Government Code §8214.3 establishes the statute of limitations for civil actions against a California notary public. Any civil action arising from an official notarial act must be commenced within four years from the date the cause of action accrues — generally the date the improper notarial act was performed or the date the harm was discovered.
This four-year limitation applies to civil lawsuits for damages. It is separate from criminal statutes of limitations and from the Secretary of State's administrative power to investigate and discipline notaries, which may not be subject to the same time constraint.
Exam Tip: The four-year statute of limitations applies to civil actions — lawsuits by injured parties seeking damages. Do not confuse it with the four-year commission term. Both periods are four years, but they are entirely unrelated concepts.
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