Overview
A notary public is an official, appointed by the Secretary of State, to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official acts related to the signing of important documents.
Laws concerning notaries public are set forth in the California Government Code (GOV 8200-8230). For information on becoming a notary public, visit the Secretary of State's website.
Oath of Office and Bond Filing Requirements
Once you receive your commission from the Secretary of State, you have 30 calendar days from the beginning of the term shown on the certificate to file an oath of office and surety bond with the County Clerk's office.
The filing must take place in the county where you maintain a principal place of business, as identified in the application on file with the Secretary of State. Your commission does not take effect until your oath and official bond are filed with the County Clerk.
Failure to file within the 30-day time period will render your commission void; you may not act as a notary public until you obtain a new appointment and properly qualify your commission. An extension of time, regardless of the reason for noncompliance, is not allowed by law.
To File In-Person
Bring the following materials to one of our office locations and pay the appropriate fees*:
- Original commission certificate from the Secretary of State
- Original $15,000 notary bond, signed by you as principal**
- Two unsigned oath of office forms
- Valid photo identification (such as a driver's license, passport, or military I.D.)
To File By Mail
To file by mail, you must first appear before a commissioned and registered notary in this county to give your oath. Immediately after taking your oath, send the following by certified mail:
- Photocopy of your commission certificate
- Original $15,000 notary bond, signed by you as principal**
- Two oath of office forms, completed and originally signed by you and the notary public that administered the oath
- Payment for filing and recording fees
addressed to:
ATTN: Clerk Desk
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder
3636 American River Drive, Suite 110
Sacramento, CA 95864
If you have any questions, contact our office at (916) 874-1645.
Fees
To file oath of office and bond: $25.00
To record bond*: $20.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page (including any lead page)
Find out about acceptable forms of payment.
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* When filing at our service center location or after 3:00 p.m. at the main office, the recording fee for the bond must be paid by a separate check or cash.
** Print the name of the person requesting recording and the address where the document should be mailed after it is recorded in the upper left-hand corner of the bond or lead page.
