Understanding California's 2023 Notary Public Handbook (Part 5, Interim)

This is Part 5 of a series where I am sharing my experience and notes from reading the the evaluation of the California Notary Public Handbook, a tool written to assist in the interpretation of the various Codes that impact the work of a notary public in California.

In Part 1, we examined notes in the categories of the timeline of the application, the locations in which a notary may practice, and the location of the relevant codification in the California Government code.

In Part 2, we looked at the section on Notary seals; including where to keep them, embosser-style seals, and exceptions to using a seal.

In Part 3, we touched on repercussions, identification, and the note on journal notes.

In Part 4, we examined our thoughts on the section of credible witnesses and determined we made some incorrect notes on the notes which were then adjusted.

I know there was a note in the last article about this one being ready within the week, but it has been 23 days since I last published...there have been new developments!

Since the last post had been initially penned, I have attended the 6 hour mandatory California training and taken the test! I realized how different the test was going to be versus the way I was studying and analyzing, so I was very grateful for the class beforehand. I will still continue this series.

The next article will be starting with my notes from Page 9. The entire handbook is 54 pages. 50 pages if we don't count the index. And only 23 pages if we do not delve into the appendices with the Government Code, the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the smaller sections of the Probate Code, the Elections Code, the Commercial Code, the Penal Code, and the Business and Professional Code.

I have dubbed this article Part 5, Interim, as I will not be directly analyzing notes from the Handbook, but providing a general overview of the class, test experience, and some of the other prep I've been doing in the background that has taken priority over posting these articles.

Both the class and the test were held at a hotel in one of the conference rooms. I was very glad I got the package deal for fingerprints and picture, as it was so very convenient to get it all done in one place. It wasn't until days later that I found out how complicated some of the steps are. Getting the right forms for the LiveScan and submitting them to the correct place would have been a huge headache and just navigating the sites to understand the process more thoroughly is a bit daunting. Class ran for about 3 hours, then a lunch break, and then another 3 hours. We needed to fully vacate the room in order for it to be re-set and we would be checked in for the test as we came through the doors. It has been a very, very long time since I have taken a ScanTron test. It has been even longer since I had had a serious proctored test. My guess is the last time was when I took the ACT in 2001 (I think I got a 28 and I was pretty happy with that). The amount of power those proctors have over a room of nervous test-takers was an odd feeling to experience again.

During the class portion, we were given a workbook that we filled in as they gave the presentation. I had registered the class and presentation through the National Notary Association (NNA) and the instructors were from the organization. While the classes booked through the NNA are slightly more expensive than through other educators (see the article on my trials and tribulations of finding a good notary public education vendors), I later found out that those were the classes that would be reimbursed by my workplace. While I will be part of the notary pool for my employer, I've also found that there can be a good career in being a mobile notary, as well.

Due to all the research I've been doing about how to be a notary, there is a lot of material out there on how to be your own small business as a notary and I have begun the process of setting up my own. One of the things that is made known in the Handbook and the Code that it is an actual crime to advertise oneself as a notary if you are not. So, while I am in the process of becoming a notary, I am not one yet.

I am, however, an individual with a degree in Library Science specializing in Archives and Records Management. I have begun to set up a website in my own little corner of the digital world, Citrus Signings, Data Management Solutions.

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This is the end of Part 5 of a multi-part series of articles on my notes and impressions of the California 2023 Notary Public Handbook, and in this section, the class, test and general thoughts.

Part 1 can be found here; Understanding California's 2023 Notary Public Handbook (Part 1)

Part 2 can be found here: Understanding California's 2023 Notary Public Handbook (Part 2)

Part 3 can be found here: Understanding California's 2023 Notary Public Handbook (Part 3)

Part 4 can be found here: Understanding California's 2023 Notary Public Handbook (Part 4)

Part 6 should be available with in the week.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that--at no additional cost to you--I may earn a small commission. All opinions expressed here are my own.