CALIFORNIA NOTARY EXAM 2024 ACTUAL EXAM 200
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
What are the requirements to become a notary public in California? - ANSWER-Legal resident, 18 years
old, complete approved course, pass written exam, pass background check.
What happens after an applicant submits their application and photograph? - ANSWER-Reviewed by
Secretary of State staff for qualifying information.
What is required of all applicants as part of a thorough background check? - ANSWER-Fingerprinting.
What must applicants disclose on their applications? - ANSWER-All arrests for which trials are pending
and all convictions.
What should an applicant do if they have questions about disclosing convictions or arrests? - ANSWER-
Contact the Secretary of State's office prior to signing the application.
What should an applicant do if they do not recall the specifics about their arrest(s) and/or conviction(s)?
- ANSWER-Contact the California Department of Justice.
What are the reasons an application may be denied? - ANSWER-Failure to disclose any conviction,
conviction of a felony, or conviction of a disqualifying lesser offense.
What is the administrative hearing process? - ANSWER-Appeal process for denied applications (Gov.
Code 8214.3)
What are the reasons for denial of a notary public application? - ANSWER-Refer to Gov. Code 8214.1 for
complete list
Where can I find the most common disqualifying convictions for a notary public? - ANSWER-Secretary of
State's Notary Public Disciplinary Guidelines
,What is the education requirement for becoming a notary public? - ANSWER-Completion of a 6-hour
course of study (Gov. Code 8201(a)(3) and (b))
Do I need to take the initial 6-hour course of study if I have held a commission in the past? - ANSWER-
Yes, all persons being appointed are required to take the initial course
What is the education requirement for reappointment as a notary public? - ANSWER-Completion of a 3-
hour refresher course (if applying before current commission expires) or a 6-hour course (if commission
has expired)
Who approves courses of study? - ANSWER-Secretary of State
What is included in approved courses? - ANSWER-All material for written exam
Where can the list of approved course vendors be found? - ANSWER-Secretary of State's website
What is the time limit for a person to qualify after receiving a commission? - ANSWER-30 calendar days
What must a person do within the 30-day time limit to qualify as a notary public? - ANSWER-Take,
subscribe, and file an oath of office and file a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk's office
When does the commission take effect? - ANSWER-After the oath and bond are filed with the county
clerk's office
Where must the oath and bond be filed? - ANSWER-In the county where the notary public maintains a
principal place of business as shown in the application on file with the Secretary of State
What happens if the oath and bond are not filed within the 30-day time period? - ANSWER-The
commission will not be valid, and the person commissioned may not act as a notary public until a new
appointment is obtained and the person has properly qualified within the 30-calendar-day time limit
,Can completed oaths and bonds be filed by mail? - ANSWER-Yes, by certified mail or other means of
physical delivery that provides a receipt
Is there an exception to the 30-day filing requirement? - ANSWER-No, exceptions are not made due to
mail service delays, county clerk mail processing delays, or for any other reason
What is the purpose of a notary public bond? - ANSWER-To provide a limited source of funds for paying
claims against the notary public
Is a notary public bond an insurance policy for the notary public? - ANSWER-No
What is the amount of the notary public bond required by California law? - ANSWER-$15,000
Is a notary public personally liable for damages sustained? - ANSWER-Yes, to the full extent of any
damages sustained
Can a notary public be required to reimburse the bonding company? - ANSWER-Yes, if the bonding
company pays sums due to misconduct or negligence of the notary public
What is the geographic jurisdiction of a notary public? - ANSWER-The entire state of California
Can a notary public perform notarial acts outside of California? - ANSWER-No, unless specifically
authorized by California law
Can a notary public refuse to perform a notarial act? - ANSWER-Yes, if the notary public has a good
reason to believe that the act is unlawful, unethical, or involves fraud or deceit
Can a notary public charge a fee for performing notarial acts? - ANSWER-Yes, but the fee must not
exceed the maximum fee allowed by law
What is the maximum fee that a notary public can charge for performing notarial acts? - ANSWER-As of
2021, $15 per signature
, Can a notary public refuse to serve a person? - ANSWER-No, unless the notary public has a good reason
to believe that the person is making a false statement or is not competent to sign the document
Can a notary public certify a copy of a document? - ANSWER-Yes, if the document is an original
document and the notary public is presented with satisfactory evidence of the identity of the person
requesting the certification
What is the jurisdiction of a California notary public? - ANSWER-Statewide
What is the venue heading in a notarial certificate? - ANSWER-County
What is the practice of law? - ANSWER-Legal advice or document preparation
What should a notary public do if asked to perform tasks constituting the practice of law? - ANSWER-
Decline and refer to an attorney
What is the requirement for a notary public seal? - ANSWER-Must be photographically reproducible
What must the notary public seal contain? - ANSWER-State seal, 'Notary Public', name, county
Can a notary public surrender their seal to an employer upon termination of employment? - ANSWER-
No
Can a notary public use an embosser seal in addition to a rubber stamp? - ANSWER-Yes
Where must a notary public keep their seal? - ANSWER-Locked and secured area under their control
What is the purpose of a notary public? - ANSWER-To witness and authenticate signatures on legal
documents
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Settings. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $28.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
