What documents cannot be notarized in California?

Asked by: Miss Carmela Sporer  |  Last update: May 6, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (46 votes)

Documents That Can't be Notarized
  • Documents with blank or missing pages.
  • Documents with faxed signatures (the signer must be present)
  • Documents in which the notary has a financial interest or is not impartial for some other reason.
  • Documents the notary suspects are false, deceptive, or illegal.
  • Post-dated documents.

What makes a notarized document invalid in California?

A notarized document can be invalid if it has missing signatures, improper identification, incorrect or missing notary seals, or an incomplete notary section.

What is the new law for notary in California?

A new law taking effect January 1, 2025, allows a “disinterested custodian” of an electronic record to certify a tangible copy of the electronic record before a Notary. The FAQ below explains how this new law affects California Notaries and what to do if asked to perform this type of notarization.

What is a notary prohibited from?

Notaries cannot authenticate or validate objects. Notaries cannot give advice or opinions that should be given by an attorney—this is unlicensed practice of law.

What documents can a California notary certify?

California Notaries may only certify copies of powers of attorney, or copies of the Notary's own journal entries if requested by the Secretary of State or a court.

What documents cannot be notarized?

33 related questions found

Can you notarize a birth certificate in California?

Can I notarize a vital record? Customers most commonly ask if Notaries can certify a photocopy of a vital record. Unfortunately, Notaries cannot do this.

Which of the following documents require notarization?

Some of the most common types of documents needing to be notarized are: Articles of incorporation. Real estate contracts and property deeds. Legal affidavits.

Can you notarize your family documents?

“In California, a notary public is not prohibited from notarizing for relatives or others, unless doing so would provide a direct financial or beneficial interest to the notary public.

Can I notarize a document that is already signed in California?

It's important for the document to be unsigned prior to notarization for the process to be properly conducted. If already signed, the signer might need to re-sign in the presence of the notary.

What can notaries not charge for?

Some states prohibit their notaries from charging or collecting a fee for notarizing a signature on any absentee ballot or absentee voter registration.

Can I notarize a handwritten document in California?

What was permissible and legal in early times is still legal today; Notaries are allowed to notarize handwritten documents. Besides, it is technically the signer's signature that is notarized, not the document. And, signatures are almost always handwritten.

What is the maximum a notary can charge in California?

Public notaries, often found at government offices, banks, and courthouses, usually offer services at state-regulated prices. They adhere to California state laws, ensuring a maximum charge of $15 per signature.

What happens if you don t turn in your notary journal in California?

Willful failure to deliver the notary journal and other notarial records to the county clerk within the appropriate time is a misdemeanor, and the notary public is personally liable for damages to any person injured by the non-delivery. (California Government Code section 8209(a).)

What is the most common mistake made by a notary?

One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.

Can a CA notary notarize a will?

In summary, California law does not allow a will to be notarized instead of witnessed. The state's clear and specific requirements for witnesses are in place to protect the validity and authenticity of your will.

Can you notarize with an expired ID in California?

In California, any signer ID allowed under CA law must either be current or, if expired, must have been issued within the past five years. An expired ID that was issued more than five years prior to the date the notarization takes place may not be accepted.

Can you notarize your own documents in California?

Notarizing your own documents is prohibited in all 50 states. This means that a notary cannot legally notarize their own documents. If a notary needs to have a document notarized, they will need to contact a commissioned, third-party notary public to carry out the transaction.

Can I notarize a document dated in the past?

Remember that under no circumstances are you permitted to backdate or otherwise falsify the date a signature is notarized, regardless of whether the document has a separate date on it or not.

Can a notary witness a signature by video?

Please note that RON procedures may vary depending on state laws, and not all states permit Notaries to perform remote online notarizations. For example, California does not permit its Notaries to perform RONs, and South Carolina does not address RON in its Notary laws.

Can a wife notarize her husband's signature?

California notaries public may notarize documents for their family members since it's not directly prohibited by law.

Can a notary notarize for a family member in California?

Yes. A California Notary may perform a notarization for a family member as long as the Notary is not taking the Notary's acknowledgment or affidavit and does not have a direct financial or beneficial interest in from the transaction (Gov't Code 8224 and 8224.1).

Can a notary notarize for themselves?

2. A notary public cannot be a disinterested party or an impartial witness when his or her own documents are involved. Notaries public cannot legally notarize their own documents or take their own acknowledgment because they cannot be an impartial witness or a disinterested party to a transaction.

Can I get anything notarized?

Virtually any document can be notarized. However, exceptions are vital records such as a birth, marriage and death certificates. Notaries can't make or certify copies of these records. You must go to the government agency that issued the certificate to get copies.

Does California allow online notary?

Yes, your remotely notarized documents can be electronically recorded in California. Visit https://www.firstlegal.com/live-erecording-counties/ for a current list of counties that accept eRecording.

How long is a notarized document valid in California?

In summary, notarized documents do not expire and remain valid indefinitely unless there are specific laws or regulations that require them to be updated or renewed. It is important to understand your local laws in order to ensure that all documents remain up-to-date and legally binding.