A complaint may be filed against a California notary public by completing a Complaint Form (PDF) and sending it along with certified copies of any relevant documentation to:
Secretary of State
Notary Compliance
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
Please keep the following in mind:
- A California notary public who has been found to have violated California notary public law is subject to disciplinary action taken by the Secretary of State.
- Complaints surrounding the performance of a California notary public's duties are submitted to the Secretary of State, who investigates and evaluates violations of law for appropriate disciplinary action, if warranted.
- If you are seeking to cancel, void, or otherwise invalidate or modify a contract or other document, or are seeking money as a refund, as a form of damages or as a penalty, you should seek the advice of a private attorney.
- The Secretary of State's office cannot represent a complaining party in an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding or provide legal advice related to the situation. Actions taken by the Secretary of State related to an administrative proceeding, if any, generally will have no direct affect upon your rights under civil or criminal law.
- Fraud or other criminal acts, such as forgery, embezzlement, or elder abuse, etc., that may have been committed, are matters that should be reported to local law enforcement authorities or the district attorney's office in the county where the alleged fraudulent or unlawful acts occurred.
- If you wish to obtain information regarding filing a claim against a California notary public's surety bond, please contact the County Clerk's office identified in the California notary public's seal to obtain the name of the surety bond company.
