Posted by davidK on 4/22/06 1:51pm
Msg #115344

Restating - CA Notary, how long does it take?

Perhaps my question wasn't very clear.

I was asking for new and renewed notaries in CA to indicate under the current set of rules how long from start to finish is the commission process now taking. Three years ago it took about three months from application to ready to start working. To the new notary this year: is that still about the same amout of time?

Before July1, 2005 a renewing notary did not have to jump thru the hoops of a "re-education" class, etc. Given that there is probably more work to do at the SOS in Sacramento than before, I'm wondering if the previous approximately three month process to become a notary is now perhaps five or six months to renew a commission.

Reply by Anonymous on 4/22/06 1:54pm
Msg #115345

I took my exam 10/22/05 and did not receive my commission until after the 10th of January.

Reply by whitesatin on 4/22/06 3:53pm
Msg #115355

I took my test to renew in September '04 and received my renewed commission in the mail beginning of January '05.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 4/22/06 5:17pm
Msg #115363

Re: Restating - CA Notary, how long does it take? David

If your wanting an exact date I'd think your going to get.....review the posting from your last post on this topic......the anwers are in general......

Reply by TitleGalCA on 4/22/06 8:02pm
Msg #115374

This was answered in your first post

Count on the same three months.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 4/23/06 1:31am
Msg #115392

How long does it take to get your commission

Some pointers:

Major reason your Calif commission could take 3 months or more is the process concerning your "Background Check Application" which does not begin until you have had your Live Fingerprinting Scan submitted to the our Sec of State. The fingerprinting company sends the Live Scan to the Sec of State; the notary is not responsible for sending this information.

On this background check if you leave any line blank (except optional) you will get the application sent back for you to complete.

Minor things that can slow your renewal process for a Notary/or a new notary in Calif:
A Notary abbreviates the county in which they choose to do over 50% of their notary business and the state always sends the application back to the notary. For instance if you put San B as the county; the State will send it back because they don't know if it is San Bernardino or Santa Barbara!

If you leave out any line in the background check form except for the "optional items" you will be sent back your application.

Last year Jan-Mar 2005 it was taking 3-4 months from the time you took the test (and you didn't make any of the mistakes above) to get your commission.

Now in March - April 2006 it should take you less than 5 weeks from the Notary test date to receive your commission if all of the above are done correctly.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 4/23/06 8:24pm
Msg #115441

Re: How long does it take to get your commission

***On this background check if you leave any line blank (except optional) you will get the application sent back for you to complete.***

You are so right Joan, and on the app to the SOS as well. The paperwork has to be PERFECT. Due to a minor error on mine, it was delayed but thanks to a really nice lady at the Notary Division, she allowed me to overnight the correction to her, and personally handled turning around my commission. I was grateful because at that point I was turning down work.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 4/24/06 12:12am
Msg #115462

This application is not user friendly to say the least!

The CPS people who administer the test in Calif are very nice people and check every student's application. If they didn't check the way they do; I seriously think 25-50% of the people taking the exam would get their applications back.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 4/24/06 12:21am
Msg #115464

Re: This application is not user friendly to say the least!

Correct again. My main job is to do 30-40 page subdivison applicaton to the same office (or a branch thereof) and that same mentality thrives well there as well. Make it perfect or it won't get to step 2....and told to return to the beginning.

Wasn't Candyland like that??