Execution of documents.

Existing law requires a notary public to keep one active sequential journal at a time, of all official acts performed as a notary public. Existing law requires a notary public to require a party signing a deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust affecting real property, or a power of attorney document, if the document is to be notarized, to place his or her fingerprint in the journal, as specified. Under existing law, a notary public that willfully fails to satisfy these requirements is guilty of a crime. This bill would expand those provisions to require a notary public to require a party signing any other document affecting real property to place his or her fingerprint in the journal, if the document is to be notarized. Because a willful failure of a notary public to satisfy these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make other conforming changes regarding what manner of proof of execution is permitted for specified documents. The bill would repeal obsolete provisions of law. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.