A California notary search starts with the Secretary of State’s active-notary list, a file updated each business day that shows every currently commissioned notary in the state along with their name, business name, mailing address, commission number, filing county, and commission expiration date.1California Secretary of State. Notary Public Listing That file is the authoritative source for confirming whether a specific notary holds a valid commission. Finding a notary to hire is a separate task and usually comes down to knowing where they work.
Verifying a California Notary’s Commission
Download the compressed file from the Secretary of State’s Notary Public Listing page, decompress it, and open it in any text editor. Search by the notary’s name or commission number. Each entry carries the commission number, filing county code, and expiration date. A California notary commission runs for four years.2California Secretary of State. 2025 California Notary Public Handbook If the name you’re checking doesn’t appear, the commission is not currently active.
The downloadable file covers active commissions only. For information on notaries whose commissions have expired, been revoked, or been suspended, contact the Secretary of State’s Notary Public Section directly.1California Secretary of State. Notary Public Listing
Reading the Notary Seal
When you have a notarized document in hand, the seal itself is a quick verification tool. A valid California notary seal must clearly show the notary’s name, the words “Notary Public,” the State Seal of California, the county where the oath and bond are filed, and the commission expiration date.3California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 8207 If any element is missing or illegible, treat the notarization with suspicion and cross-check the name and expiration date against the active-notary file before relying on the document.
If the commission number isn’t in the file, the expiration date has already passed, or the seal details don’t match what the file shows, don’t accept the document. Ask the notary for their commission certificate, and if the discrepancy stands, contact the Notary Public Section.
Finding a Notary to Hire
Notaries work in banks, credit unions, shipping stores, law firms, and real estate offices, among other places. Some offer mobile services and will come to your home or office. California does not publish a map-based “find a notary near me” tool, so most people start with a general web search or a commercial directory filtered by zip code and then confirm the notary’s commission through the Secretary of State’s list.1California Secretary of State. Notary Public Listing
For a real estate closing, ask your title company or lender about a notary signing agent. Signing agents are notaries who specialize in loan document packages. Certification isn’t legally required, but most mortgage companies insist on a certified signing agent to meet compliance standards.
Mobile notaries charge a travel fee on top of the per-signature notarization fee. California doesn’t cap travel fees, but the Secretary of State expects them to be listed separately from the notarial fee. Agree on the travel fee before the notary heads out.
What a California Notary Can Charge
State law sets hard caps on notarial fees, and charging more is grounds for commission revocation.4California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 8214.1
- Acknowledgment: $15 per signature.5California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 8211
- Jurat (oath or affirmation): $15 per signature.5California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 8211
- Deposition: $30, plus $7 for administering the oath and $7 for the certificate.5California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 8211
The caps apply to the notarial act only. Travel, convenience, and after-hours charges sit outside the statute. A $50 flat charge for a single acknowledgment violates the law; $15 for the notarization plus $35 travel does not. Review invoices with that line drawn.
Getting a Copy of a Past Notarization
Every California notary keeps a single sequential journal of every official act they perform, and that journal is the definitive record of a notarization. Anyone can request a copy of a specific entry by submitting a written request to the notary. The request must identify the parties, the type of document, and the month and year of the notarization. The notary has 15 business days to provide the copy or to confirm that no matching entry exists. The maximum charge is $0.30 per page.6California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 8206
California does not allow redaction of information in a journal copy provided to the public. When unrelated entries sit on the same page as yours, the notary is expected to cover those while making the copy; the entry you requested comes to you unredacted.
If the notary has left the profession, is unreachable, or refuses to respond, direct your request to the Secretary of State, which serves as custodian of journals for former notaries.7California Secretary of State. Public Records Act Requests A court can also compel access through a subpoena or court order where the authenticity of a notarized document is disputed in litigation.
When a Notary Causes You Harm
Every California notary files a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk where they maintain their principal place of business. The bond provides a limited source of funds for claims against the notary; it is not insurance that protects the notary. The notary stays personally liable beyond the bond amount for the full extent of damages.2California Secretary of State. 2025 California Notary Public Handbook To identify the surety company and start a bond claim, contact the Secretary of State’s office or the county clerk where the bond is filed.
For overcharges, failure to verify identity, refusal to provide a journal copy, or other misconduct, file a complaint with the Secretary of State using the Complaint Form on the agency’s website, with certified copies of any supporting documentation. The office investigates and can suspend or revoke the commission, but it cannot represent you in court, give legal advice, or recover money for you. The complaint process and a bond claim are separate tracks. Report suspected forgery or identity theft to local law enforcement or the district attorney in the county where the acts occurred.8California Secretary of State. Submit a Complaint Against a Notary Public
A Note on Remote Online Notarization
California enacted SB 696, which established a framework for remote online notarization and requires an encrypted electronic journal entry and an audio-video recording of each session.9California Legislative Information. Bill Text – SB-696 Notaries Public The verification steps you’d use for an in-person notary still apply: confirm the commission through the active-notary file, and expect the electronic seal to carry the same elements as a physical one. Electronic journal entries from a remote session can be requested the same way as paper entries.