California Notary Public Handbook: 2025 Edition - by the California Secretary of State Notary Public Section

The Notary Public Handbook is designed to supplement the required notary public education course and prepare all applicants for the notary public examination. All statutory references are to California Codes, unless otherwise indicated.

New additions to the Notary Public Handbook this year include Government Code section 27201.1 regarding tangible copy certification, Government Code section 8231 and Civil Code section regarding Online Notarization Act implementation, as well as updated commonly asked questions and answers.

Assembly Bill 2004 , Recordation of Documents, was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 27, 2024, to modernize California’s recorded document laws. The new law, effective January 1, 2025, authorizes a notary public to notarize a certification by a disinterested custodian that a tangible copy of an electronic record is an accurate reproduction of the electronic record. The law will require a recorder to accept for recording a tangible copy of an electronic record that has been so certified by a notary public if specified requirements are met.

The Online Notarization Act (Chapter 291, Statutes of 2023 (SB 696, Portantino)) was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 30, 2023. The Online Notarization Act was effective on January 1, 2024, and the Act is operative in stages. Government Code sections 8232 through 8232.4 and Civil Code sections 1182 and 1183 were operative January 1, 2024. Government Code section 8231.18 becomes operative on January 1, 2025. The rest of the Online Notarization Act related to remote online notarization becomes operative when the Secretary of State has completed the technology project (NAP 2.0) necessary to implement the new provisions or by January 1, 2030, whichever is earlier. Once effective on or about January 1, 2030, California notaries will be allowed to perform remote online notarizations using audio-video communication and online notarization platforms to provide notarial services.

Table of Contents
General Information Appointment and Qualifications Convictions Notary Public Education Requirements and Time Limit for Qualifying Notary Public Bond Geographic Jurisdiction Acts Constituting the Practice of Law Notary Public Seal Identification Notary Public Journal Conflict of Interest Acknowledgment Jurat Proof of Execution by a Subscribing Witness Signature by Mark Powers of Attorney—Certifying Copies Tangible Copy Certification Notarization of Incomplete Documents Correcting a Notarial Act Illegal Advertising Immigration Documents Confidential Marriage Licenses Grounds for Denial, Revocation, or Suspension of Appointment and Commission Disciplinary Guidelines Fees Change of Address Foreign Language Electronic Notarizations Common Questions and Answers Government Code Civil Code Code of Civil Procedure Elections Code Commercial Code Probate Code Penal Code Business and Professions Code Index