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Notary Public
Upon being commissioned as a Notary Public by the California Secretary of State, you are required to file your oath and record your bond with the County Clerk in the county of your primary place of business. This filing must be completed within 30 days from the start of your commission term. The term of office for a notary public lasts four years, starting on the date indicated in the commission.
Both in-person and mail-in services are available. For details, please see the "File Registration" section.
- Follow the requirements to "Become a Notary Public" with the California Secretary of State.
- If appointed, the applicant will receive a commission packet and an oath.
- Obtain an official bond in the sum of $15,000, executed by an admitted surety insurer.
- Register in the county of principal place of business as shown in the application submitted to the Secretary of State. Registration with the County Clerk must be done no later than 30 days after the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission.
Submit the following to the county clerk for filing and recording:
- Commission
- Bond $15,000
- Oath (2 copies)
- Notary Filing & Bond Recording Fees apply. Cash, check or money order payable to "Yolo County Clerk-Recorder" and Credit Card Authorization (PDF) accepted.
If submitting by mail, oaths must be signed before a notary public. Please provide a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) for the return of your recorded bond after recording.
If a notary public submits an application for a name change to the California Secretary of State, the following items must be submitted to the County Clerk within 30 days from the date of issuance of the amended commission:
- File a new oath of office
- Amendment to the bond with the county clerk in which the principal place of business is located.
The California Secretary of State must be notified by certified mail within 30 days as to any change in location or address of the principal place of business or residence.
If a notary public transfers the principal place of business from one county to another, the notary public may file a new oath of office and bond, or a duplicate of the original bond, with the county clerk to which the principal place of business was transferred. If the notary public elects to make a new filing, original filing and recording fees apply.
If any notary public resigns, is disqualified, removed from office, or allows his or her appointment to expire without obtaining reappointment within 30 days, all notarial records and papers shall be delivered within 30 days to the clerk of the county in which the notary public's current official oath of office is on file.