Notary Registration and Bonds

The staff of the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor's Office are forbidden by California legal codes to practice law or provide legal advice; this prohibition includes giving advice about what forms you might need or how you should fill them out.

A notary public is a public official who performs valuable services to the legal, business, financial and real estate communities by certifying or witnessing signatures on official documents.

To become a California Notary Public, go to the Secretary of State Notary Public Division’s website at http://www.sos.ca.gov/notary

• Must be completed within 30 days of commission issuance date
• Notary bond with signature for $15,000 must be provided
• Bring Commission and 2 copies of Oath issued by Secretary of State
• Names on commission, bond, and oath must be exactly the same
• A notary can also take his/her oath before another notary in the county.
  • Call (707) 565-3800 for information about that process.
• Fees:
  • $50.00 for filing of the oath
  • $14.00 for first page of bond, and $3.00 each additional page, to record the bond