Government Code § 8205.
8205. (a) It is the duty of a notary public, when
requested:
(1) To demand acceptance and payment of foreign and inland bills of
exchange, or promissory notes, to protest them for nonacceptance and nonpayment,
and, with regard only to the nonacceptance or nonpayment of bills and notes, to
exercise any other powers and duties that by the law of nations and according to
commercial usages, or by the laws of any other state, government, or country,
may be performed by a notary. This paragraph applies only to a notary public
employed by a financial institution, during the course and scope of the notary's
employment with the financial institution.
(2) To take the acknowledgment or proof of advance health care
directives, powers of attorney, mortgages, deeds, grants, transfers, and other
instruments of writing executed by any person, and to give a certificate of that
proof or acknowledgment, endorsed on or attached to the instrument. The
certificate shall be signed by the notary public in the notary public's own
handwriting. A notary public may not accept any acknowledgment or proof of any
instrument that is incomplete.
(3) To take depositions and affidavits, and administer oaths and
affirmations, in all matters incident to the duties of the office, or to be used
before any court, judge, officer, or board. Any deposition, affidavit, oath, or
affirmation shall be signed by the notary public in the notary public's own
handwriting.
(4) To certify copies of powers of attorney under Section 4307 of
the Probate Code. The certification shall be signed by the notary public in the
notary public's own handwriting.
(b) It shall further be the duty of a notary public, upon written
request:
(1) To furnish to the Secretary of State certified copies of the
notary's journal.
(2) To respond within 30 days of receiving written requests sent by
certified mail from the Secretary of State's office for information relating to
official acts performed by the notary.