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California Notary Public Exam · Misconduct and Fees

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California Notary Public Exam Notary Fees Summary

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About 5 of 15 Misconduct and Fees questions (35%)

How the state sets maximum notary fees, when no fee may be charged, and how fees are recorded.

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Notary Fees: must-know points

  • Government Code section 8211 sets maximum fees; a notary may charge less or nothing.
  • Acknowledgment fees are charged for each signature taken.
  • No fee may be charged for vote-by-mail ballot materials or veterans' benefit claims.
  • The fee charged is recorded in the journal; charging more than the law allows is misconduct.

Notary Fees: 10 sample questions

Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 1. What do the fees listed in Government Code section 8211 represent?

  1. ① The maximum a notary may charge; a notary may charge less or nothing
  2. ② The minimum a notary must charge
  3. ③ Suggested fees that a notary may go above
  4. ④ The exact amount every notary must charge
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Answer: ① The maximum a notary may charge; a notary may charge less or nothing

Key point: Fees in 8211 are maximums

Government Code section 8211 sets the maximum fee for each notarial act. A notary may charge less or waive the fee, but may not charge more.

Wrong choices

  • The minimum a notary must charge: There is no minimum fee.
  • Suggested fees that a notary may go above: A notary may not charge more than the listed amount.
  • The exact amount every notary must charge: The fees are limits, not required prices.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 2. May a notary charge a fee to notarize a signature on a vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope?

  1. ① No, no fee may be charged for voting materials
  2. ② Yes, but only for a travel fee
  3. ③ Yes, but only half the regular fee
  4. ④ Yes, the regular acknowledgment fee
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Answer: ① No, no fee may be charged for voting materials

Key point: No fee for vote-by-mail materials

No fee may be charged to notarize signatures on vote-by-mail ballot identification envelopes or other voting materials.

Wrong choices

  • Yes, but only for a travel fee: No fee may be charged for notarizing voting materials.
  • Yes, but only half the regular fee: No fee of any amount is allowed.
  • Yes, the regular acknowledgment fee: The law forbids any fee for voting materials.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 3. A U.S. military veteran needs a notarization on an application for veterans' benefits. What may the notary charge?

  1. ① Only the cost of the journal entry
  2. ② Nothing
  3. ③ The regular maximum fee
  4. ④ Half of the regular fee
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Answer: ② Nothing

Key point: Veterans' benefit claims are free

No fee may be charged to a U.S. military veteran for notarizing an application or claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance, or other veteran's benefit.

Wrong choices

  • Only the cost of the journal entry: No fee may be charged.
  • The regular maximum fee: No fee may be charged for veterans' benefit applications.
  • Half of the regular fee: No fee of any amount is allowed.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 4. Two people sign the same grant deed, and each has their signature acknowledged. How is the acknowledgment fee counted?

  1. ① The maximum fee applies to each signature taken
  2. ② One fee per notarial certificate, regardless of signers
  3. ③ One fee per page of the document
  4. ④ One fee per document, no matter how many signers
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Answer: ① The maximum fee applies to each signature taken

Key point: Acknowledgment fee is per signature

Government Code section 8211 sets the acknowledgment fee for each signature taken. With two signers, the notary may charge up to the maximum for each signature.

Wrong choices

  • One fee per notarial certificate, regardless of signers: The fee is counted for each signature taken.
  • One fee per page of the document: Pages do not matter for the acknowledgment fee.
  • One fee per document, no matter how many signers: The fee is set per signature, not per document.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 5. Where must the notary record the fee charged for a notarization?

  1. ① Nowhere, because fees are private
  2. ② On the back of the notarized document
  3. ③ On a separate receipt book only
  4. ④ In the notary journal entry for that act
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Answer: ④ In the notary journal entry for that act

Key point: Fee charged goes in the journal

Each journal entry must include the fee charged for the notarial service.

Wrong choices

  • Nowhere, because fees are private: The fee charged is a required journal item.
  • On the back of the notarized document: The fee is recorded in the journal, not on the document.
  • On a separate receipt book only: The law requires the fee in the journal.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 6. Who sets the maximum fees California notaries may charge for notarial acts?

  1. ① The county clerk in each county
  2. ② Each notary, based on local prices
  3. ③ State law, in the Government Code
  4. ④ The notary's employer
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Answer: ③ State law, in the Government Code

Key point: State law sets notary fee limits

The maximum fees for notarial acts are set by state law in Government Code section 8211. They are the same everywhere in California.

Wrong choices

  • The county clerk in each county: County clerks do not set notary fees.
  • Each notary, based on local prices: Notaries may not set fees above the legal maximum.
  • The notary's employer: Employers do not set legal fee limits.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 7. A veteran asks a notary to notarize a grant deed for the sale of his house. Which statement is correct?

  1. ① The notary may charge only if the veteran's benefits are denied
  2. ② The notary may not charge anything because the signer is a veteran
  3. ③ The notary must charge double because it is real property
  4. ④ The notary may charge the normal fee, because the free rule covers only veterans' benefit claims
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Answer: ④ The notary may charge the normal fee, because the free rule covers only veterans' benefit claims

Key point: Free rule is for benefit claims only

The no-fee rule applies to notarizing a veteran's application or claim for veterans' benefits. Other documents a veteran signs, such as a grant deed, may be charged the normal fee.

Wrong choices

  • The notary may charge only if the veteran's benefits are denied: The fee does not depend on benefits.
  • The notary may not charge anything because the signer is a veteran: The no-fee rule covers benefit applications and claims, not every document a veteran signs.
  • The notary must charge double because it is real property: No law requires a double fee.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 8. A notary regularly charges more than the maximum fees allowed by law. What may the Secretary of State do?

  1. ① Nothing, because fees are a private matter
  2. ② Only require the notary to post a sign
  3. ③ Raise the notary's bond to $50,000
  4. ④ Refuse, suspend, or revoke the notary's commission
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Answer: ④ Refuse, suspend, or revoke the notary's commission

Key point: Overcharging can cost the commission

Charging more than the fees prescribed by law is one of the grounds on which the Secretary of State may refuse to appoint, suspend, or revoke a notary's commission.

Wrong choices

  • Nothing, because fees are a private matter: Overcharging is a listed ground for discipline.
  • Only require the notary to post a sign: The law allows much stronger action.
  • Raise the notary's bond to $50,000: The bond amount does not change as a penalty.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 9. What is the most a notary may charge per page for a photocopy of a journal line item requested in writing by a member of the public?

  1. ① 30 cents
  2. ② $1
  3. ③ Nothing, copies must be free
  4. ④ 10 cents
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Answer: ① 30 cents

Key point: Journal copy: up to 30 cents a page

When a member of the public makes a proper written request, the notary supplies a photocopy of the journal line item for no more than 30 cents per page.

Wrong choices

  • $1: One dollar is more than the law allows.
  • Nothing, copies must be free: The law allows a charge of up to 30 cents per page.
  • 10 cents: Ten cents is less than the limit; the maximum is 30 cents.
Practice questionReviewedMisconduct and Fees › Notary Fees★★★★☆

Question 10. What does the jurat fee in Government Code section 8211 cover?

  1. ① All jurats on one document, no matter how many people swear
  2. ② Only the oath, with the jurat certificate charged separately
  3. ③ Only the seal, with the oath charged separately
  4. ④ Administering the oath or affirmation to one person and completing the jurat, including the seal
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Answer: ④ Administering the oath or affirmation to one person and completing the jurat, including the seal

Key point: Jurat fee: one person, oath + jurat + seal

The jurat fee covers administering an oath or affirmation to one person and executing the jurat, including the seal. Each additional person sworn may be charged a separate fee.

Wrong choices

  • All jurats on one document, no matter how many people swear: The jurat fee is set for one person.
  • Only the oath, with the jurat certificate charged separately: The fee includes completing the jurat.
  • Only the seal, with the oath charged separately: The fee includes the oath, the jurat, and the seal.

Test yourself.

Notary Fees: 5 questions →Misconduct and Fees: 5 questions →