California Notary Exam: What to Expect
The California Notary Public Exam is one of the most competitive notary exams in the country. With over 400,000 commissioned notaries statewide, California demands thorough knowledge of its notarial laws and procedures.
Here is a quick overview of the exam format:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 30 multiple-choice |
| Time Limit | Timed, proctored exam |
| Passing Score | 70% (21 correct answers) |
| Exam Fee | $20 |
| Format | Closed-book |
| Education Required | 6-hour approved course |
| Administered By | Secretary of State approved vendors |
You must complete a 6-hour state-approved education course before sitting for the exam. The exam is closed-book and proctored, so memorization of key rules and numbers is essential.
30 Practice Questions Organized by Topic
The questions below are organized into the six major topic areas tested on the California Notary Exam. Each question includes four answer options, the correct answer in bold, and a brief explanation.
Duties & Powers of a Notary (Questions 1-8)
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a notary public in California?
- A) To provide legal advice on documents
- B) To draft legal documents for clients
- C) To serve as an impartial witness to deter fraud
- D) To certify that documents are legally valid
Correct Answer: C -- A notary public acts as an impartial witness appointed by the state to help deter fraud by verifying the identity of signers and witnessing signatures.
Question 2: How long is a California notary public commission?
- A) 2 years
- B) 4 years
- C) 5 years
- D) 6 years
Correct Answer: B -- A California notary commission lasts 4 years from the date of commencement. Notaries must renew by completing a new education course and exam.
Question 3: What is the maximum fee a California notary may charge per signature for an acknowledgment?
- A) $5
- B) $10
- C) $15
- D) $20
Correct Answer: C -- California law caps notary fees at $15 per signature for acknowledgments, jurats, and other notarial acts.
Question 4: What amount of surety bond is required for a California notary?
- A) $5,000
- B) $10,000
- C) $15,000
- D) $25,000
Correct Answer: C -- California requires all notary publics to file and maintain a $15,000 surety bond to protect the public against notary misconduct.
Question 5: Within how many days of receiving the commission must a California notary file their oath and bond with the county clerk?
- A) 15 days
- B) 30 days
- C) 60 days
- D) 90 days
Correct Answer: B -- A California notary must file the oath of office and surety bond with the county clerk within 30 days of the commencement of the commission term.
Question 6: Which state agency oversees notary publics in California?
- A) Department of Justice
- B) Secretary of State
- C) Attorney General
- D) Department of Consumer Affairs
Correct Answer: B -- The California Secretary of State is the commissioning authority that oversees notary publics, processes applications, and enforces notary law.
Question 7: What is the minimum age to become a notary public in California?
- A) 18 years old
- B) 19 years old
- C) 21 years old
- D) 25 years old
Correct Answer: A -- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a California notary public commission.
Question 8: A notary receives a request to notarize a document written in a language the notary does not understand. What should the notary do?
- A) Refuse to notarize the document under all circumstances
- B) Use an online translator to verify the content
- C) Proceed with the notarization if communication with the signer can be established and the notary can identify the type of document
- D) Require the document be translated into English first
Correct Answer: C -- California notaries are not required to read or understand the language of the document. The notary must be able to communicate with the signer (directly or through an interpreter) and identify the type of notarial act requested.
Acknowledgments & Jurats (Questions 9-14)
Question 9: What is an acknowledgment?
- A) A sworn statement that the contents of a document are true
- B) A declaration by a signer that they signed a document voluntarily
- C) A certification that a document is a true copy
- D) A statement that the signer appeared before the notary
Correct Answer: B -- An acknowledgment is a notarial act where the signer appears before the notary and declares that the signature on the document is their own and was made voluntarily.
Question 10: For a jurat, must the signer sign the document in the presence of the notary?
- A) Yes, the signer must sign in the notary's presence
- B) No, the signer may sign beforehand
- C) Only if the document is related to real property
- D) Only if the notary requests it
Correct Answer: A -- A jurat requires that the signer both sign the document in the notary's presence and take an oath or affirmation that the contents of the document are true.
Question 11: Which notarial act requires the signer to take an oath or affirmation?
- A) Acknowledgment
- B) Jurat
- C) Copy certification
- D) Proof of execution
Correct Answer: B -- A jurat (also called a verification on oath or affirmation) requires the signer to swear or affirm that the contents of the document are true.
Question 12: What type of document most commonly requires an acknowledgment?
- A) Affidavits
- B) Deeds and deeds of trust
- C) Court declarations
- D) Immigration forms
Correct Answer: B -- Acknowledgments are the most common notarial act and are typically used for real property documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, and powers of attorney.
Question 13: A signer asks the notary to choose between an acknowledgment and a jurat. What should the notary do?
- A) Choose the acknowledgment since it is more common
- B) Choose the jurat since it is more secure
- C) Decline to choose and advise the signer to consult the document or an attorney
- D) Always use an acknowledgment for unsigned documents
Correct Answer: C -- A notary cannot provide legal advice, including choosing the type of notarial act. The notary should advise the signer to review the document instructions or consult an attorney.
Question 14: What is a proof of execution by a subscribing witness?
- A) A notarization where the notary watches the signer sign
- B) A certification of a copy of a document
- C) A procedure where a third-party witness proves that another person signed a document
- D) An acknowledgment performed over the phone
Correct Answer: C -- Proof of execution by a subscribing witness allows a third party who witnessed the signing to appear before the notary and prove that the named person signed the document, used when the signer cannot personally appear.
Identification Requirements (Questions 15-19)
Question 15: Which of the following is acceptable as a sole form of identification for a notarization in California?
- A) Credit card with photo
- B) Employee ID badge
- C) Current California driver license
- D) Student ID with photo
Correct Answer: C -- California law specifies acceptable forms of identification, including a current state-issued driver license or ID card, U.S. passport, or foreign passport stamped by USCIS. Credit cards, employee IDs, and student IDs are not acceptable.
Question 16: How many credible witnesses are required if the signer lacks acceptable identification?
- A) One
- B) Two
- C) Three
- D) No witnesses are needed
Correct Answer: B -- If a signer cannot produce acceptable identification, California law requires two credible witnesses who each personally know the signer and can present satisfactory ID to the notary.
Question 17: A signer presents a U.S. passport that expired six months ago. Can the notary accept it?
- A) No, expired documents are never acceptable
- B) Yes, if it was issued within the past 5 years
- C) Yes, if it expired within the last year
- D) Only with a secondary form of ID
Correct Answer: B -- California accepts identification documents that are current or that were issued within the past 5 years. A passport expired six months ago would still be within the 5-year window from its issue date.
Question 18: Can personal knowledge of the signer serve as a basis for identification in California?
- A) Yes, personal knowledge is an acceptable basis for identification
- B) No, photo ID is always required
- C) Only for family members
- D) Only for real property documents
Correct Answer: A -- California allows a notary to identify a signer based on personal knowledge. However, this should be used cautiously and documented in the journal.
Question 19: A credible witness must meet which of the following requirements?
- A) Be related to the signer
- B) Have a financial interest in the document
- C) Personally know the signer and present satisfactory identification to the notary
- D) Be a licensed attorney
Correct Answer: C -- A credible witness must personally know the signer, must not have a financial interest in the document, and must present satisfactory identification to the notary.
Journal Requirements (Questions 20-23)
Question 20: Is maintaining a journal of notarial acts mandatory in California?
- A) Yes, it is required by law
- B) No, it is recommended but optional
- C) Only for real property transactions
- D) Only for mobile notaries
Correct Answer: A -- California law requires all notaries to maintain a sequential journal of all notarial acts performed. This is one of the strictest journal requirements in the nation.
Question 21: For which types of documents must a California notary obtain a thumbprint in the journal?
- A) All notarized documents
- B) Documents related to real property, such as deeds and deeds of trust
- C) Only powers of attorney
- D) Thumbprints are never required
Correct Answer: B -- California requires a thumbprint in the notary journal for documents affecting real property, including deeds, deeds of trust, quitclaim deeds, and powers of attorney affecting real property.
Question 22: How long must a California notary retain their journal after the last entry?
- A) 5 years
- B) 7 years
- C) 10 years
- D) Permanently
Correct Answer: C -- California notaries must store their journal securely for 10 years after the date of the last entry. If the commission ends, the journal must be delivered to the county clerk.
Question 23: What information must be recorded in the journal for each notarial act?
- A) Only the signer's name and date
- B) Only the type of document and fee charged
- C) Date, time, type of act, document type, signer's name and signature, type of ID, and fee charged
- D) Only a description of the document
Correct Answer: C -- California requires detailed journal entries including the date and time, type of notarial act, type of document, signer's name, signer's signature, type of identification used, and the fee charged.
Certificate Completion (Questions 24-27)
Question 24: What must be included in every notarial certificate?
- A) The notary's personal address
- B) The venue (state and county), the notary's signature, seal, and commission expiration date
- C) Only the notary's seal
- D) The signer's date of birth
Correct Answer: B -- Every notarial certificate must include the venue (state and county where the act was performed), the notary's official signature, the notary's seal/stamp, and the commission expiration date.
Question 25: Can a California notary add a loose certificate to a document?
- A) Yes, the notary may attach a loose certificate when the document lacks one or the existing one is incorrect
- B) No, the certificate must always be part of the original document
- C) Only for acknowledgments
- D) Only with permission from the Secretary of State
Correct Answer: A -- A notary may attach a loose certificate to a document when there is no pre-printed certificate, the certificate is in the wrong form, or there is insufficient space on the document.
Question 26: What information must appear on a California notary's official seal?
- A) Only the notary's name
- B) The notary's name and county
- C) The notary's name, county of principal place of business, commission number, commission expiration date, State Seal, and the words "Notary Public"
- D) The notary's name and phone number
Correct Answer: C -- California law requires the notary seal to include the notary's name, county, commission number, commission expiration date, the Great Seal of the State of California, and the words "Notary Public."
Question 27: Who is responsible for completing the notarial certificate wording?
- A) The signer of the document
- B) The attorney who prepared the document
- C) The notary public
- D) The county clerk
Correct Answer: C -- The notary public is responsible for completing the notarial certificate. The notary fills in the venue, date, signer's name, and other required details, then signs and stamps the certificate.
Prohibited Acts & Penalties (Questions 28-30)
Question 28: A California notary is asked to notarize a document in which the notary has a direct financial interest. What should the notary do?
- A) Proceed with the notarization but note the interest in the journal
- B) Proceed if the signer consents
- C) Refuse to perform the notarization
- D) Charge a higher fee to offset the conflict
Correct Answer: C -- California law prohibits a notary from notarizing a document in which the notary has a direct financial interest. This protects the impartiality of the notarial act.
Question 29: What is the potential penalty for a California notary who willfully fails to perform their duties?
- A) Written warning only
- B) Commission revocation, fines, and possible criminal prosecution
- C) A $50 fine per occurrence
- D) Mandatory retraining course
Correct Answer: B -- Willful failure to perform notarial duties can result in commission revocation by the Secretary of State, civil penalties, fines up to $1,500 per violation, and criminal prosecution for serious offenses.
Question 30: Can a California notary notarize their own signature?
- A) Yes, if witnessed by another notary
- B) Yes, for personal documents only
- C) No, a notary may never notarize their own signature
- D) Only for non-financial documents
Correct Answer: C -- A California notary is strictly prohibited from notarizing their own signature under any circumstances. This is a fundamental conflict of interest.
California-Specific Rules You Must Know
Understanding California's unique notary requirements is critical for exam success. These rules distinguish California from other states:
Commission and Bond
- 4-year commission term from date of commencement
- $15,000 surety bond required (among the highest in the nation)
- Must file oath and bond with county clerk within 30 days
- 6-hour approved education course required before the exam
Journal and Thumbprint Rules
- Sequential journal is mandatory for all notarial acts
- Thumbprints required in journal for real property documents (deeds, deeds of trust, quitclaim deeds, powers of attorney affecting real property)
- Journal must be retained for 10 years after the last entry
- Journal entries must include date, time, type of act, document type, signer identification, and fee
Fee Schedule
- $15 maximum fee per signature for acknowledgments, jurats, and other notarial acts
- $15 per certified copy of a power of attorney
- Mobile notary travel fees are separate and not regulated by notary law
Oversight
- California Secretary of State commissions and oversees all notaries
- Live Scan fingerprinting required for background check
- Commission can be revoked for violations of notary law
Study Tips for the California Notary Exam
How to Use These Practice Questions
- Take the full 30 questions first without looking at answers to simulate exam conditions
- Score yourself -- you need at least 21 correct (70%) to pass
- Review every explanation, even for questions you got right
- Retake after studying your weak areas to track improvement
Top Focus Areas
- Acknowledgments vs. jurats -- know the differences inside and out
- Journal requirements -- California is stricter than most states
- Identification rules -- memorize acceptable forms of ID and the 5-year rule
- Prohibited acts -- understand what a notary cannot do
- Fee schedule -- the $15 maximum comes up frequently
Recommended Study Time
Plan for 15-20 hours of study beyond the required 6-hour education course:
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| 6-hour education course | 6 |
| Review course materials | 3-4 |
| Practice questions and review | 4-5 |
| California-specific law review | 3-4 |
| Final review and weak areas | 2-3 |
| Total | 18-22 hours |
Free Resources to Continue Studying
Ready for more practice? These free resources will help you prepare:
- FREE California Notary Full Study Guide -- Complete exam prep with hundreds of practice questions
- Legal Practice Questions -- Additional practice questions covering legal concepts
- California Notary Exam Guide -- In-depth guide to exam format, requirements, and study strategies
Pass the California Notary Exam on Your First Try
The California Notary Exam is passable with focused preparation. Master these 30 questions, review the California-specific rules, and use our free practice resources to build your confidence.
With over 400,000 notaries in California and growing demand for notary services, earning your commission is a valuable investment in your career. Our free study materials give you everything you need to pass without paying for expensive prep courses.