California is one of the strictest when it comes to notary procedures.

I have completed a thorough review of notary public requirements by each state, and let me tell you that here in California, the notary public bar is set the highest. Let’s start with what it takes to become a notary public in California.

The 6-hour education requirement for a first-time notary is the longest among the 50 states. Most states have no education requirement at all, or, if they do, it’s only a 3-4-hour job-preparation program. A 3-hour refresher course is required every 4 years for a current notary seeking reappointment to continue serving the public or their place of business.

With laws changing, this continuing education process is key. California’s commitment to curated instruction for its notaries is rigorous not only for applicants but also for the Secretary of State, who approves only education vendors whose programs meet exceedingly high standards. Only the best notary public education platforms make this cut, making Notary Course Online one of the top in the industry.

The sole purpose of the meticulous California notary education process is to prepare applicants to pass the every 4-year notary public exam. The exam is yet another area where other states seriously lag behind California, with fewer than half requiring any testing at all.  

Fees & Regulations

Here in California, there is a very specific framework governing allowable fees and penalties for notaries public who overcharge or otherwise misuse their commission. A California notary public benefits from a high allowable fee per notarization. The $15 per act fee is one of the top in the nation, second only to Rhode Island’s allowable fee of $25 per act.

Maximum allowable fees for services help maintain a fair playing field for notaries public working in different capacities. However, consistent clients, or repeat customers, can receive a “bulk discount” when multiple notarizations are needed in a single appointment. Think of loan-signing or living-trust signing appointments, where you could have 10-12 signatures per client.

Those notarization fees can really add up for the signer, and many storefront notary services don’t offer any kind of discounts. For independent or mobile notaries, the addition of travel, printing, courier, and delivery fees can make the job very lucrative. But one must always quote any extra fees prior to the appointment.

Excessive fees may constitute notarial misconduct and can result in the California Secretary of State imposing a $1,500 fine, in addition to suspension or permanent revocation of a notary public commission. Charging for notarizations that should be free for US veterans’ benefits paperwork or voting materials would also be considered notarial misconduct.  

Paperwork

California’s notarial certificates are where you can really see the difference in how each state’s laws govern its notaries public. When notarizing documents originating in another state, a California notary public should be aware of the specific information required to be documented.

Be careful with pre-printed documents that list out-of-state venues, even if the remaining verbiage appears to be California-compliant. Especially if the signer’s name is associated with any kind of authority, position, or title they hold. California law prohibits a notary public from certifying that a signer holds any particular capacity.

The California Acknowledgement notarial certificate covers this specifically with the included verbiage of “executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies)”. Many out-of-state acknowledgement forms will include the signer’s title even when the rest of the notarial verbiage is California-compliant. The safest bet for California notaries public is to use a loose California Acknowledgement certificate.

Another big requirement for notarizations in California is that, for affidavits or sworn statements, the California Jurat is the only proper notarial certificate. So, when it comes to notarizing documents originating outside California, one should have a stack of loose Acknowledgments and Jurats at the ready. The use of a  “See Attached Certificate” stamp is also a best business practice for California notaries.