California Business Portal - Notary Public Main Page

Notary Public

Each year, changes in the law may affect your notary public commission. For information regarding new laws and changes to existing laws that directly affect filings made and business conducted with the Secretary of State's office, please visit our Business Programs Division Legislation page.

2008 Notary Newsletter
The 2008 edition of the Notary News is available online and includes a summary of the new laws affecting notaries public beginning January 1, 2008.

Expanded Background Checks
All applicants appointed or reappointed as a notary public on or after January 1, 2008, must undergo a background check by the FBI as well as the California Department of Justice. The Request for Live Scan Service form is available online or by calling the Notary Public Section at (916) 653-3595.

Photo Requirement
All applicants appointed or reappointed as a notary public on or after January 1, 2008, are required to attach a 2" x 2" color passport photo of their person to the back of the completed notary public application form.

Notary Regulations - The Secretary of State's office has adopted regulations regarding Mandatory Education for notaries public. All applicants appointed on or after July 1, 2005, will be required to satisfactorily complete a course of study approved by the Secretary of State prior to appointment as a notary public. (Government Code section 8201.) In addition, the Secretary of State will review and approve all courses of study submitted by notary education vendors. (Government Code section 8201.2.)

To locate vendors who have been authorized to provide the mandatory notary education, please refer to our list of approved notary education vendors.

The Notary Public Section is responsible for:

reviewing and approving course curriculum and issuing certificates of approval to notary education vendors;
appointing and commissioning qualified persons as notaries public for four-year terms;
certifying to the authenticity of notaries public and public officials' signatures;
issuing permits to authorized seal manufacturers to produce notary seals;
maintaining and distributing a list of all authorized seal manufacturers to newly commissioned notaries public;
enforcing laws related to the Child Support Enforcement Program, which provides for the suspension or revocation of commissions for noncompliance with child or family support orders; and
investigating violations of notary law and taking appropriate administrative or criminal disciplinary actions.