Once the commission has been issued, a person has 30 calendar days from the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission to take, subscribe, and file an oath of office and file a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk’s office. The commission does not take effect until the oath and bond are fled with the county clerk’s office. The fling must take place in the county where the notary public maintains a principal place of business as shown in the application on file with the Secretary of State. If the oath and bond are not fled within the 30-calendar-day time period, the commission will not be valid, and the person commissioned may not act as a notary public until a new appointment is obtained and the person has properly qualified within the 30-calendar-day time limit. Government Code section 8213(a) permits the fling of completed oaths and bonds by the applicable county clerk by certified mail or other means of physical delivery that provides a receipt. Exceptions are not made to the 30-day fling requirement due to mail service delays, county clerk mail processing delays, or for any other reason. If mailing an oath and bond to the county clerk, sufficient time must be allowed by the newly appointed notary public to ensure timely fling. (Government Code sections 8212 and 8213)
