$15
Maximum fee per notarial act
California permits a notary public to charge up to $15 for each acknowledgment, jurat, or other authorized notarial act.
California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, 2026California reference page
California Notary and Apostille Facts
Clear, source-linked figures for people researching California notarization, document authentication, and bilingual document support.
Last updated September 9, 2026
What this covers
Useful numbers. Primary sources.
Notary requirements can change, and apostille rules depend on the document and destination. This page collects current, quotable facts from California state and international public sources. It is a reference, not legal advice.
4 years
Length of a California notary commission
A California notary public commission lasts four years. A new application and appointment are required for each new term.
California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, 2026$15,000
Required surety bond amount
Before a commission can be filed, a California notary public must obtain a $15,000 surety bond.
California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, 202630 days
Time to file commission documents
After a commission begins, the notary has 30 days to file the oath of office and bond with the county clerk.
California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, 20266 hours
Initial education requirement
New California notary applicants must complete a six-hour approved course of study before taking the state examination.
California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, 202644.4%
California residents speaking another language at home
In California, 44.4% of people age five and older spoke a language other than English at home in the 2020-2024 Census estimate.
U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts, 2020-202422.8 million
Apostilles issued worldwide
Competent authorities worldwide issued 22,814,399 apostilles in 2024, the latest year reported in the Hague Conference's statistical overview.
Hague Conference on Private International Law, Apostille Statistics, 2024130
Apostille Convention members
The Apostille Convention had 130 Contracting Parties as of the Hague Conference status table updated June 30, 2026.
Hague Conference on Private International Law, Status Table, June 30, 2026Sources and method
How to use this page
Every figure above links to its named source and date. State notary facts come from the California Secretary of State's current Notary Public Handbook. Language data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. Apostille figures come from the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
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