Notary Public
In order to be appointed as a notary public, please contact the California Secretary of State, Notary Information at (916) 653-3595.
The Recorder-County Clerk’s office processes these registrations by appointment and certified mail only.
Once the commission has been issued, a person has 30 calendar days from the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission to take, subscribe, and file an oath of office and file a $15,000 surety bond with the County Clerk’s Office.
The commission does not take effect until the oath and bond are filed with the County Clerk’s Office. If the oath and bond are not filed within the 30-calendar-day time period, the commission will not be valid, and the person commissioned may not act as a notary public until a new appointment is obtained and the person has properly qualified within the 30-calendar-day time limit.
The filing must take place in the county where the notary public maintains a principal place of business as shown in the application on file with the Secretary of State. If the commission indicates a county other than San Bernardino, contact that county for further information regarding their filing and fee requirements.
GC8213(a) permits the filing of completed oaths and bonds by the applicable county clerk by certified mail. Exceptions are not made to the 30-day filing requirement due to mail service delays, county clerk mail processing delays, or for any other reason. If mailing an oath and bond to the county clerk, sufficient time must be allowed by the newly appointed notary public to ensure timely filing. (GC8212, 8213).
Duration of Commission
The term of office of a notary public is for four years commencing with the date specified in the commission.
How to obtain this service…
Send Via Certified Mail:
Step 1: Gather the following documents.
- Copy of notary commission certificate issued from the California Secretary of State
- Two (2) completed oaths of office, signed and subscribed before another notary public located in the same county where the filing is to take place
- Original bond in the amount of $15,000 indicating the same dates referenced on the oaths of office for a term of four (4) years and signed by notary (principal)
- Copy of bond to be conformed (optional) and a self-addressed, stamped envelope
- Document Cover Sheet to be added to the bond for recording and is to be completed with the return mailing address and document title of “Notary Public Bond”
Step 2: Mail-in your request.
Mail-in the following:
- Applicable Fees, payable with a preprinted check or money order
- Please include a daytime phone number including area code
- All documents gathered from Step 1.
Address:
San Bernardino County Clerk
222 W. Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022
NOTE: You may submit a “Not to exceed” check. The not-to-exceed amount must be written on the memo line as the clerk must write in the actual amount. Please make your preprinted check or money order made payable to “County Recorder”
Appointments are strongly encouraged and prioritized.
Step 1: Gather the following documents.
- Notary Commission Certificate issued from the California Secretary of State
- Two (2) oaths of office.
- Original bond in the amount of $15,000 indicating the same dates referenced on the oaths of office for a term of four (4) years and signed by notary (principal)
- Document Cover Sheet to be added to the bond for recording and is to be completed with the return mailing address and document title of “Notary Public Bond”
- Applicable Fees, payable with cash, preprinted check, money order, or card.
- Card payments are subject to a processing fee of 2.95% of the total transaction or a minimum of $2.00. American Express is not accepted.
Step 2: Book your appointment online.
Click on the link below to book your in-person appointment.
For Notary Service appointments at our Hesperia office, please call (909)387-8306.
Notary Public Filing: $55
Bond for Notary: $35
Recording: $14 (Plus $3 for each additional page)
Forms
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
|
Document Cover Sheet |