Every person appointed as a notary public shall:

• be 18 years of age or older (there is no maximum age set by statute)
• be a legal California resident
• complete a mandatory course of study approved by the Secretary of State
• satisfactorily complete and pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State
• clear a background check

Child Support

Applicants found to be non-compliant with child or family support orders will be issued temporary term commissions. Notaries found to be non-compliant after the commission is issued may be subject to commission suspension or revocation.

Convictions

State law requires all applicants be fingerprinted as part of a background check prior to being granted an appointment as a notary public. Information concerning the fingerprinting requirement will be mailed to candidates who pass the examination.

You are required to disclose on your application any arrests for which trial is pending and all convictions. Convictions dismissed under Penal Code Section 1203.4 or 1203.4a must be disclosed. If you have any questions concerning the disclosure of convictions or arrests, contact the Secretary of State prior to signing the application.

If you do not recall the specifics about your arrest(s) and or conviction(s), you can contact the California Department of Justice at (916) 227-3849.

The Secretary of State will recommend denial of an application for the following reasons:

• Failure to disclose any arrest or conviction; or
• Conviction of a felony; or

• Conviction of a disqualifying misdemeanor where not more than 10 years have passed since the completion of probation.

The most common disqualifying convictions are listed below; however, this list is not all-inclusive:

Accessory
Arson-related offenses
Assault
Auto theft
Battery
Burglary
Carrying a concealed weapon
Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place
Child molestation
Child pornography
Conspiracy
Discharge of a firearm in a public place
   or into an inhabited dwelling
Drugs, possession for sale and sale
Embezzlement
Escape without force
Failure to comply with a court order
Failure to pay child support
Failure to return to confinement
False financial statements
False imprisonment
Forgery
Fraud involving, but not limited to, bank cards,
   credit cards, insufficient funds/checks, insurance, mail,
   Medi-Cal or Medicare, real estate, tax, and welfare
Fraudulent impersonation of a peace officer
Hit and run
Kidnapping-related offenses
Manslaughter
Pimping and pandering
Possession of an unregistered firearm
Practicing without a license when a
   license is required
Prostitution
Rape
Receipt of stolen property
Resisting or threatening a peace officer
Robbery
Solicitation
Statutory rape
Tax evasion
Terrorist threats
Theft, grand and petty, including burglary
   and robbery
Threats to commit a crime involving death or great bodily injury
Note: When a recommendation is made to deny an application, the applicant has the right to appeal the recommendation through the administrative hearing process.

For steps to obtain a notary public commission, go to the check list

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