CA Notary Prep California Notary Exam

California notary glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms a California notary meets on the exam and on the job. Each is written from the public California Notary Public Handbook and the underlying law.

Quick answer

What is the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat?

An acknowledgment confirms a signer's identity and willing signature on a document already signed, and does not require an oath. A jurat requires the signer to sign in front of the notary and swear or affirm under oath that the document's contents are true. Using the wrong one is a common notary error, since each has its own required wording and process.

Acknowledgment
A notarial act in which the signer personally appears before the notary, is identified, and declares that they signed a document willingly for the purposes stated in it. The signer does not have to sign in the notary's presence, but must acknowledge that the signature is theirs.
Commission
The authority granted by the California Secretary of State that lets a person act as a notary public. A California commission lasts four years and does not renew automatically. It takes effect only after the notary files the oath of office and the surety bond with the county clerk, and it must be renewed before it expires to keep working.
Credible witness
A person a notary may rely on to establish the identity of a signer who lacks acceptable identification documents. The witness personally knows the signer, takes an oath as to the signer's identity, and must themselves be identified by the notary under the rules in the California Notary Public Handbook.
Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance
An optional insurance policy that protects the notary personally against financial liability for an honest mistake made during a notarial act. California does not require it. It is distinct from the required $15,000 surety bond, which protects the public rather than the notary. Signing services that hire loan signing agents commonly require an E&O policy at a set coverage level.
Jurat
A notarial act in which the signer personally appears, is identified, signs the document in the notary's presence, and takes an oath or affirmation that the contents are true. Unlike an acknowledgment, a jurat requires the signature to be made in front of the notary and an oath to be administered.
Live Scan
The electronic fingerprint-based background check California notary applicants must complete through the California Department of Justice. Fingerprints are submitted electronically and the results are used in the commission's background review. Processing can take up to approximately four weeks.
Loan signing agent (LSA)
A commissioned notary who specializes in notarizing and guiding borrowers through mortgage and real-estate loan document packages, usually as an independent contractor for signing services or title companies. California requires no separate state LSA license, though signing services commonly expect a background screening and errors-and-omissions insurance.
Notarial act
An official act a notary is authorized to perform, most commonly taking an acknowledgment or administering an oath for a jurat, and also acts such as certifying copies where permitted. Each act has its own rules for who must appear, how they are identified, and which certificate is completed. State law caps the maximum fee a notary may charge per act.
Notary journal
The sequential, chronological record a California notary is required to keep of every notarial act performed. It captures details such as the date, the type of act, the document, and how the signer was identified. The journal is the notary's primary evidence that an act was done correctly, and it is protected and surrendered under specific rules.
Notary seal
The official stamp a California notary uses to authenticate a notarized document. Its format and content are set by state rules, and the notary is responsible for keeping it secure and using it only for authorized acts. The seal is required equipment, purchased by the notary at market price, along with the sequential journal.
Oath of office
The formal oath a new or renewing California notary takes and files with the county clerk, together with the surety bond, within 30 calendar days of the commission commencing. Filing the oath and bond is what actually activates the commission. Miss the window and the commission does not take effect, and the notary must start the process over.
Surety bond
The fifteen thousand dollar bond a California notary must file with the county clerk before the commission takes effect. It protects the public, not the notary: if the notary causes financial harm through misconduct, the surety pays the claim and then seeks repayment from the notary. The bond amount is set by statute; the premium is market-priced and separate.