California Notary Public ExamJournal RequirementsMedium
A Notary Public's journal is stolen from their locked office drawer overnight. The Notary discovers the theft the following morning. What is the Notary Public required to do first, and within what timeframe?
- AFile a police report immediately upon discovery.
- BPurchase a new journal and continue notarizing, making a note of the theft in the new journal.
- CNotify the Secretary of State within 24 hours.
- DPost a public notice of the theft in a local newspaper within 72 hours.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. File a police report immediately upon discovery.
California Government Code § 8206(b) states that if a Notary Public's journal is stolen, lost, misplaced, destroyed, or otherwise rendered unusable, the Notary Public must immediately notify the Secretary of State by certified mail or any other means providing a receipt. However, the first step, especially in a theft scenario, is to file a police report 'immediately' to document the crime and aid in potential recovery. The Secretary of State requires a copy of this police report.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Continuing to notarize without taking proper steps to report the theft is a violation.
- C. Notifying the SOS is required, but filing a police report for theft is the immediate first step.
- D. Posting a public notice is not a required action for a stolen journal.
Journal Theft Reporting (First Step)
In the event of journal theft, the Notary Public's immediate first action is to file a police report.
- Applies to theft, loss, destruction.
- Police report is the initial priority for theft.
- Secretary of State notification follows, often requiring police report details.
Memory trick: Stolen Journal? Police first, then SOS.