CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Critical commencement date - ANSWERcommencement date stated in the commission
NOT date commission was issued or mailed
Who issues commission? - ANSWERSecretary of State
When does commission become valid - ANSWERAfter taking oath of office and bond
are filed on time
Who do you file oath and bond with - ANSWERcounty clerk
Where is a notary's commission limited to? - ANSWERState of california; not only a
certain county
What kind of bond and how much needs to be filed - ANSWERSurety bond for 15,000
What is the purpose of the surety bond - ANSWERreimburse 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? -
ANSWERNotaries 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 - ANSWERcounty 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? - ANSWERNotify
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 - ANSWER1-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? - ANSWERyes.
How many journals can a notary keep - ANSWERone
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 -
ANSWER15 calendar days
Does an employee have to permit their employer, employer's auditor or agent to inspect
journal - ANSWERyes
Who has to be present when showing employer journal - ANSWERthe notary public
How long does notary have to notify the Secretary of state of journal being taken by
peace officer - ANSWER10 days
How long goes notary have to notify secretary of state of lost, stolen or misplaced -
ANSWERimmediately
How long after expiration does notary public have to return journal - ANSWER30 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 - ANSWERif it is also inked
When is a seal not required - ANSWERacknowledgements on a CA subdivision map
since the material used for maps isnt compatible with inks
What is included in the acknowledgment of the map - ANSWER-Name
-county where notary's commission is
-expiration date
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Critical commencement date - ANSWERcommencement date stated in the commission
NOT date commission was issued or mailed
Who issues commission? - ANSWERSecretary of State
When does commission become valid - ANSWERAfter taking oath of office and bond
are filed on time
Who do you file oath and bond with - ANSWERcounty clerk
Where is a notary's commission limited to? - ANSWERState of california; not only a
certain county
What kind of bond and how much needs to be filed - ANSWERSurety bond for 15,000
What is the purpose of the surety bond - ANSWERreimburse 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? -
ANSWERNotaries 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 - ANSWERcounty 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? - ANSWERNotify
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 - ANSWER1-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? - ANSWERyes.
How many journals can a notary keep - ANSWERone
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 -
ANSWER15 calendar days
Does an employee have to permit their employer, employer's auditor or agent to inspect
journal - ANSWERyes
Who has to be present when showing employer journal - ANSWERthe notary public
How long does notary have to notify the Secretary of state of journal being taken by
peace officer - ANSWER10 days
How long goes notary have to notify secretary of state of lost, stolen or misplaced -
ANSWERimmediately
How long after expiration does notary public have to return journal - ANSWER30 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 - ANSWERif it is also inked
When is a seal not required - ANSWERacknowledgements on a CA subdivision map
since the material used for maps isnt compatible with inks
What is included in the acknowledgment of the map - ANSWER-Name
-county where notary's commission is
-expiration date
