The Notary Public Section is responsible for:
Notary Public Disciplinary Guidelines: Regulations revising the Notary Public Disciplinary Guidelines are effective November 16, 2012. Posted: 11-16-12
Online webcam notarizations are invalid and illegal activities for California notaries public. Posted: 02-24-11 / Last updated: 7-19-16
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 refer to the Legislation webpage.
The Secretary of State's office has prepared the Sample Workbook, Functions and Duties of a California Notary Public 2017 (PDF). The workbook contains California laws relating to notaries public and can be used to assist an applicant in preparing for the notary public examination and as a reference to help notaries public in the performance of their duties.
The Notary Public Section appoints and commissions eligible notaries public. A notary public is a public official who performs valuable services to the legal, business, financial and real estate communities by certifying or witnessing signatures on official documents.