Fee Remission Agreement (Government Code §8202.7 / §8202.8)

Two related statutes govern the relationship between private employers and their notary employees:

§8202.7 permits a private employer to pay for the notary's surety bond, seal, journal, and related supplies. In exchange, the agreement may require the notary to remit all notarial fees collected during ordinary working hours to the employer.

§8202.8 allows the same employer — once a §8202.7 agreement is in place — to limit the notary's services during working hours solely to transactions related to the employer's business purposes. An employer under this arrangement can instruct the notary not to serve outside clients during the workday.

Neither statute changes the ownership of the journal or seal. Those remain the exclusive property of the notary, regardless of who paid for them. The employer may never demand their surrender — upon employment termination or at any other time.

Exam Tip: Can an employer restrict who the notary serves? Yes — during work hours, under §8202.8. Can the employer keep the journal or seal at termination? No — ever. These two rules are tested together frequently.