Where Can a California Notary Perform Notarizations?

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Key Takeaways

• A California notary can perform notarizations anywhere within the state, not just in the county where the oath and bond were filed (Government Code § 8200)
• The venue on the notarial certificate reflects where the signer appeared before you, not your home county
• You cannot perform notarizations outside California, even for California residents or California documents
• A California notary commission does not transfer to another state

Your Jurisdiction Is the Entire State

Government Code § 8200 defines the geographic jurisdiction of a California notary: the State of California. That means you can notarize documents in San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, or anywhere else within the state’s borders. Your commission is not limited to the county where you filed your oath and bond.

This surprises some notaries, especially those who work for employers in a single location. If your office is in Los Angeles County and you filed your oath and bond there, you can still notarize a document for someone who appears before you in Orange County, Kern County, or any other California county. Your commission goes where you go.

Mobile notaries rely on this rule. A mobile notary based in San Francisco can drive to San Jose for a signing, notarize the documents there, and drive home. The notarization is valid because it took place within California.

How the Venue Works on Notarial Certificates

Every notarial certificate includes a venue heading: “State of California, County of ___________.”

The county in the venue is the county where the signer personally appeared before you at the time of the notarization. Not your filing county, not where your office is, not where the property is located. A signing at a Riverside County coffee shop gets a Riverside County venue.

Signing agents sometimes encounter documents with pre-printed venue information that does not match where the signing takes place. If the venue says “County of Los Angeles” but you are meeting the signer in San Bernardino County, you need to correct the venue before completing the notarization. Cross out the incorrect county, write the correct one, and initial the change.

You Cannot Notarize Outside California

Your commission authorizes you to act as a notary within California. Outside California, your commission is invalid. You cannot notarize in another state for any reason.

If someone needs a notarization in another state, they need to find a notary commissioned in that state. Each state sets its own requirements for notaries and grants authority only within its borders.

The same rule applies internationally. A California notary commission does not extend to other countries. If an American living in Mexico needs a document notarized, they need to visit the U.S. embassy or consulate, where a consular officer can perform the notarization.

What About Documents From Other States?

You can notarize a document that originated in another state or that will be filed in another state, as long as the notarization itself takes place within California. The signer appears before you in California, you verify their identity under California law, and you complete a California notarial certificate. The document can then be sent wherever it needs to go.

Loan signings create this situation regularly. A borrower in California signs documents related to property in Texas. The signing takes place in California, the notarization is performed by a California notary under California law, and the documents are sent to Texas for recording.

Electronic and Remote Notarization Jurisdiction

California does not currently authorize remote online notarization (RON) for its notaries. Several other states do. This creates a common question: can a notary commissioned in a RON state (like Virginia or Florida) notarize a document for a signer located in California via video call?

The answer depends on the laws of the state that commissioned the notary. Some RON states allow their notaries to perform remote notarizations for signers located anywhere in the world. Others restrict RON to signers located within their state. California’s stance is that it does not authorize its own notaries to perform RON, but it generally recognizes out-of-state notarizations that are valid where performed.

Common Jurisdiction Questions Answered

Can I notarize for someone visiting from another state?

Yes. As long as the person appears before you in California, you can notarize their signature. Their residency does not matter. A tourist from New York who needs a document notarized while visiting San Francisco can come to you. The notarization is governed by California law because it takes place in California.

Can I notarize while on vacation in another state?

No. Your commission only works within California. Leave your seal at home when you travel. If someone at your hotel finds out you are a notary and needs something notarized, you would need to direct them to a locally commissioned notary.

Does the venue have to match my commission county?

No. The venue reflects where the signer appeared before you, which is the physical location where the notarization took place. Your commission county (where you filed your oath and bond) appears on your seal, not in the venue of the notarial certificate.

Can I notarize at an airport or on a plane?

If you are at a California airport, yes. If you are in the air over California airspace, the legality is unclear. If you are over another state or international waters, no.

What if I move to a different county within California?

Government Code § 8213(b) allows you to file a new oath of office and bond (or a duplicate of the original bond) with the county clerk in your new county. You then need to obtain a new seal showing the new county within 30 days. Your commission stays the same.