Notarization Basics

PART 2

Section 1

Notarization Basics

There are five basic steps to proper notarization and it is a good practice to memorize these five steps and consistently perform them in order:

The signer must personally appear before the notary. Of course, this is mandatory and the notary must insist on it.
Check the document for completeness. You must not notarize a document if it has blank spaces or is obviously incomplete. Government Code § 8205
Verify the identity of the signer. There must be no doubt in your mind that the signer is who they claim to be.
Record the notarial act in the notarial journal. California notaries are required to keep a sequential notarial journal of each and every notarial act performed.
Complete a notarial certificate. The notarial certificate may be typed directly on the document. If it is not, you must complete a loose notarial certificate and attach it to the document by stapling them together on the top left corner.

Also, although it may seem obvious to most notaries, it is a common issue that does come up:

NO you may NOT notarize your own signature! Government Code § 8224.1

The Secretary of State's office may require information regarding your notarial acts. It this situation arises, the Secretary of State's office will send you a letter by certified mail stating the specifics of their request. You must respond to their request within 30 days. Government Code § 8205(b)(2)

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