Quick Reference: Notary Exam Cheat Sheet
Critical Numbers to Memorize:
- Fines: $750 (Negligence), $1,500 (Willful), $2,500 (Thumbprint/Peace Officer), $10,000 (ID Failure/False Acknowledgment), $75,000 (Real Estate Fraud)
- Deadlines: Immediately (Lost/Stolen), 10 Days (Peace Officer), 15 Business Days (Journal Copy), 30 Days (Filing/Address/Name Change)
- Fees: $15 (Acknowledgment/Jurat), $30 (Deposition), $0 (Voting/Veteran's Benefits), $0.30 (Journal Copy per page)
- ID Groups: Group 1 (Stand-alone: CA DL, Passport), Group 2 (Requires Description: Foreign Passport, Out-of-State DL)
Key Terms:
- Negligence: Failure to discharge duties without intent ($750 fine)
- Willful: Intentional failure to discharge duties ($1,500 fine)
- Satisfactory Evidence: Acceptable identification for signer verification
- Civil Penalty: Monetary fine for notary violations
- Criminal Penalty: Jail time and/or additional fines for serious violations
The California Notary Public Exam tests specific numbers. If you don't memorize the exact dollar amounts for fines and the exact day counts for deadlines, you will likely fail. This cheat sheet condenses the entire Official 2025 California Notary Public Handbook into the critical data points you need to memorize before walking into the test center.
California Secretary of State enforces these penalties through Government Code § 8200-8230. The exam administrator, CPS HR Consulting, will test your knowledge of these exact amounts and deadlines.
1. Civil Penalties (The "Money" Questions)
The state punishes bad notaries with tiered fines. Memorize the tiers. If a question asks about a fine, it will almost certainly be one of these amounts.
Civil Penalty Schedule 2025
| Penalty Amount | The Violation (Keywords to Watch For) |
|---|---|
| $750 | Negligence (failure to discharge duties). Overcharging fees. Failure to administer an oath. Failure to complete the certificate at the time of signing. |
| $1,500 | Willful Failure to discharge duties. Advertising violations (using "Notario Publico"). Immigration advertising violations. Dishonesty or fraud (general). |
| $2,500 | Failure to obtain a Thumbprint (for Deeds/POAs). Failure to provide the journal to a Peace Officer upon request. |
| $10,000 | Identity Failure (failing to obtain satisfactory evidence). Falsifying an Acknowledgment (stating a fact known to be false). |
| $75,000 | Filing a false/forged document affecting a Single-Family Residence. |
Coach's Tip: Notice the difference between "Negligent" ($750) and "Willful" ($1,500). If the question implies you made a mistake (negligence), pick the lower number. If it implies you did it on purpose (willful), pick the higher number. But ID Failure and False Acknowledgments are always the "Big One" ($10,000).
2. Criminal Penalties (Jail Time)
Civil penalties cost you money; criminal penalties cost you your freedom.
Criminal Penalty Classifications
| Classification | The Offense |
|---|---|
| Infraction | Failure to notify Secretary of State of Address Change or Name Change. (Fine up to $500). |
| Misdemeanor | Acting as a notary without a commission. Misuse of the Seal (surrendering it to an employer). Failure to deliver records to the County Clerk (within 30 days of expiration). Destroying or concealing notary records. |
| Felony | Real Estate Fraud (Deed of Trust on Single-Family Residence). Perjury (Lying under oath). Forgery (Counterfeiting a seal/signature). |
3. Critical Timelines (The "Days" Game)
The exam will ask "How many days do you have to...?" Do not mix these up.
Critical Deadline Schedule
| Deadline | The Action Required |
|---|---|
| IMMEDIATELY | Notify Secretary of State of a Lost or Stolen Journal/Seal. |
| 10 Days | Notify Secretary of State if you surrender your journal to a Peace Officer. |
| 15 Business Days | Respond to a public request for a photostatic copy of a journal line item. |
| 30 Days | File Oath & Bond with County Clerk (starts from commission date). Notify Secretary of State of Address Change. Notify Secretary of State of Name Change. Deliver journal to County Clerk after resignation/expiration. |
Common Trap: "Immediate" applies to loss or theft. "10 Days" applies to peace officer seizure. "30 Days" is for almost everything else (filing, moving, quitting).
4. Fee Schedule 2025
You must know what you can charge (Maximums) and when you must charge nothing ($0).
Notary Fee Schedule 2025
| Service | Maximum Fee |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $15 (per signature) |
| Jurat | $15 (per signature, includes oath) |
| Power of Attorney (Copy Certification) | $15 (per copy) |
| Deposition | $30 (plus $7 for oath, $7 for certificate) |
| Voting Materials | $0 (Strictly Prohibited to charge) |
| Veteran's Benefits | $0 (Pension/Claim forms only) |
| Journal Copy (Public Request) | $0.30 per page |
Critical: You cannot charge for notarizing voting materials or veteran's benefit forms. These are always $0. Charging for these services is a violation.
5. ID Requirements (Satisfactory Evidence)
You need to know the difference between "Group 1" (Stand-alone) and "Group 2" (Must have description).
Group 1: Stand-Alone Identification
Accept if Current or Issued within 5 Years:
- CA Driver's License / ID Card
- U.S. Passport (Book or Card)
- CA Inmate ID (if in custody)
Group 2: Requires Physical Description
Must have Photo, Signature, Serial #, AND Physical Description:
- Foreign Passport
- Driver's License (Canada, Mexico, or other US State)
- Employee ID (CA State/City/County only—NO Federal IDs)
- Tribal ID
- Consular ID
Memory Trick: Group 1 = "California and U.S. Government" (stand-alone). Group 2 = "Everything else" (needs description). Federal employee IDs are NOT acceptable—only CA State/City/County employee IDs.
Practice Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
California notary exam memorization requires practice. Answer these 5 questions to test your recall of fines, penalties, and timelines:
-
What is the fine for negligent failure to discharge notary duties?
- A) $500
- B) $750
- C) $1,500
- D) $2,500
- Answer: B) $750 - Negligence (unintentional failure) carries a $750 civil penalty under Government Code § 8214.1.
-
How many days do you have to notify the Secretary of State if you lose your journal?
- A) 10 days
- B) 15 days
- C) 30 days
- D) Immediately
- Answer: D) Immediately - Lost or stolen journals/seals must be reported immediately, not within 10 or 30 days.
-
What is the maximum fine for failing to obtain satisfactory evidence of identity?
- A) $2,500
- B) $5,000
- C) $10,000
- D) $15,000
- Answer: C) $10,000 - Identity failure is one of the highest-tier violations, carrying a $10,000 civil penalty.
-
What is the maximum fee you can charge for an Acknowledgment?
- A) $10
- B) $15
- C) $20
- D) $30
- Answer: B) $15 - The statutory maximum for an Acknowledgment is $15 per signature. Charging more is a $750 violation.
-
How many days do you have to file your oath and bond after receiving your commission?
- A) 15 days
- B) 30 days
- C) 45 days
- D) 60 days
- Answer: B) 30 days - You have exactly 30 calendar days from the commission start date. There are NO exceptions to this deadline.
Need more practice? Start drilling 164 practice questions now
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is there a grace period for the 30-day filing rule?
No. If you file your oath and bond on Day 31, your commission is void. You must re-apply, re-pay, and re-LiveScan.
Can I charge $15 for the signature and $10 for travel?
You can charge the statutory $15 for the notarization. You can charge for travel, but it is not a statutory fee; it must be agreed upon with the client beforehand and is separate from the notarial fee.
What is the fine for not getting a thumbprint?
$2,500. This is a specific tier for the "Failure to obtain a thumbprint" violation found in Government Code § 8214.23. This applies when notarizing deeds affecting real property or powers of attorney.
Do I really need to know the difference between $750 and $1,500 fines?
Yes. The exam often presents a scenario and asks for the specific maximum penalty. Remember: Negligence = $750. Willful = $1,500. Fraud/ID = $10,000.
What happens if I lose my journal?
You must notify the Secretary of State IMMEDIATELY (not within 10 days, not within 30 days—immediately). This is one of the few "immediate" deadlines on the exam.
Can I charge more than $15 for an acknowledgment if the client agrees?
No. $15 is the maximum statutory fee set by Government Code § 8211. You cannot charge more, even with client agreement. Overcharging is a $750 violation.
What is the difference between civil and criminal penalties for notaries?
Civil penalties are monetary fines ($750-$75,000) imposed by the California Secretary of State for violations of notary law. Criminal penalties involve jail time and are prosecuted by district attorneys for serious offenses like perjury, forgery, or real estate fraud.
How do I know if an ID is Group 1 or Group 2?
Group 1 IDs are issued by California or the U.S. government (CA Driver's License, U.S. Passport) and can be used stand-alone if current or issued within 5 years. Group 2 IDs (foreign passports, out-of-state licenses, employee IDs) must include a physical description in addition to photo, signature, and serial number.
What happens if I charge a fee for voting materials?
Charging for notarizing voting materials is strictly prohibited and is a $1,500 willful violation. You must provide this service free of charge. The same applies to veteran's benefit forms.
Study Tips for Memorization
Create Flashcards
Write each fine amount on one side and the violation keywords on the other. Focus on the differences:
- $750 vs $1,500 (Negligence vs Willful)
- $2,500 (Thumbprint/Peace Officer)
- $10,000 (ID Failure/False Acknowledgment)
Memorize by Pattern
Group similar deadlines together:
- Immediate: Lost/Stolen
- 10 Days: Peace Officer
- 30 Days: Everything else (filing, address, name, delivery)
Practice with Scenarios
The exam will give you a scenario and ask for the specific fine or deadline. Practice identifying keywords:
- "Negligent" or "failed to" = $750
- "Willful" or "intentionally" = $1,500
- "Thumbprint" or "peace officer" = $2,500
- "Identity" or "false acknowledgment" = $10,000
Next Steps: Test Your Knowledge
Now that you've reviewed the cheat sheet, test your memorization with our practice questions:
Start practicing now to ensure you can recall these numbers under exam conditions.
Last updated: January 2025. Based on the Official 2025 California Notary Public Handbook and Government Code § 8200-8230.