Secretary of State
Notary Public Application
Important Read instructions before completing this application.
Appl ID (For Filing Officer’s Use Only)
1. Applicants Information
a. Social Security Number /Individual Taxpayer Identification No. b. Date of Birth c. Driver’s License or ID
d. Full Legal Name: First Name Middle Name Last Name
2. Commission Name Print your name exactly as you want it shown on your commission. Your legal last name must match the last name shown on your
commission.
First Name Middle Name Last Name
3. Applicant’s Business and Residence Information
a. Name of Principal Place of Business
b. County where business is located (no abbreviations)
c. Telephone Number
( )
d. Business Location Address - Do not list a P.O. Box
City (no abbreviations) State
CA
Zip Code
e. Mailing Address, if different than item 3d
City State Zip Code
f. Residence Address - Do not list a P.O. Box
City (no abbreviations) State
CA
Zip Code
4. Background Information Attach additional pages, if necessary.
a. List any names(s) previously used.
b. Provide all details if you have been held liable by a court in any suit based on fraud or misrepresentation, failure to discharge the duties of a notary public, or violation of state regulatory law.
c. Provide all details relating to any professional license or notary public commission denied, revoked, restricted or suspended.
d. List all convictions by any court of a misdemeanor, or a felony, and provide all details for any arrest or citation for an offense for which a trial is pending.
5. Signature and Execution
I understand that any misstatements or omissions of material facts will result in the denial of my notary public
application or revocation of my notary public commission and possible criminal liability.
I declare that I am a legal California resident, or I am a federal civil service employee who is a United States citizen
being appointed and commissioned on behalf of a military reservation.
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date: Signature:
For Filing Officers Use Only
SOS/NP-30 (REV 08/2016) 2016 California Secretary of State
www.sos.ca.gov/notary
Instructions for Completing Form SOS/NP-30
Notary Public Application
Read all instructions and information carefully. Questions regarding this application should be directed to the Notary Public
Section at (916) 653-3595.
Complete in full the Notary Public Application.
Only your official signature should be written, all other information should be typed or printed legibly in blue or black ink.
Attach to this application a 2” x 2” color passport photograph of yourself.
Attach to this application the proof of completion certificate (3-hour or 6-hour) received from the notary public education
course provider.
Complete the Notary Public Application (Form SOS/NP-30) as follows:
Item Instruction Tips
1a. Enter your full social security number or your individual
taxpayer identification number.
1b. Enter the month, day and year you were born.
1c. Enter your drivers license number or, if you do not have a
driver’s license, enter your California identification number.
1d. Enter your full name; first, middle, last and suffix (Sr., Jr., III,
etc.) if applicable.
Note: This name is public information and will be provided to
the public upon request.
Do not alter your last name in any way. The name
entered will be used for identification purposes and
must match your picture identification used for entry
to the examination.
If you do not have a middle name, enter “NMN” in
the appropriate space.
If your first or middle name consists of an initial
only, enter “Initial Only” following the initial.
2. Type or print your name exactly as you want it to appear on
your commission.
The first and middle names may include initials;
however, a full last name is required.
Your legal last name must match the last name
shown on your commission. A full last name is
required. If your last name is “Smith-Jones”, you
must enter “Smith-Jones”. The use of “Smith” or
“Jones” by itself is unacceptable.
Titles and quotes are not acceptable.
When you file your oath and bond with the county
clerk, you will be required to present identification
that must substantially match the requested
commission name.
3a. Enter the name of your business.
If you do not work for a business, do not have a
business name, or you are unemployed, enter “Self
employed” or “Self”.
3b. Enter the name of your county where your business is
located.
Do not abbreviate the name of the county.
If you are unemployed, enter the name of the
county that you live in.
3c. Enter the telephone number for your business.
This is optional information only.
3d. Enter the street address of your business where you will
perform 50% of more of your notary public duties.
Enter t
he city and zip code of your business location address.
Note: This address is public information and will be provided
t
o the public upon request.
Do not enter a P.O. Box number.
Do not abbreviate the name of the city.
If you are unemployed, enter your residence
address.
If you are self-employed, enter the address where
you work.
3e. Enter the address where you would like to receive notary
public information, if different than your business address.
Note: This address is public information and will be posted on
our
website.
Your notary public commission will be mailed to this
address.
The mailing address may be a P.O. Box.
SOS/NP-30 (REV 08/2016) 2016 California Secretary of State
www.sos.ca.gov/notary
3f. Enter your residence address.
Note: This address is public information and will be provided
to the public upon request.
Enter the address where you live.
Do not enter a P.O. Box number.
4a. Enter any other name(s) you have used.
This includes maiden name(s), prior married
name(s), name used prior to U.S. citizenship,
previous domestic partnership name(s), etc.
4.b If you have been held liable by a court in any civil proceeding
based on fraud or misrepresentation, failure to discharge the
duties of a notary public, or violation of state regulatory law
provide all details in the space provided.
Your application may be rejected if lawsuits exist
and you do not provide the information.
Attach additional page(s), if necessary.
4c. If applicable, enter the following information:
Type of license;
The name under which the license was issued;
The date and reason of the revocation, denial,
suspension, restriction; and,
The name and address of the licensing agency.
Do not include information about the loss or
suspension of a driver’s license.
Your application may be rejected if you do not
provide the information.
Attach additional page(s), if necessary.
4d. If applicable, enter the following information:
Enter the date and place where arrested or cited;
Whether the conviction was for a misdemeanor or a
felony;
The name of the court and court case number;
The sentence imposed; and,
The date you were released from probation, parole, or
incarceration.
Note: The only exceptions are traffic infractions, offenses
adjudicated in a juvenile court or under a youthful offender
law, and any incident that has been sealed under Welfare and
Institutions Code section 781 or Penal Code section 1203.45
(juvenile offenses).
DUI’s must be disclosed.
You must disclose any criminal charges pending in
any court of law.
All convictions must be disclosed, regardless of
when or where occurring, even if you disclosed the
conviction on a previous application for a notary
public commission.
Convictions that have been dismissed or expunged
pursuant to Penal Code sections 1203.4 or 1203.4a
also must be disclosed, regardless of the basis for
expungement.
Attach additional page(s), if necessary.
To determine whether you have a conviction that
may disqualify you for obtaining a notary public
commission, refer to the disciplinary guidelines
at www.sos.ca.gov/notary/disciplinary-guidelines
for
a list of the most common disqualifying convictions.
5. Enter the date signed.
Sign your name in the space provided.
Note: This application is signed under penalty of perjury and
must be signed.
Include the month, day and year.
You must be a legal resident of California or a
federal civil service employee, who is a United
States citizen being appointed and commissioned
on behalf of a military base or military installation
located within California.
Privacy Notification
Civil Code section 1798.17 requires notice be provided when collecting personal and confidential information from
individuals. Each individual has a right to review the personal information maintained by the Secretary of State relating to
that individual, unless access is exempted by law. Upon request, the Secretary of State will inform any individual regarding
the location of the individual's records and the category of persons who use the information contained in those records.
To obtain this information, contact Custodian of Records, Notary Public Section, P.O. Box 942877, Sacramento, California
94277-0001, Telephone (916) 653-3595. California Government Code section 8201.1 requires and authorizes collection of
the application information and fingerprints. The information is mandatory unless otherwise noted. If all, or any part of the
required information is not provided, processing of the application may be delayed until the required information has been
provided, or the application may be denied.
The principal purposes for collecting and using this information are: (1) To determine the fitness of persons to serve in the
capacity of notary public; (2) To determine if any disqualifying crimes have been committed by applicants; and (3) To enable
the Secretary of State to carry out the duties required by law. Information on this form filed by the applicant with the
Secretary of State, except for the name and address, is confidential and no record can be divulged by an employee having
access to the record to any person other than the applicant, his/her authorized representative, an employee or officer of the
federal government, the state government, or a local agency, as defined in California Government Code section 6252(b),
acting in his/her official capacity, or by order of court. The names and addresses listed in Items 1, 2, and 3 are public
information and will be provided to the public upon request.
SOS/NP-30 (REV 08/2016) 2016 California Secretary of State
www.sos.ca.gov/notary