CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ Who appoints a notary public in California?
Answer: The California Secretary of State.
◉ What services do notaries public provide?
Answer: They perform invaluable services for the legal, business,
financial, and real estate communities.
◉ When was the Online Notarization Act signed into law?
Answer: September 30, 2023.
◉ When did the Online Notarization Act become effective?
Answer: January 1, 2024.
◉ What does Government Code sections 8232 through 8232.4
describe?
Answer: The recognition of notarial acts.
◉ What is the significance of Civil Code sections 1182 and 1183?
,Answer: They specify who may acknowledge an instrument within
and outside the United States.
◉ What security requirements are established by Government Code
section 8231.18?
Answer: They establish security requirements for remote
notarizations.
◉ When will the rest of the Online Notarization Act become
operative?
Answer: When the California Secretary of State completes the
Notary Automation Project 2.0 or by January 1, 2030, whichever is
earlier.
◉ What will approved California notaries be allowed to do once the
Online Notarization Act is fully effective?
Answer: Perform remote online notarizations using audio-video
communication and online notarization platforms.
◉ Where can notaries find regular updates and resources?
Answer: On the California Secretary of State's website at
www.sos.ca.gov/notary.
,◉ What resources are available on the California Secretary of State's
website for notaries?
Answer: The Notary Public Handbook, a checklist for becoming a
notary, acknowledgment and jurat forms, a sample workbook, and
disciplinary guidelines.
◉ What is the mailing address for the Notary Public Section?
Answer: Business Programs Division, Notary Public Section, P.O. Box
942877, Sacramento, California 94277-0001.
◉ What is the physical location of the Notary Public Section?
Answer: 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, California 95814.
◉ How can individuals receive electronic updates from the
California Secretary of State's office?
Answer: By signing up for e-updates at www.sos.ca.gov/eupdates.
◉ What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public
in California?
Answer: At least 18 years of age.
◉ What is one of the educational requirements for becoming a
notary public?
, Answer: Satisfactorily complete a course of study approved by the
Secretary of State.
◉ What must notary applicants pass to qualify for a notary public
commission?
Answer: A written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State.
◉ What type of check must notary applicants pass?
Answer: A background check.
◉ What document must be submitted at the examination site for
notary applicants?
Answer: A completed application and a 2" x 2" color passport
photograph.
◉ What is required of notary applicants regarding fingerprinting?
Answer: All notary applicants must be fingerprinted as part of a
thorough background check.
◉ What can lead to the denial of a notary public application?
Answer: Failure to disclose any conviction or conviction of a felony.
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ Who appoints a notary public in California?
Answer: The California Secretary of State.
◉ What services do notaries public provide?
Answer: They perform invaluable services for the legal, business,
financial, and real estate communities.
◉ When was the Online Notarization Act signed into law?
Answer: September 30, 2023.
◉ When did the Online Notarization Act become effective?
Answer: January 1, 2024.
◉ What does Government Code sections 8232 through 8232.4
describe?
Answer: The recognition of notarial acts.
◉ What is the significance of Civil Code sections 1182 and 1183?
,Answer: They specify who may acknowledge an instrument within
and outside the United States.
◉ What security requirements are established by Government Code
section 8231.18?
Answer: They establish security requirements for remote
notarizations.
◉ When will the rest of the Online Notarization Act become
operative?
Answer: When the California Secretary of State completes the
Notary Automation Project 2.0 or by January 1, 2030, whichever is
earlier.
◉ What will approved California notaries be allowed to do once the
Online Notarization Act is fully effective?
Answer: Perform remote online notarizations using audio-video
communication and online notarization platforms.
◉ Where can notaries find regular updates and resources?
Answer: On the California Secretary of State's website at
www.sos.ca.gov/notary.
,◉ What resources are available on the California Secretary of State's
website for notaries?
Answer: The Notary Public Handbook, a checklist for becoming a
notary, acknowledgment and jurat forms, a sample workbook, and
disciplinary guidelines.
◉ What is the mailing address for the Notary Public Section?
Answer: Business Programs Division, Notary Public Section, P.O. Box
942877, Sacramento, California 94277-0001.
◉ What is the physical location of the Notary Public Section?
Answer: 1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, California 95814.
◉ How can individuals receive electronic updates from the
California Secretary of State's office?
Answer: By signing up for e-updates at www.sos.ca.gov/eupdates.
◉ What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public
in California?
Answer: At least 18 years of age.
◉ What is one of the educational requirements for becoming a
notary public?
, Answer: Satisfactorily complete a course of study approved by the
Secretary of State.
◉ What must notary applicants pass to qualify for a notary public
commission?
Answer: A written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State.
◉ What type of check must notary applicants pass?
Answer: A background check.
◉ What document must be submitted at the examination site for
notary applicants?
Answer: A completed application and a 2" x 2" color passport
photograph.
◉ What is required of notary applicants regarding fingerprinting?
Answer: All notary applicants must be fingerprinted as part of a
thorough background check.
◉ What can lead to the denial of a notary public application?
Answer: Failure to disclose any conviction or conviction of a felony.
