California Notaries Exam
California Notaries Exam Questions and
Answers Top Graded 2024
What arrests or convictions on your record should you disclose on your application? -
Correct Answer ✔All Notary applicants are required to disclose any arrests where a trial
is pending along with ALL prior convictions.
You are not required to disclose a conviction that happened over 10+ years ago. -
Correct Answer ✔False, you are required to list ALL prior convictions.
The term of office for a notary is for how many years after the start of their term. -
Correct Answer ✔4 years. (CGC 8204)
To complete your notary filing and to act as a notary, a person must file with their
County Clerk's office (within 30 days of the commission start date) the following items: -
Correct Answer ✔1) oath of office, and 2) $15,000 bond (cgc 8213)
True or False: A notary has the ability to perform a notary act outside the county they
field their oath of office? -Correct Answer ✔True, they have the ability to perform notary
acts in all California counties regardless of what county their oath was filed in.
When filling a notary bond (the surety bond) the sum of the bond must be in the amount
of? -Correct Answer ✔$15,000
Once a notary, your journal can be lent to other notaries as needed. -Correct Answer
✔False. Your notary journal must ALWAYS be kept in a secure place under the
notaries' control at all times.
What penalty could a notary face if they fail to secure his/her journal? -Correct Answer
✔His/her notary public commission may be suspended or revoked AND civil and
criminal penalties may be imposed (CGC 8214.1(o), 8214.15(b), and 8228.1)
A journal entry must be made at the time of the notarial act and must be recorded in
what order? -Correct Answer ✔In sequential order
Should a notary willfully (intentionally) not properly maintain her journal, they can be
found guilty of _____________. -Correct Answer ✔Misdemeanor
What should a notary do if a member of the public requests the ORIGINAL journal
entry? -Correct Answer ✔You will need to deny the request. You may, however, give a
photocopy of the journal entry.
California Notaries Exam
,California Notaries Exam
Can I charge a person for a photocopy of a journal entry? -Correct Answer ✔Yes, you
may charge them. You are allowed to charge (30 cents) per photo-copy page.
Who is the person that appoints notaries in the state of california -Correct Answer ✔The
California Secretary of State is the public official that appoints notaries in California.
I have my primary residence in Utah but I spend a lot of time and do business in
California, can I become a California Notary Public? -Correct Answer ✔No (unless
appointed to serve in the military), your primary residence must be in California to
become a California Notary Public.
I am a resident of North Carolina but stationed in California for the military, am I eligible
to be a California notary. -Correct Answer ✔Yes, if you are 18+ and stationed and in the
military stationed in California, there are special provisions to become a notary.
Am i allowed to take an approved California 3-hour course of study to become a notary?
-Correct Answer ✔No, if you are not currently licensed as a notary, you must complete a
6-hour study course, from an authorized vendor, in order to become a notary public.
I'm currently listed as a notary and have already taken a 6-hour course of study. Am I
required to take the 6-hour course again? -Correct Answer ✔No, you will only need to
complete a 3-hour approved course of study to complete your license as long as you
complete all filings prior to the expiration date of your current commission.
I'm currently licensed as a notary, but will not be able to complete my filing until after my
commission expires due to a health issue, can I take the 3-hour course. -Correct
Answer ✔No, if for ANY reason your commission expires prior to completing your
paperwork to renew your commission, you are required to take the 6-hour approved
course.
I'm a licensed notary and I'm completing my renewal PRIOR to it expiring, can I take the
6-hour course or must I take the 3-hour course? -Correct Answer ✔Yes, you are
ALWAYS allowed to take the 6-hour approved course as part of your filing.
What are the criteria that a notary seal must abide by? -Correct Answer ✔The State of
California requires each notary to use a rubber stamp as their official seal. However, an
embossing seal may be used in conjunction with the ink stamp. 1. The seal impression
must be photographically reproducible. 2. Round notary seals must be no larger than
two inches in diameter, rectangle notary seals must be no larger than one inch in width
by two and one-half inches in length with a serrated or milled edge border. 3. The notary
seal must contain: a) The State Seal of California, b) the words "Notary Public", c) the
name of the Notary Public as shown on their commission, d) the name of the county
where their oath of office and Notary Public bond are on file, e) the expiration date of
the Notary Public's commission, f) the sequential identification number (commission
California Notaries Exam
, California Notaries Exam
number) assigned to the Notary Public, g) and the identification number assigned to the
seal manufacturer.
Does the notary Seal HAVE to be round? -Correct Answer ✔No, the seal may be either
square or round. (Circular, may not be more than 2 inches in diameter. If rectangular, it
must not be more than 1-inch in width by 2 and 1⁄2 inches in length) CGC 8207)
From whom does a notary obtain a CERTIFICATE to purchase an official notary
California Notary Seal? -Correct Answer ✔The California Secretary of State will issue a
certificate to purchase your official notary seal. You must use your official letter when
purchasing your seal and NOT a copy.
Can a notary be held personally liable for damages that occur from their notarial acts? -
Correct Answer ✔Yes, if a notary is found to have acted with negligence that person
may be found personally liable for damages, costs and attorney's fees. A notary may
purchase supplemental insurance to safeguard themselves.
Can The Secretary of State appoint and commission a state, city, county, and public
school district employee as a notary public to act for and on behalf of the governmental
entity for which appointed Secretary of State? -Correct Answer ✔Yes, the Secretary of
State may appoint as many as they see fit.
If you are a notary appointed for a public entity, can you act as a notary outside the
public entity? -Correct Answer ✔No, they may only perform notary acts for that public
entity.
Notaries appointed for public entities have to charge fees? -Correct Answer ✔Yes, the
notaries charge for all services and remit the fees received to the employing agency.
Each fee charged must be entered in the journal.
If a notary appointed by a public agency terminates their position (voluntarily or is fired)
are they entitled to keep their notarial status? -Correct Answer ✔No, once a notary
appointed by a public agency leaves their position, their actions are viewed the same as
a notary's resignation of the commission of the notary.
Does a person appointed to serve as a military notary on a California reservation have
to be a U.S. citizen? -Correct Answer ✔Yes, they must be a U.S. Citizen; however, they
don't have to be a California resident.
Can a military notary appointed to notarize on behalf of a reservation perform their
notary acts outside of the reservation where they were appointed? -Correct Answer
✔No, they must perform all notary acts on the military reservation they were appointed.
California Notaries Exam
