Form ARC 230, Notary Registration Information, is the sheet the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk publishes for newly appointed California notaries who must file an oath of office and an official bond with the County Clerk. It lists the documents to bring, the 30-calendar-day filing limit, the two filing methods and the name-matching rule. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the county at arc.sbcounty.gov.
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What is ARC 230?
Notary Registration Information (ARC 230) is the San Bernardino Recorder-County Clerk's printed guide, titled "Registering as a Notary Public," that tells a newly appointed California notary how to file the oath of office and official bond with the County Clerk so the commission takes effect.
The sheet does not appoint anyone as a notary. It states that individuals seeking appointment as a California Notary Public must apply through the California Secretary of State, and it gives the Secretary of State's Notary Public Section phone number, (916) 653-3595, and its qualifications page, https://www.sos.ca.gov/notary/qualifications/.
After the appointment, state law requires the new notary to file an Oath of Office and an Official Bond with the County Clerk of the county where the principal place of business listed on the Secretary of State application is located. The commission does not become effective until both are filed.
The sheet covers four topics: the mandatory filing requirements, the documents needed for in-person and certified-mail filing, the rule that the legal name must be identical on every document, and notary signature authentication for notaries commissioned in San Bernardino County. It also gives the office's contact details and payment options. If your commission designates another county, you contact that county's clerk instead.
Who needs to file ARC 230?
Newly appointed California notaries whose commission designates San Bernardino County as the county of their principal place of business use this sheet to file the oath of office and official bond with the San Bernardino County Clerk.
- Commission designates another county: you must contact that county's clerk for its filing, recording and fee requirements. This sheet does not cover those.
- Not yet appointed: the sheet is not an application. Qualification and appointment go through the California Secretary of State's Notary Public Section.
- Notaries needing signature authentication: the county will authenticate the signature of a notary commissioned in San Bernardino County, in person or by mail. It does not authenticate signatures of notaries commissioned in other counties.
The county's staff does not have a notary public on hand to acknowledge documents, so you must arrange your own notary if you file by certified mail. The sheet names no representative who may file for you.
When to file ARC 230
File within 30 calendar days from the beginning of the commission term. State law sets this deadline for every newly appointed notary public, and the sheet states that no extensions or exceptions are permitted.
The commission does not become effective until both the oath of office and the official bond are filed with the County Clerk, so a missed deadline leaves the commission without effect. For in-person filing, the sheet says an appointment is required, so schedule it early enough to fall inside the 30 days. Mailed filings must also be completed within the same 30 calendar days from the commission start date.
The sheet sets no deadline for signature authentication requests.
Documents you need
- Notary Commission Certificate issued by the Secretary of State, for both in-person and certified-mail filing.
- Two (2) Oaths of Office issued by the Secretary of State: unsigned for in-person filing; signed and subscribed before a notary for certified-mail filing.
- Original Notary Bond showing a four-year term.
- Valid government-issued photo identification, for both filing methods.
- Copy of the bond, only if you want a conformed copy (optional).
- Applicable filing and recording fees, paid by one of the accepted payment methods.
- Daytime phone number including area code.
- Certified-mail filing only: a document cover sheet completed with the return mailing address and the document title "Notary Public Bond".
- Certified-mail filing only: a check, postal or bank money order, or cashier's check payable to San Bernardino County.
- Certified-mail filing only: a self-addressed, stamped envelope, if you want conformed copies returned (optional).
How to fill out ARC 230
Confirm your commission and county
Check that the Secretary of State has appointed you and that your commission lists San Bernardino County as the county of your principal place of business. If it lists another county, contact that county's clerk.
Note your 30-day deadline
Count 30 calendar days from the beginning of your commission term. Both the oath and the bond must be filed by then.
Check your name on every document
Compare the commission, Oath of Office, Official Bond and ID. Spelling, order, middle name or initial, suffixes and spacing must be identical.
Gather the required documents
Collect items 1-7 on the list: Commission Certificate, two Oaths of Office, original bond with a four-year term, photo ID, optional bond copy, fees and daytime phone number.
Choose in-person or certified mail
For in-person filing, make an appointment and keep both Oaths unsigned. For certified mail, take the oath before another notary in the same county where you will file.
Prepare the mail-in extras
For certified mail, complete the document cover sheet with your return address and the title "Notary Public Bond". Add the payment instrument, and a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want conformed copies.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every entry, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. File the package through the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit ARC 230
You can file your notary oath and bond in person (by appointment only) or by certified mail with the San Bernardino Recorder-County Clerk. Both must be completed within 30 calendar days of the commission start date.
- In person (appointment only): bring documents 1-7 listed under Required Documents, with the two Oaths of Office unsigned. Call the San Bernardino Office at (909) 387-8306 or the Hesperia Office at (760) 995-8065 to ask about appointments.
- By certified mail: allowed only if the oath was taken and subscribed before another notary public located in the same county where filing will occur. Send the documents, a document cover sheet and payment to: San Bernardino Recorder-County Clerk, Attn: County Clerk Division, 222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022.
Filing and recording fees apply; ask the office for the current amounts. Pay by cash (in person only), check, postal or bank money order, or cashier's check, all payable to San Bernardino County. Card payments carry a surcharge. The call center is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing the oath and bond after the 30th calendar day from the commission start date; the sheet allows no extensions or exceptions.
- Using a name that differs between the commission, oath of office, official bond and government-issued ID, such as a middle initial on one and a full middle name on another.
- Arriving in person without an appointment; in-person filing is by appointment only.
- Signing the Oaths of Office before an in-person filing; they must be unsigned for in-person filing.
- Mailing the oath without having it signed and subscribed before another notary public in the same county where filing will occur.
- Filing by certified mail without the document cover sheet showing the return address and the title "Notary Public Bond".
- Filing in San Bernardino County when your commission designates another county; contact that county's clerk instead.
- Sending cash by mail; cash is accepted in person only.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form ARC 230, Notary Registration Information?
It is the San Bernardino Recorder-County Clerk's guide to registering as a notary public. It explains how a newly appointed California notary files the oath of office and official bond with the County Clerk, and how notary signature authentication works.
Does ARC 230 apply me for a notary commission?
No. Applicants must apply through the California Secretary of State. ARC 230 gives the Notary Public Section phone number, (916) 653-3595, and the qualifications page at https://www.sos.ca.gov/notary/qualifications/. The county only receives the oath and bond after you are appointed.
How long do I have to file my notary oath and bond in San Bernardino County?
Within 30 calendar days from the beginning of the commission term. The sheet says no extensions or exceptions are permitted, and the commission does not become effective until both the oath and the bond are filed.
Can I file my notary oath and bond by mail?
Yes, by certified mail, but only if you took the oath before another notary public located in the same county where filing will occur. Include the document cover sheet and payment with documents 1-7. Otherwise file in person by appointment.
Why was my notary filing not accepted because of my name?
The exact same legal name must appear on the commission, oath of office, official bond and government-issued ID. Spelling, name order, middle name or initial, suffixes and spacing must match; a middle initial versus a full middle name counts as a mismatch.
How do I pay the notary filing fees?
Pay by cash (in person only), check, postal or bank money order, or cashier's check, all payable to San Bernardino County. Card payments are subject to a surcharge. Call (909) 387-8306 for the current fee amounts.
What if my commission lists a different county?
Contact that county's clerk. The sheet says that if your commission designates a county other than San Bernardino, that clerk sets the filing, recording and fee requirements.
Can I fill out ARC 230 online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not affiliated with the county, and does not file your oath or bond; you file through the county's channels.
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