Form ACR 186, Notary Clarity, is a one-page statement published by the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder in which the signer certifies, under penalty of perjury, exactly what the notary seal on an attached document reads. It cites Government Code 27361.7 and asks for the notary's name, commission number, place of execution and commission expiration date. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF is published by the county at rivcoacr.org.
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What is ACR 186?
Form ACR 186, Notary Clarity, is a short certification issued by the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder. Under Government Code 27361.7, the person signing certifies under penalty of perjury that the notary seal on the document to which the statement is attached reads as written on the form.
The form is printed on the Recorder's letterhead, with the Recorder's P.O. Box 751 address in Riverside, CA 92502-0751, the telephone number (951) 486-7000 and the website www.rivcoacr.org. Its body is a single sentence of certification followed by seven lines to complete: Name of Notary, Commission #, Place of Execution, Date Commission Expires, Date, Signature and Print Name.
In practice the form records, in plain type, what the notary's seal says, so that the seal's contents are legible alongside the document it is attached to. The form is not a notary acknowledgment, does not replace the notary's own seal, and contains no tax, assessment or fee lines.
The county's forms page says most of its forms are Adobe PDFs that can be completed online and printed, but they cannot be submitted online. The same page states that the county makes no representation about the suitability of its Recorder Sample Documents for your purposes, and that its employees cannot give legal advice or help prepare legal documents. The printed form carries the note "Available in Alternate Formats" and the revision date Rev. 07/2013.
Who needs to file ACR 186?
The form is for anyone who needs to attach a Notary Clarity statement to a document whose notary seal must be certified as reading a particular way. By signing, that person certifies under penalty of perjury that the seal on the attached document reads as stated, so the signer should have the document with the seal in hand when completing the form.
The form itself does not say who must use it, in which transactions it is required, or who may sign for someone else. If you are unsure whether your document needs a Notary Clarity statement, the county's forms page directs you to consult an attorney or obtain other professional advice, because county employees cannot give legal advice or help prepare legal documents.
Do not look for property tax lines on this form. It is a seal certification issued by the Recorder's office and asks only for notary details, a date, a signature and a printed name.
When to file ACR 186
The Notary Clarity statement is completed when a document with a notary seal needs it, because the form is attached to that document. It prints no due date or filing window of its own, so any timing comes from the transaction the document belongs to. Complete it with the sealed document in front of you, since the statement must match what the seal reads, and date it on the Date line when you sign.
Documents you need
- The document bearing the notary seal, to which the Notary Clarity statement is attached; the statement certifies what that seal reads.
How to fill out ACR 186
Have the sealed document ready
Keep the document with the notary seal next to you, because the form certifies that the seal reads as you write it. The statement will be attached to that document.
Enter the notary's name
On Name of Notary, write the notary's name as it appears in the seal.
Enter the commission number
On Commission #, write the commission number shown in the notary seal.
Enter the place of execution
On Place of Execution, write the place shown with the notary seal on the document.
Enter the commission expiration date
On Date Commission Expires, write the expiration date of the notary's commission as the seal reads.
Date, sign and print your name
Enter today's date on Date, sign on Signature and type or print your name on Print Name. Signing is the certification under penalty of perjury.
Review, download and print
Compare every line with the seal. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF in black ink on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper, attach it to the document and deliver it as described under How to submit.
How to submit ACR 186
The county's forms page says that its forms, including this one, do not allow online submission and must be delivered by mail or in person to your local Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office.
- Attach it to the document. The statement is made about the notary seal on "the document to which this statement is attached," so keep the two together.
- By mail or in person. Deliver the printed, signed form with its document to your local Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office. The form's header lists the Recorder at P.O. Box 751, Riverside, CA 92502-0751, telephone (951) 486-7000, website www.rivcoacr.org; call or check the website to confirm the right office for your transaction.
- Printing. The county requires all forms to be printed in black ink on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering notary details that do not match the seal on the attached document; the signer certifies under penalty of perjury that the seal reads as stated.
- Leaving the Signature or Print Name line empty, so the certification is not actually made by anyone.
- Separating the statement from the document; the form refers to the document to which it is attached.
- Printing on colored or non-standard paper or in another ink; the county requires black ink on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper.
- Trying to submit the form online; the county says its forms must be delivered by mail or in person.
- Expecting county staff to decide which form your transaction needs or to help prepare it; they cannot give legal advice or assist in preparing legal documents.
- Skipping the Place of Execution or Date Commission Expires lines, which are part of the seal information the form asks for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Notary Clarity form (ACR 186)?
Form ACR 186, Notary Clarity, is a Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder statement in which the signer certifies, under penalty of perjury and citing Government Code 27361.7, what the notary seal on the attached document reads.
Is Notary Clarity a Riverside County property tax form?
No. The form is a notary seal certification issued by the Recorder's office. It has lines only for the notary's name, commission number, place of execution, commission expiration, date, signature and printed name, with no tax or assessment lines.
Can I submit Form ACR 186 online?
No. The county's forms page says its forms do not allow online submission and must be delivered by mail or in person to your local Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office. Print the completed form and attach it to the document it describes.
What do I write on the lines of the Notary Clarity form?
Copy what the notary seal on your document says into Name of Notary, Commission #, Place of Execution and Date Commission Expires. Then add the Date, your Signature and your Print Name. The signature certifies the entries under penalty of perjury.
What paper and ink does the county require?
The county says all of its forms must be printed in black ink on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. Use that paper and ink when you print the completed Notary Clarity PDF.
Can county staff help me complete the form?
Not with legal questions or preparation. The county says its employees cannot give legal advice or help prepare legal documents; if you are unsure which document your transaction needs, consult an attorney or other professional.
Can I fill out the Notary Clarity form online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, is not affiliated with the county and does not file or deliver the form; you deliver it by mail or in person.
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