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New Handbook 2009 (new laws, forms, education, etc)
April 3, 2009 by ocnotarynow · Leave a Comment
New Handbook 2009 (new laws, forms, education, etc)
Notary Public
Handbook (which I have
copied for you to view at the
bottom of this post)
is available in
hard copy at no charge.
Just send a self-addressed
envelope (at least 6” by 9”
in size) to the address:
Notary Public & Special Filings Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, California 94277-0001
The handbook also is
available online at
http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/forms/handbook.pdf
The California Secretary of State has sole authority to commission notaries
public, approve notary public education vendors, authorize notary public seal
manufacturers, and discipline notaries public for violating notarial law.
New legal responsibilities have added greater complexity and accountability to
the role of a notary public. This newsletter highlights some of the most crucial
aspects of the job, and may serve as a refresher for both new and experienced
notaries public.
•A new year brings new laws regarding identification and witnesses.
•Already a law since January 1, 2008, identifying persons requesting notarial
acts must be based on the presentation of satisfactory evidence;
“personal knowledge” alone cannot be used for a person making an acknowledgment
or executing a jurat. See below for the legally required notarial wording
and more information about the consequences for not using it.
• Other requirements such as FBI background checks and increased civil
penalties for failure to conduct duties have also been in effect for the past
year.
•No matter how many commission terms someone may have held in the
past, all notaries public appointed on or after July 1, 2005, are required to
satisfactorily complete a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary
of State prior to appointment.
