How to Become a Notary Public

To become a notary public in Montana, you must submit to the Secretary of State's Office:

A notarized Application, Statement, and Oath of Office (and Instructions) for a Commission as a notary public.
A surety bond.
A filing fee of $25.

NOTE: The process for renewing a commission is exactly the same as for the initial application.

Application for Commission

You can get an application form from most insurance companies. Or you may use the application form and instructions provided on this website. You can also request one by calling the Notary Section of the Secretary of State's Office, (406) 444-5379.

As you complete your application, keep the following in mind:

You must type, print, and sign your name exactly the same way on your application, surety bond, and oath of office. This is the name in which your commission will be issued, and this is the name you will use when performing all notarial acts.
The place of residence you list on your application must correspond with the place of residence on your surety bond.
Do not list the same address for your residence and your employer unless you work out of your home. If you're not presently employed, please enter N/A (not applicable) in the space provided for employer information.
If you don't complete your application completely and truthfully, your commission may be denied or revoked.
Your application and oath of office must be properly notarized.

Surety Bond

A surety bond is a form of insurance that protects the public from mistakes you may make in the performance of your official duties as a notary. If you perform an illegal notarization, you may be held personally liable for damages caused by your act.

You can get a surety bond from most insurance companies in the state. It must be in the sum of $10,000 and written for a term of four years to correspond with the notary's term of office. The application and bond must be received by the Secretary of State's office within thirty days (before or after) the effective date of the surety bond in order to be accepted for processing.

Oath of Office

The oath of office is included as a component of the new application form. You must sign the oath in the presence of a commissioned notary public and have the form notarized.

Filing Fee

You may pay the $25 fee for a commission or renewal of a commission using a personal check, cashier's check, or money order made payable to the Secretary of State. If your payment is returned for any reason, your commission will be suspended.

Mail the completed application, bond, and fee to:

Montana Secretary of State
Notary Section
P.O. Box 202801
Helena MT 59620-2801

Notary Seal

Once your application, bond, and fee have been approved, the Secretary of State will send you a certificate of commission and a "Montana Notary Public Handbook." At that point, you must obtain an official seal with which to authenticate your official acts. This may be either a rubber stamp or an impression seal, which you can get from a stampwork shop or office-supply store. The seal must include your name exactly as it appears on your certificate of commission, as well as the words "Notarial Seal" or "Notary Public" and "State of Montana."

You must affix your seal to every document you notarize.

You may but are not required to, file a copy of your commission with your county clerk and recorder for the purpose of authentication.

More information about notaries public is available from the Notary Division of the Montana Secretary of State's Office, (406) 444-5379, sosnotary@mt.gov.

Notary Training Schedule