Notary law · California
California is one of the strictest states: thumbprints required in the journal for powers of attorney and real-property documents.
Commissioning authority
California Secretary of State
Commission term
4 years
Statutory fee cap
$15 per signature
Notary journal
Yes
Remote online notarization
Pending
Surety bond
$15,000 surety bond
E&O insurance
$25,000–$100,000 E&O insurance recommended
RON detail: SB 696 establishes RON effective January 2030; in-person required until then.
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Always confirm the notary's commission status with the California Secretary of State before signing high-value documents. NotaSealPros independently re-verifies each listed notary, but the official record is the source of truth.
Open the official lookup ↗California notary fees
What you should expect to pay statewide.
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