Which type of documents can a California Notary Public notarize?

A California Notary Public can notarize any document as long as it is signed in their presence. This includes a wide variety of documents, such as legal documents, contracts, and agreements, regardless of their content. The primary duty of the notary is to verify the identity of the signers and ensure that they are signing voluntarily and understand the document they are signing.

While there are certain restrictions on documents like wills and trust documents—where notaries may not be able to provide specific legal advice or guidance—this does not prevent them from notarizing the signatures on such documents. The essential requirement is that the signer appears before the notary and signs the document in the notary's presence.

This approach allows for flexibility in the types of documents that can be notarized, as it is largely based on the act of witnessing the signature rather than the nature of the document itself. Thus, any document being notarized needs to meet the requirement of being signed in the presence of the notary to be valid.