Statewide Jurisdiction

A California notary commission grants authority that extends to every county in the state (Government Code §8200). The county listed on the commission and the county where the oath and bond are filed is the notary's principal place of business — it does not restrict where the notary may work. A notary commissioned in Los Angeles County may lawfully notarize a document in San Francisco, Sacramento, or any other California county.

The venue on the notarial certificate must reflect the county where the act actually took place — not the notary's home county and not the county where the document will be filed. A Los Angeles notary who performs a notarization in San Diego must write "County of San Diego" in the venue.

California notaries have no authority outside California's borders. Performing a notarial act in another state — even if that state's law would permit it — without a separate commission from that state is unauthorized and void.

Exam Tip: Two consistent exam traps: (1) stating that a notary can only work in the county of their commission — false; and (2) suggesting that a notary can use their California commission to notarize documents in Nevada or Arizona — also false. Jurisdiction ends at the state line.