Posted by Amy Olson on 6/19/10 2:15pm
Msg #341609

Question about CA renewing notary & Live Scan fingerprinting

Hi All! I am going to be renewing my notary soon (it expires in December, I know, do it 6 months in advance) and I have been a notary a very long time. The last time I renewed I had to do the Live Scan fingerprinting and it is quite expensive. Now I am being told different things about having to do the Live Scan *again* with my upcoming notary. I've been told that we have to do the Live Scan every time we renew, i.e. every 4 years (which makes no sense, our fingerprints don't change, and if we are in the system already they can just run another background check). Then other sources have told me that if we are renewing and have already done Live Scan and we do not have a lapse of 180 days in our commission that we do not have to do a Live Scan.

I just want to get to the bottom of it all since it quite expensive and I would like to save any money I can. Thank you!

Reply by Notarysigner on 6/19/10 2:19pm
Msg #341610

I spoke with the UPS store owners I frequent and they offer live scan for $74.00, the one necessary for us. I don't think that's too expensive..maybe the UPS store in your area does likewise.

Reply by Notarysigner on 6/19/10 2:22pm
Msg #341611

<<<< Then other sources have told me that if we are renewing and have already done Live Scan and we do not have a lapse of 180 days in our commission that we do not have to do a Live Scan.>>>>

Sorry didn't answer the question. I was also told the same thing you mentioned but have not taken the time to verify. It makes sense to me.

Reply by jackpar on 6/19/10 2:24pm
Msg #341613

You will have to do another livescan---I just applied for renewal a month ago--went to my local police station, cost $66. Good luck.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 6/19/10 3:16pm
Msg #341616

Try here...

http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/

Reply by Yoli/CA on 6/19/10 3:38pm
Msg #341618

Amy: From CA SOS website

Expanded Background Checks
All applicants appointed or reappointed as a notary public on or after January 1, 2008, must undergo a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the California Department of Justice. The Request for Live Scan Service (pdf ~547KB) form is available online.

Can't help you on the cost. Last year, I did it all through NotRot website - class, pix, live print, exam. Saved me the time of having to drive from location to location at various times. Just reserved 1 day to get it all done.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 6/19/10 5:49pm
Msg #341621

Amy, you've been sold a load of junk...

The process to renew your commission is almost exactly the same as it is to become a notary. The only difference is the 3-hour vs. 6-hour requirement.

You have to do the LiveScan every four years, no matter what. There's no "saving money" in this process... you have to do it.

BTW, you better hustle. Some people are saying 6 months... but I think people need to give it 8-9 at this point. The SOS is on meager staffing and if you have any blips in the process, you want them iron out before your renewal date or your commission will lapse and you have to deal with doing the LiveScan all over again.

My advice? Take your class/exam 9-12 months before your commission expires. Seriously.

Reply by Alz on 6/19/10 10:07pm
Msg #341637

Great advice, Marian...with

regards to taking the class/exam 9-12 months prior to commission expires. With our state in its current condition and pending layoffs, cutbacks, etc...the proces will certainly take longer...MHO

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 6/19/10 11:19pm
Msg #341642

I teach students to pass the CA state exam and it appears to be taking approximately 10-12 weeks for a notary to be commission.

The time seems to differ month by month, but this is my personal view, on the average time. For instance, my previous
notary commission, expired 6/4/10 and I took the test on March 3, 2010 and received my commission in the mail on
May 4, 2010.

There has been a huge decrease in notaries in CA in 2008-09 by almost 65,000 less commissioned notaries, but as stated previously in this message, the CA Sec of State has layoffs/furlough/etc and that can dramatically
change the time frame it takes to be commissioned.

I would recommend taking the test 6 months before renewal and, yes, you definitely must have your fingerprints taking every 4 years. The law changed in 2008 and fingerprints are not shared between agencies like real estate, teacher/etc.

We charge $80 to fingerprint at our classes (the basic charge that all venors have to submit is $51) and the rest is profit.
Ca notaries have to submilt a passport type photo with our application. Lucky us in CA!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/19/10 11:47pm
Msg #341643

Amy, if you're trying to shave the cost down as low as possible, there are a couple of things you can consider doing. First, you can get the passport photos at Costco (if you're a member) for about $7.00. (I don't remember exactly.) Secondly, for $10 plus the $51 for the background check part of it, you may be able to get the whole thing done at your local police dept. (generally by appt. only.) That's what I did last time. I saved roughly $30 that way, all together. I was able to schedule it in conjunction with other appointments and errands so it didn't really take me extra time, but you have to decide for yourself if that will work for you and whether or not it will be worth it.

BTW, all it takes is a flip through a few journals to see that our thumbprints do change somewhat over time. As a general rule, prints of older folks tend to look a bit different (deeper lines, scars, etc.) than those of younger people. I can't imagine that that wouldn't apply equally to all our fingers. I wish it weren't so, but that's the reality we have to live with.

Reply by BakersfCA on 6/20/10 8:56am
Msg #341654

You can definitely save if you go to your local police dept. for your live scan. Try looking in the phone book and call around maybe you can find it cheaper somewhere else. I also just renewed my commission and it really didn't take that long. I took the class in March and received my new commission in the mail in May. Good luck.

Reply by Amy Olson on 6/21/10 1:09pm
Msg #341731

Thank you everyone!

I appreciate everyone's responses here. I did my fingerprinting at the police station last time so I'll call there again and see what their fees are. I'll get my class scheduled right away as well, debating between online class or seminar class, online is less expensive. I've been a notary since 1994 so it's nothing new for me to renew. It's just frustrating to have to do this fingerprinting all over again, especially since now I'm newly self employed (got laid off) and in the past my employer paid for it all. So the fees are a big ouch right now trying to start my own business going.

Again, thank you for all the great input everyone!