California State Notary Practice Exam 2025

Maximum fee for notarizing an acknowledgment

$15

Days to file oath of office and bond after receiving commission

30 days

Required bond amount for a California notary public

$15,000

Not acceptable form of identification for notarization

A Social Security card

Retention period for journal after commission expires

10 years

Penalty for knowingly making a false statement in a certificate of acknowledgment

$10,000 fine

Action if journal is lost or stolen

Notify the Secretary of State by certified mail within 10 days

Maximum fee for certifying a copy of a power of attorney

$15

Required journal entry when notarizing a document

The type of document notarized

Charge for notarizing a vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope

$10

Term length of a California notary public commission

4 years

Can a notary notarize a document in a foreign language?

Yes, as long as the notary understands the language

Unauthorized practice of law for a notary public

Preparing legal documents for a client

Document requiring a thumbprint in the notary journal

A deed of trust

Penalty for willfully failing to secure notary journal

Civil penalty of $1,000

Action if seal is lost or stolen

Notify the Secretary of State in writing within 10 days

Maximum fee for taking a deposition

$30

Action if seal is lost, misplaced, or destroyed

Notify the Secretary of State in writing within 10 days

Failure to secure the notary journal

An action that may result in penalties for a notary public.

Charging more than the maximum allowable fees

An action that may lead to disciplinary measures against a notary public.

Conviction of a felony

A serious criminal offense that can disqualify an individual from being a notary public.

Failure to administer an oath or affirmation

An oversight that can result in penalties for a notary public.

Penalty for willfully failing to provide access to journal

$500 fine, $1,000 fine, $2,500 civil penalty, or revocation of commission.

Maximum fee for certifying a copy of a power of attorney

$10, $15, $20, or $25.

Acceptable forms of identification for notarization

Valid U.S. passport, California driver's license issued within the last five years, valid consular identification document issued by a foreign consulate.

Penalty for knowingly notarizing a document containing false information

$1,000 fine, $10,000 fine, revocation of commission, or misdemeanor charge.

Notification requirement for address change

Notify the Secretary of State within 10 days or 30 days, or notify the county clerk within 30 days.

Prohibited actions for a California notary public

Notarizing a document in which they have a direct financial interest, advertising as a 'notario publico', notarizing a document without the signer's personal appearance, charging a fee for notarizing a vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope.

Term length of a California notary public commission

2 years, 4 years, 6 years, or 8 years.

Requirement when journal is requested by a peace officer

Surrender the journal immediately or as soon as possible.

Information included in a notary public's journal entry

The date and time of the notarial act, the type of notarial act performed, and the fee charged for the notarial act.

Penalty for failing to obtain a required thumbprint for a document affecting real property

$500 fine, $1,000 fine, $2,500 civil penalty, or revocation of commission.

Notarizing a document written in a foreign language

Yes, as long as the notary understands the language or can identify the type of document.

Maximum fee for administering an oath to a witness during a deposition

$5, $7, $10, or $15.

Action required if a notary public resigns their commission

Deliver their journal to the Secretary of State or the county clerk within 30 days.

Penalty for willfully failing to report the loss of their notary seal

$500 fine, $1,500 civil penalty, misdemeanor charge, or revocation of commission.

Requirement when notarizing for a signer who cannot write their name

A witness to write the signer's name next to their mark.

Incomplete Document

The document is incomplete.

Notary Financial Interest

The notary has a financial interest in the transaction.

Expired Signer's ID

The signer's ID is expired beyond the acceptable period.

Language Understanding

The notary does not understand the language of the document.

Journal Theft Response

Notify the Secretary of State by certified mail within 10 days.

Maximum Fee for Oath

The maximum fee for administering an oath during the taking of a deposition is $15.

Credible Witness Requirement

Two credible witnesses are required to identify a signer if the notary public does not personally know the witnesses.

California Notary Qualifications

Be at least 18 years old, be a legal resident of California, pass a background check and fingerprinting, submit proof of a $15,000 surety bond before applying.

Penalty for Overcharging

The penalty for a notary public who charges more than the maximum allowable fee for notarization can include a $750 civil penalty.

Journal Entry for Grant Deed

The signer's thumbprint must be included in their journal entry when notarizing a grant deed.

Documents Certified as True Copies

A California notary public may certify a birth certificate, power of attorney, notary journal entry, and death certificate as true copies.

Error in Notarial Act

Correct the error in the original certificate and resign the document.

Maximum Fee for Power of Attorney Copy

The maximum fee a notary public may charge for certifying a copy of a power of attorney is $15.

Prohibited Actions for Notary

Notarizing a document without a signer's personal appearance is prohibited.

Maximum Fee for Jurat

The maximum fee a notary public may charge for executing a jurat is $15.

Name Change Notification

Notify the Secretary of State and request a new commission if they change their name during their commission term.

Acknowledgment Certificate Format

The format prescribed by the Civil Code is required for a California acknowledgment certificate.

Maximum Fee for Acknowledgment of Two Signatures

The maximum fee a notary public may charge for taking an acknowledgment for two signatures on the same document is $30.

Oath of Office Filing Deadline

If they fail to file their oath of office and bond within the required 30-day period, they must take appropriate actions as specified.

Request an extension from the Secretary of State

A process to ask for more time to fulfill a requirement.

Retake the notary public exam

The action of taking the notary public examination again.

Reapply for a new commission and complete the qualification process again

The procedure of submitting a new application for a notary public commission and fulfilling all necessary qualifications.

File the oath and bond late with a penalty fee

Submitting the required oath and bond after the deadline, incurring an additional fee.

Conviction of a felony

A legal judgment of guilt for a serious crime that can lead to denial, suspension, or revocation of a notary public's commission.

Failure to secure the notary journal

Not properly safeguarding the official record of notarial acts, which can result in disciplinary action.

Charging more than the maximum allowable fees

Imposing fees that exceed the legally permitted limits for notarial services.

Notarizing a document without the signer's personal appearance

Performing a notarization without the signer being physically present, which is prohibited.

Penalty for willfully failing to report theft or loss of notary journal

$500 fine, $1,000 fine, misdemeanor charge, or revocation of commission.

Maximum fee for administering an oath or affirmation to a witness during a deposition

$15.

Notify the Secretary of State and request a new commission

The action required if a notary public changes their name during their commission term.

Acceptable forms of identification for notarization

A valid U.S. passport, a California driver's license issued within the last five years, or a valid consular identification document issued by a foreign consulate.

Term length of a California notary public commission

4 years.

Actions prohibited for a California notary public

Notarizing a document without a signer's personal appearance, advertising as a 'notario publico', notarizing a document in a foreign language, or charging a fee for notarizing a vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope.

Maximum fee for certifying a copy of a power of attorney

$15.

What to do if a notary public's seal is lost or stolen

Notify the Secretary of State in writing within 10 days.

Penalty for failing to obtain a required thumbprint for a document affecting real property

$2,500 civil penalty.

Can a California notary public notarize a document written in a foreign language?

No, unless the signer provides a certified translation.

What to do if a notary public resigns their commission

Deliver their journal to the county clerk within 30 days.

Required bond amount every California notary public must file

$15,000.

Geographic jurisdiction of a California notary public

The area within which a California notary public is authorized to perform notarial acts.

Notary Seal Requirements

Must contain the name of the notary as shown on their commission.

Notary Seal Expiration

Must contain the expiration date of the notary's commission.

Notary Seal Size

Must be circular with a diameter of at least 3 inches.

Notary Seal County

Must contain the county where the notary's oath and bond are filed.

Penalty for Address Change Failure

$250 fine.

Penalty for Address Change Failure

$500 fine.

Penalty for Address Change Failure

Suspension of commission.

Penalty for Address Change Failure

Revocation of commission.

Notification Period for Lost Seal

5 days.

Notification Period for Lost Seal

10 days.

Notification Period for Lost Seal

15 days.

Notification Period for Lost Seal

30 days.

Prohibited Notarization Circumstances

The signer does not appear in person before the notary.

Prohibited Notarization Circumstances

The document is incomplete.

Prohibited Notarization Circumstances

The notary has a direct financial interest in the transaction.

Prohibited Notarization Circumstances

The notary does not personally know the signer.

Maximum Fee for Jurat

$5.

Maximum Fee for Jurat

$10.

Maximum Fee for Jurat

$15.

Maximum Fee for Jurat

$20.

Journal Request by Peace Officer

Surrender the journal immediately or as soon as possible.

Journal Entry Requirements

The type of document notarized.

Journal Entry Requirements

The fee charged for the notarial act.