FAQ: How do I verify that my Notary Public holds an active commission in California?

FAQ: How do I verify that my Notary Public holds an active commission in California?

Since the act of impersonating a Notary Public is considered an act of fraud and is a felony offense, it’s fairly unlikely that you’ll run into a Notary Public who is operating without a current and valid commission. However, you may still wish to know that the Notary Public you’re working with holds an active commission, which county his or her bond is filed in or maybe you just want to know when their commission expires.

In an effort to keep the general public as informed as possible the California Secretary of State offers a current list of all active Notary Public agents with active commissions in the state. This list is updated daily and can be downloaded from their website by going to:

http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/notary-online-listing.htm

This online list contains basic information about all currently commissioned Notary Public agents such as:

• Notary public name (last name and name suffix, first name, and middle name);
• Business name (if the notary public is self-employed, the business name field will be blank);
• Business mailing address;
• Filing county code number (county where the oath of office and bond are on file) (pdf ~38KB);
• Commission number; and
• Commission expiration date

By downloading and reviewing this document you should be able to quickly and easily determine the status of the Notary Public you intend to work with. Should you find that your Notary Public agent is NOT listed in the list provided, you should immediately notify the Secretary of State Department either by phone, in writing or in person.

Office Hours: Monday through Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(excluding state holidays)

Office Location
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Mailing Address
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277-0001

Phone Number: (916) 653-3595