Notary Insights & Guidance

Wondering how long it takes to get your California notary commission? Processing times fluctuate throughout the year. Here's what applicants are experiencing in 2025 — and how to avoid delays.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is now legally authorized in California under SB 696. Here's a practical breakdown of the platform requirements and the steps you need to take to offer online notarizations.

A new 2025 law requires the California Secretary of State to notify every notary public at least 30 days before their commission expires. Here's what this means for your renewal timeline.

Getting commissioned is just the beginning. These seven proven tips will help you turn your notary commission into a consistent, professional income stream.

Identity verification is the single most important step in every notarization. California law specifies exactly which IDs are acceptable — and the consequences of getting it wrong can be severe.

Operating outside your authority as a notary can result in disciplinary action, lawsuits, and even criminal charges. This guide clarifies exactly where your legal boundaries lie.

Even experienced notaries make avoidable errors that can invalidate a document, trigger a complaint, or cost a client a real estate closing. Learn the five mistakes that appear most often — and exactly how to prevent them.

Your notary journal is your most important legal record. One missing entry can result in disciplinary action or even loss of your commission. Here's exactly what the law requires.

California's Senate Bill 696 officially authorizes notaries to perform notarial acts via audio-video technology — a landmark change to state law. Here's everything you need to know.