CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026 TESTED
QUESTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Days to file oath of office and bond after receiving commission.
Answer: 30 days
⩥ Required bond amount for a California notary public. Answer:
$15,000
⩥ Not acceptable form of identification for notarization. Answer: A
Social Security card
⩥ Retention period for journal after commission expires. Answer: 10
years
⩥ Penalty for knowingly making a false statement in a certificate of
acknowledgment. Answer: $10,000 fine
⩥ Action if journal is lost or stolen. Answer: Notify the Secretary of
State by certified mail within 10 days
,⩥ Maximum fee for certifying a copy of a power of attorney. Answer:
$15
⩥ Required journal entry when notarizing a document. Answer: The type
of document notarized
⩥ Charge for notarizing a vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope.
Answer: $10
⩥ Term length of a California notary public commission. Answer: 4
years
⩥ Can a notary notarize a document in a foreign language?. Answer:
Yes, as long as the notary understands the language
⩥ Unauthorized practice of law for a notary public. Answer: Preparing
legal documents for a client
⩥ Document requiring a thumbprint in the notary journal. Answer: A
deed of trust
⩥ Penalty for willfully failing to secure notary journal. Answer: Civil
penalty of $1,000
, ⩥ Action if seal is lost or stolen. Answer: Notify the Secretary of State in
writing within 10 days
⩥ Maximum fee for taking a deposition. Answer: $30
⩥ Action if seal is lost, misplaced, or destroyed. Answer: Notify the
Secretary of State in writing within 10 days
⩥ Failure to secure the notary journal. Answer: An action that may result
in penalties for a notary public.
⩥ Charging more than the maximum allowable fees. Answer: An action
that may lead to disciplinary measures against a notary public.
⩥ Conviction of a felony. Answer: A serious criminal offense that can
disqualify an individual from being a notary public.
⩥ Failure to administer an oath or affirmation. Answer: An oversight
that can result in penalties for a notary public.
⩥ Penalty for willfully failing to provide access to journal. Answer:
$500 fine, $1,000 fine, $2,500 civil penalty, or revocation of
commission.
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026 TESTED
QUESTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Days to file oath of office and bond after receiving commission.
Answer: 30 days
⩥ Required bond amount for a California notary public. Answer:
$15,000
⩥ Not acceptable form of identification for notarization. Answer: A
Social Security card
⩥ Retention period for journal after commission expires. Answer: 10
years
⩥ Penalty for knowingly making a false statement in a certificate of
acknowledgment. Answer: $10,000 fine
⩥ Action if journal is lost or stolen. Answer: Notify the Secretary of
State by certified mail within 10 days
,⩥ Maximum fee for certifying a copy of a power of attorney. Answer:
$15
⩥ Required journal entry when notarizing a document. Answer: The type
of document notarized
⩥ Charge for notarizing a vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope.
Answer: $10
⩥ Term length of a California notary public commission. Answer: 4
years
⩥ Can a notary notarize a document in a foreign language?. Answer:
Yes, as long as the notary understands the language
⩥ Unauthorized practice of law for a notary public. Answer: Preparing
legal documents for a client
⩥ Document requiring a thumbprint in the notary journal. Answer: A
deed of trust
⩥ Penalty for willfully failing to secure notary journal. Answer: Civil
penalty of $1,000
, ⩥ Action if seal is lost or stolen. Answer: Notify the Secretary of State in
writing within 10 days
⩥ Maximum fee for taking a deposition. Answer: $30
⩥ Action if seal is lost, misplaced, or destroyed. Answer: Notify the
Secretary of State in writing within 10 days
⩥ Failure to secure the notary journal. Answer: An action that may result
in penalties for a notary public.
⩥ Charging more than the maximum allowable fees. Answer: An action
that may lead to disciplinary measures against a notary public.
⩥ Conviction of a felony. Answer: A serious criminal offense that can
disqualify an individual from being a notary public.
⩥ Failure to administer an oath or affirmation. Answer: An oversight
that can result in penalties for a notary public.
⩥ Penalty for willfully failing to provide access to journal. Answer:
$500 fine, $1,000 fine, $2,500 civil penalty, or revocation of
commission.
