Notary malfeasance/misfeasance: 3 years from notarial act (whichever is LATER)
36 months after date the notarial act was performed, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 338(f)(2).
Rule text
338. Within three years: (f) (1) An action against a notary public on the notary public’s bond or in the notary public’s official capacity except that a cause of action based on malfeasance or misfeasance is not deemed to have accrued until discovery, by the aggrieved party or the aggrieved party’s agent, of the facts constituting the cause of action. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an action based on malfeasance or misfeasance shall be commenced within one year from discovery, by the aggrieved party or the aggrieved party’s agent, of the facts constituting the cause of action or within three years from the performance of the notarial act giving rise to the action, whichever is later. (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an action against a notary public on the notary public’s bond or in the notary public’s official capacity shall be commenced within six years.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date the notarial act was performed): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Add 36 months: Tuesday, November 6, 2029.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 338(f)(2)
338. Within three years: (f) (1) An action against a notary public on the notary public’s bond or in the notary public’s official capacity except that a cause of action based on malfeasance or misfeasance is not deemed to have accrued until discovery, by the aggrieved party or the aggrieved party’s agent, of the facts constituting the cause of action. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an action based on malfeasance or misfeasance shall be commenced within one year from discovery, by the aggrieved party or the aggrieved party’s agent, of the facts constituting the cause of action or within three years from the performance of the notarial act giving rise to the action, whichever is later. (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an action against a notary public on the notary public’s bond or in the notary public’s official capacity shall be commenced within six years.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 350
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." CCP 350: "An action is commenced, within the meaning of this Title, when the complaint is filed."Official source
- Alternative 2 of 2: the deadline is the LATER of this and notary_malfeasance_338f2_1yr_discovery, subject to the 6-year outer limit (notary_outer_338f3_6yr). NOT APPLIED BY THE ENGINE: (1) accrual: the engine counts from the date you enter; the common-law discovery rule and delayed-accrual doctrines (Fox v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (2005) 35 Cal.4th 797; Norgart v. Upjohn Co. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 383), continuing-violation and continuous-accrual doctrines can move the start date, so enter the correct accrual date. (2) tolling: minority or lack of legal capacity (CCP 352), defendant's absence from California (CCP 351, limited by commerce-clause case law), imprisonment (CCP 352.1, max 2 years), equitable tolling, written waivers/tolling agreements (CCP 360.5), acknowledgment or part payment (CCP 360), bankruptcy (11 U.S.C. 108(c)), and Judicial Council Emergency Rule 9 (2020 Covid-19 tolling of civil limitations periods) are NOT applied. An action is commenced when the complaint is filed (CCP 350). Last day on a Saturday, Sunday or judicial holiday rolls to the next court day (CCP 12a; CCP 366.2(b)(1) confirms 12 and 12a apply to limitations periods).
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the notarial act was performed on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Friday, March 15, 2030.
- Trigger (Date the notarial act was performed): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Add 36 months: Friday, March 15, 2030.
Notes
Alternative 2 of 2: the deadline is the LATER of this and notary_malfeasance_338f2_1yr_discovery, subject to the 6-year outer limit (notary_outer_338f3_6yr). NOT APPLIED BY THE ENGINE: (1) accrual: the engine counts from the date you enter; the common-law discovery rule and delayed-accrual doctrines (Fox v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (2005) 35 Cal.4th 797; Norgart v. Upjohn Co. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 383), continuing-violation and continuous-accrual doctrines can move the start date, so enter the correct accrual date. (2) tolling: minority or lack of legal capacity (CCP 352), defendant's absence from California (CCP 351, limited by commerce-clause case law), imprisonment (CCP 352.1, max 2 years), equitable tolling, written waivers/tolling agreements (CCP 360.5), acknowledgment or part payment (CCP 360), bankruptcy (11 U.S.C. 108(c)), and Judicial Council Emergency Rule 9 (2020 Covid-19 tolling of civil limitations periods) are NOT applied. An action is commenced when the complaint is filed (CCP 350). Last day on a Saturday, Sunday or judicial holiday rolls to the next court day (CCP 12a; CCP 366.2(b)(1) confirms 12 and 12a apply to limitations periods).
Related deadlines
- Notary malfeasance/misfeasance: 1 year from discovery (whichever is LATER) (12 months after)
- Notary (bond or official capacity): 6-year outer limit (72 months after)
- Legal malpractice: 1 year from discovery (whichever is EARLIER) (12 months after)
- Legal malpractice: 4 years from wrongful act or omission (whichever is EARLIER) (48 months after)
- Criminal legal malpractice (factual innocence element): 2 years after exoneration (24 months after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.