Frequently Asked Questions
If you meet the qualifications to become a Montana Notary Public, you may apply for a four-year notary public commission by following the steps below. It is not possible to obtain a notary commission in just a few days, so please plan accordingly. The application fee for becoming a notary public is $25, which is non-refundable. The fee may be paid by credit/debit card or by eCheck. State of Montana employees may use Procards or Inter-unit Journals (IUJs).
1. Complete at least 4 hours of approved training
2. Take and pass the Montana notary exam
3. Obtain a notary surety bond in the amount of $25,000
4. Complete the Montana notary public online application
5. Download your certificate of completion
Yes, feel free to take this on your own time. Keep in mind, however, that you must watch all videos in their entirety to move to the next module.
Stamps may be purchased from most stationery, stamp, or office supply stores.
Yes. Every notarial act must be journalized. For more information on the specific requirements for journal entries, please refer to the Montana Notary Public Handbook.
Your journals are your responsibility and unless you have received approval from the secretary of state’s office to relinquish a journal to an employer or other custodian, you must keep them in your possession at all times while you hold an active commission. Once a journal is filled, you must keep it in a secure location where you have access. Journals must be stored for 10 years from the date of the last entry; after that they may be destroyed.
You may leave a copy of your journal(s) with your employer if you leave you employment before your commission expires, but you must still retain the original journal.
When you resign your commission or choose not to renew it you have two options: Keep the journal(s) yourself or relinquish custody to your employer or other approved custodian. You will have to resign your commission via the online filing system and indicate who will retain custody of your journals if you choose not to do so. A representative of the designated custodian will have to accept responsibility for keeping your journal(s).
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