Registering as a Notary Public

For information on becoming a notary public, please contact the Secretary of State (916) 653-3595 or at their web site www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/notary.htm

All notary public applicants must file the official bond and oath of office in the office of the County Clerk in the county which the applicant maintains their principal place of business. This must be done within 30 calendar days of the commission’s starting date. The 30-day period cannot be extended for any reason.

To file a Notary Public application in person, please bring the following:

1. Current, legal photo identification such as a driver’s license or passport
2. Original commission certificate
3. Two oath of office forms, unsigned
4. An original bond in the amount of $15,000.00, signed by you as the principal. Your name must match your certificate exactly. If your certificate has your full middle name, your bond must also show your full middle name.
5. Filing fees (cash, check, cashier’s check, money order, or debit:$2.50 additional debit terminal usage fee
   • $12.00 Filing Fee
   • $ 9.00 Recording Fee
   • $ 3.00 each additional page after the first page
   • $ 1.00 conformed copy if requested by customer
6. Filing may be completed at any of our five locations. Office hours are from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

To file a Notary Public application by certified mail, please send the following:

1. A photocopy of your Notary Commission,
2. The two Notary Oaths, signed with your usual signature and notarized in the county of which you were commissioned,
3. The original bond, signed with your usual signature.
4. A letter requesting a conformed copy. Please include a phone number in which you may be reached during business hours
5. Fees may vary depending upon the bond. It is our suggestion that you print “not to exceed $30.00 at the bottom of the check”. We will calculate the costs and indicate that amount on your check. We will return the receipt with the conformed copy.
6. Checks should be made payable to: San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk
7. Please mail your documents and payment to:
   
   San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk
   P.O. Box 121750
   San Diego, Ca 92112-1750

The Clerk’s office will verify documents, file and record the bond. It will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks for the original bond to be returned to you.

The notarization may begin once the documents have been filed with the County Clerk’s office and the commission date has become effective.

Notary Authentication

You may have a San Diego County notary’s signature authenticated either by coming in person to any of our 5 offices or by mailing the entire, completed document to us. The cost is $5.00 per signature authenticated.
Our mailing address is:

San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk
P.O. Box 121750
San Diego, CA 92112-1750