What identifies a California Notary Public?

The identification of a California Notary Public is primarily associated with the notary seal or stamp they use. This seal must include specific required information such as the notary's name, the title "Notary Public," the county in which they are commissioned, the commission number, and the expiration date of their commission. This seal is essential for authenticating official notarial acts and is a key tool in preventing fraud, ensuring that signers are who they claim to be, and providing a record of the notarization in question.

While a notary identification card or online profile registration may provide additional information or facilitate identification, they are not the official identifiers recognized by law. Similarly, a membership certificate from a local notary association is not a requirement or identifier governed by California notarial law. The notary seal or stamp functions as the formal identifier of the notary and is legally required for notarial acts to be deemed valid.