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GOVERNMENT CODE
(e) The certificate of authorization shall be designed to prevent forgeries and shall contain a
sequential identification number.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
§ 8207.3. Certificates of authorization; authorization to provide seal; lost, misplaced,
damaged or otherwise unworkable seal
(a) The Secretary of State shall issue certificates of authorization with which a notary public
can obtain an official notary seal.
(b) A vendor or manufacturer is authorized to provide a notary with an official seal only
upon presentation by the notary public of a certificate of authorization.
(c) A vendor of official seals shall note the receipt of certificates of authorization and sequential
identification numbers of certificates presented by a notary public upon a certificate of
authorization.
(d) A copy of a certificate of authorization shall be retained by a vendor and the original,
which shall contain a sample impression of the seal issued to the notary public, shall be submitted
to the Secretary of State for verification and recordkeeping. The Secretary of State shall develop
guidelines for submitting certificates of authorization by vendors.
(e) Any notary whose official seal is lost, misplaced, destroyed, broken, damaged, or is
rendered otherwise unworkable shall immediately mail or deliver written notice of that fact to
the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State, within five working days after receipt of the
notice, if requested by a notary, shall issue a certificate of authorization which a notary may
use to obtain a replacement seal.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
§ 8207.4. Violations; penalties
(a) Any person who willfully violates any part of Section 8207.1, 8207.2, 8207.3, or 8207.4
shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for
each violation, which may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Attorney General or
the district attorney or city attorney, or by a city prosecutor in any city and county.
(b) The penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy, and does not affect any
other relief or remedy provided by law.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
§ 8208. Protest of bill or note for nonacceptance or nonpayment
The protest of a notary public, under his or her hand and official seal, of a bill of exchange or
promissory note for nonacceptance or nonpayment, specifying any of the following is prima
facie evidence of the facts recited therein:
(a) The time and place of presentment.
(b) The fact that presentment was made and the manner thereof.
(c) The cause or reason for protesting the bill.
(d) The demand made and the answer given, if any, or the fact that the drawee or acceptor
could not be found.
§ 8209. Resignation, disqualification or removal of notary; records delivered to clerk;
misdemeanor; death; destruction of records
(a) If any notary public resigns, is disqualified, removed from office, or allows his or her
appointment to expire without obtaining reappointment within 30 days, all notarial records
and papers shall be delivered within 30 days to the clerk of the county in which the notary
public’s current official oath of office is on file. If the notary public willfully fails or refuses to
deliver all notarial records and papers to the county clerk within 30 days, the person is guilty
of a misdemeanor and shall be personally liable for damages to any person injured by that
action or inaction.
(b) In the case of the death of a notary public, the personal representative of the deceased
shall promptly notify the Secretary of State of the death of the notary public and shall deliver
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