Section 8205 Of Chapter 3. Notaries Public From California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 2. >> Chapter 3.
8205
. (a) It is the duty of a notary public, when requested:
(1) To demand acceptance and payment of foreign and inland bills
of exchange, or promissory notes, to protest them for nonacceptance
and nonpayment, and, with regard only to the nonacceptance or
nonpayment of bills and notes, to exercise any other powers and
duties that by the law of nations and according to commercial usages,
or by the laws of any other state, government, or country, may be
performed by a notary. This paragraph applies only to a notary public
employed by a financial institution, during the course and scope of
the notary's employment with the financial institution.
(2) To take the acknowledgment or proof of advance health care
directives, powers of attorney, mortgages, deeds, grants, transfers,
and other instruments of writing executed by any person, and to give
a certificate of that proof or acknowledgment, endorsed on or
attached to the instrument. The certificate shall be signed by the
notary public in the notary public's own handwriting. A notary public
may not accept any acknowledgment or proof of any instrument that is
incomplete.
(3) To take depositions and affidavits, and administer oaths and
affirmations, in all matters incident to the duties of the office, or
to be used before any court, judge, officer, or board. Any
deposition, affidavit, oath, or affirmation shall be signed by the
notary public in the notary public's own handwriting.
(4) To certify copies of powers of attorney under Section 4307 of
the Probate Code. The certification shall be signed by the notary
public in the notary public's own handwriting.
(b) It shall further be the duty of a notary public, upon written
request:
(1) To furnish to the Secretary of State certified copies of the
notary's journal.
(2) To respond within 30 days of receiving written requests sent
by certified mail from the Secretary of State's office for
information relating to official acts performed by the notary.