four years.
---
4. Who issues the Notary Public commission in California?
A) County Clerk
B) Governor
C) Secretary of State
D) Department of Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: The Secretary of State issues the notary public commission.
---
5. When does a notary's commission officially become valid?
A) On the date the commission is issued
B) On the date the commission is mailed
,C) After taking the oath of office and filing the bond on time
D) On the date the exam is passed
Answer: C
Rationale: A commission becomes valid after the notary takes the oath of office and the bond is filed on
time with the county clerk.
---
6. Where must a notary file the oath of office and bond?
A) Secretary of State's office
B) County clerk in the county where the notary holds their principal place of business
C) Department of Justice
D) Local courthouse
Answer: B
Rationale: The oath and bond must be filed with the county clerk in the county where the notary holds
their principal place of business.
---
7. What is the "critical commencement date" for a notary commission?
A) The date the commission was issued
B) The date the commission was mailed
C) The commencement date stated in the commission
D) The date the exam was passed
Answer: C
Rationale: The critical commencement date is the commencement date stated in the commission, NOT
the date the commission was issued or mailed.
, ---
8. To avoid a break in notary public commission terms, when should a notary take the exam before
expiration?
A) At least 1 month prior
B) At least 3 months prior
C) At least 6 months prior
D) At least 12 months prior
Answer: C
Rationale: To avoid a break in notary public commission terms, you should take the exam at least six
months prior to the expiration date of your current commission.
---
9. What is the required surety bond amount for a California Notary Public?
A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $15,000
D) $25,000
Answer: C
Rationale: A California notary is required to obtain a surety bond in the amount of $15,000.
---
10. Who does the surety bond primarily protect?
A) The notary
