California Notary Public ExamFees and Miscellaneous ProvisionsMedium
A Notary Public charges a client $20 for an acknowledgment. The Notary Public then provides a receipt for the transaction. What is the maximum civil penalty the Notary Public could face for this single overcharge?
- A$15
- B$1,500
- C$75
- D$750
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. $750
The maximum fee for an acknowledgment is $15. Charging $20 constitutes an overcharge of $5. California Government Code Section 8214.15 specifies that a Notary Public who charges more than the maximum fee is subject to a civil penalty of up to $750.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is the correct maximum fee for an acknowledgment, not the penalty for overcharging.
- B. This is incorrect; $1,500 is not the statutory penalty for this specific violation.
- C. This is incorrect; $75 is not the statutory penalty for overcharging.
Overcharging Penalty
The maximum civil penalty a California Notary Public may face for charging more than the statutory fee for a notarial service.
- Applies to any overcharge.
- Intended to deter predatory pricing.
- Separate from commission suspension/revocation.
Memory trick: Overcharging means a high penalty, up to seven-fifty.