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Santa Barbara County Notary Oath and Bond Filing
Filing your notary oath and bond in Santa Barbara County is a required step after receiving your California notary commission. This guide covers exactly where to go, what to bring, the filing fees, and how to schedule your appointment. If you don’t have your notary bond yet, you can purchase one here.
Where to File in Santa Barbara County
Office: Santa Barbara County’s Clerk-Recorder Office
Address: 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 568-2250
Website: https://www.countyofsb.org/clerk-filings
Filing Fees
- $51.00 total baseline fee (assuming a standard 1-page bond) ($37.00 County Clerk notary public oath filing fee + a $14.00 Recorder fee for the first page of the physical bond).
- $3.00 per page for each additional page of the bond after the first page.
Payment Options
Accepted:
- Cash.
- Check or Money Order (payable to Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder).
- Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover).
Appointment Requirements
Appointments are not required in Santa Barbara County.
They handle filings strictly on a first-come, first-served walk-in queue system. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (at both the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria offices).
Strict 4:00 PM Transaction Cutoff: The county explicitly states that all processing operations freeze precisely at 4:00 PM daily, warning that “same day service is not guaranteed for arrivals after 4:00 PM.”
What to Bring
- Original notary commission certificate
- $15,000 notary bond
- Two unsigned oath of office forms
- Valid photo ID
- Payment for filing fees
Important Tips
- You must file within 30 calendar days of your commission start date
- Arrive early for your appointment
- Double-check your bond for accuracy before filing
Mail Filing Option
Santa Barbara County also offers mail filing. The applicant must first take their oath of office before an active Notary Public physically located within Santa Barbara County.
Send a copy of the Secretary of State commission certificate, two completed copies of the Oath of Office (executed by the local administering notary), the original signed $15,000 surety bond, a check or money order for the exact amount ($51.00 baseline), and a self-addressed stamped envelope for conformed returns.
Mailing Addresses:
Standard US Mail: Santa Barbara Clerk-Recorder, P.O. Box 159, Santa Barbara, CA 93102-0159
Overnight Courier (FedEx/UPS): Santa Barbara Clerk-Recorder, Hall of Records, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
Always confirm current options with the county before mailing documents by calling them at Phone: (805) 568-2250.
Next Steps
Once your oath and bond are filed, you are officially authorized to begin working as a California notary public!