Notary Registration and Bonds

The staff of the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor's Office are forbidden by California legal codes to practice law or provide legal advice; this prohibition includes giving advice about what forms you might need or how you should fill them out.

A notary public is a public official who performs valuable services to the legal, business, financial and real estate communities by certifying or witnessing signatures on official documents.

To become a California Notary Public, go to the Secretary of State Notary Public Division’s website at http://www.sos.ca.gov/notary

• Must be completed within 30 days of commission issuance date
• Notary bond with signature for $15,000 must be provided
• Bring Commission and 2 copies of Oath issued by Secretary of State
• Names on commission, bond, and oath must be exactly the same
• A notary can also take his/her oath before another notary in the county.
  • Call (707) 565-3800 for information about that process.
• Fees:
  • $50.00 for filing of the oath
  • $14.00 for first page of bond, and $3.00 each additional page, to record the bond

The Notary Public Index is available to be searched online with other Professional Registrations (select “Clerk Notary Oath” under Description to only see Notary filings). Information available includes the notary name, commission number and date, expiration date, bond information, business name (if applicable), phone, address, and the clerk filing number and date. 

To request line-item information from a notary journal that has been surrendered to the Clerk’s Office, email ClerkRecorder@sonomacounty.gov.