Common Questions

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• 1 - What is the purpose of notarizing documents? 

Notarizing documents deter fraud by having an impartial witness (the Notary) verify the identity of signers and ensure they are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly. This creates a trustworthy environment for sharing documents with confidence in their authenticity.

• 2. Are there any requirements for a document to be notarized? For a document to be notarized, it must contain the following: 

A) Text committing the signer in some way. 

B) An original signature of the signer (may not be a photocopy)

C) A notarial certificate completed by the Notary and signed with their seal.

• 3. Does notarization guarantee a document's truth or legality? 

No, notarization does not guarantee a document's truth or legality. Notaries are only responsible for certifying the identity of signers, while the signers themselves are responsible for the content and accuracy of the documents.

• 4. Can a California notary notarize a driver's license?

A California notary can notarize a statement related to a driver's license or passport, but only the original document belonging to the signer and valid at the time of notarization can be presented. 

• 5. Can a California notary refuse to notarize a document? 

Yes, a California notary may refuse to notarize a document if the signer is not present, cannot be properly identified, or if certain criteria are not met.

• 6. Is it within the jurisdiction of a California notary to notarize a birth certificate?

No, notarizing birth certificates, marriage, and death certificates, divorce decrees, court documents, and federally issued documents as "true copies" is not within the purview of a notary public. The certification for such documents must be done by the secretary of state.

• 7. How many forms of ID are required for a notary in California? 

To verify identity, a signer typically needs to present two current, valid forms of identification to the notary public at the time of signing.

• 8. Can a marriage license be notarized in California? 

Notaries in California may apply for approval to issue confidential marriage licenses, but only selected Notaries with specific training are authorized to do so.

• 9. Does a notarized document have an expiration date? 

No, the notarization of a document does not expire. No rule states that a notary stamp expires after a certain date.

• 10. What is required for a document to be notarized? 

Most documents that require notarization must have the following:

Common Questions

• 1) Language committing the signer.
• 2) An original signature.
• 3) A notarial certificate completed by the Notary.

• 11. Does notarization make a document "true" or "legal"? 

Notarizing a document does not automatically make it "true" or "legal" if it is not legally valid or correct prior to notarization. The accuracy and legality of a document are the responsibility of the document issuer or signer.