Notary California Public Exam AND Study Guide Questions and Answers 2025/2026

Critical commencement date
commencement date stated in the commission NOT date commission was issued or mailed
Who issues commission?
Secretary of State
When does commission become valid
After taking oath of office and bond are filed on time
Who do you file oath and bond with
county clerk
Where is a notary's commission limited to?
State of california; not only a certain county
What kind of bond and how much needs to be filed
Surety bond for 15,000
What is the purpose of the surety bond
reimburse members of the public that are damaged by notarial misconduct
May still be liable for damages, costs and attorney's fees exceeding policy limits
What kind of notary publics are not allowed to perform notorial acts on their own
time?
Notaries appointed by Secretart of State who serve as notary public on behalf of the state,
city or county public agency
What are the restrictions of becoming a notary on a military or naval reservation