How to Apply For and Receive a Notary Commission & Seal

Responsible Party:  Office of the City Attorney (Recorder’s Office)

Latest Revision: October 4, 2012

Effective August 1st, 2010 (http://notary.utah.gov) The Official Notary Site of the Lt. Governor

Contact Information

For assistance or questions regarding notary services, please call or stop by our office. You can also email us at notary@utah.gov for additional assistance.

Office Hours

Beginning September 6th, 2011, the Lieutenant Governor's Office will be open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Address
Utah State Capitol Complex
P.O. Box 142325
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-2325
801-538-1041
800-995-VOTE
Fax 801-538-1133

The following steps are required to become a “Notary” in the state of Utah:

If you are already a Notary and need to renew your Notary Commission there is not a separate process and the steps are essentially the same. 

All applicants must be tested on the new laws.

Qualifications

A person qualified for a notarial commission shall:

      Be 18 years of age or older

      Lawfully reside in this state 30 days immediately preceding the filing for a notarial commission and maintain permanent residency thereafter

      Be able to read, write, and understand English

      Submit an application to the lieutenant governor containing no significant misstatement or omission of fact

      Be a Utah resident or have permanent resident status under Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act

      Be endorsed by two residents of the state who are over the age of 18

      Pass the exam

The Process

STEP 1 > Testing

      Prepare for the test

      Take the test (Effective August 1st, 2010)

      Pay the testing and application fees together by credit card. You pay both the $45 application fee and the $30 testing fee together at the end of the test. Once you pay, your test is automatically submitted. Results are immediate.

      PRINT or SAVE your answers if you want a record. Remember, once you log out or leave the page displaying the questions or answers, all will be lost except for the score, which will be saved in the database.

      If you passed the test, print your application

STEP 2 > Application

      Sign application

      Endorsers sign your application. You must receive endorsements from two permanent Utah residents who are over the age of 18. Each endorser must print their name, residence address, and signature in the spaces provided on your application.

STEP 3 > Bonding

      Obtain a Notary Bond from any insurance company (bonds should be for $5,000). Check the phone book or internet for contact information of the surety of your choice)

      Most notary bonds cost $50.

      State Employees require a Risk Bond ONLY  behalf.

      The notary bond MUST be signed and the oath of office signed and notarized prior to submitting your documents to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, otherwise your bond will be rejected.

      Important: A notary bond is not insurance for the notary, but protection for the public. A notary must repay the surety any funds the surety company pays out on the notary’s behalf.

STEP 4 > Mail in the following:

      Application

      Original bond

      Oath of Office (Comes with Bond or Print)

Mail in all of the following documents to:

Utah State Capitol Notary Office
Suite 220
P.O. Box 142325
Salt Lake City, UT 84114

STEP 5 > Getting and receiving your certificate

      It takes up 1-2 Weeks to process, No rush service available

      Check the spelling on your Certificate of Authority of Notary Public. All information on your certificate comes from the data you entered when applying to take the test.

      Sign your Certificate of Authority of Notary Public in the presence of a notary

      Take a copy of your certificate to any vendor providing notarial seals. When you receive your seal from the vendor, make sure it complies with UCA 46-1-16. Send it back and get a new one if it does not comply.

*Specific Bond Information to Salt Lake City Employees:

For fast response, FAX on City letterhead the following information:

Full name and address that will be used on the Notary commission and Seal.

            i.e.        John Doe
            451 South State Street, Room 235
            Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Fax to Trustco, Inc., Attn: Notary Bonds
FAX # (801) 278-9051. 
Then prepare a small dollar check for $50 and mail payment and copy of the FAX (as documentation) to:

            Trustco, Inc.      (PEID# 03922)
            2063 East 3900 South
            Holladay, UT 84124-1746
            (801) 278-5341

You may take the check with you and pick up the Bond when it is available from Trustco. Call (801) 278-5341 to coordinate this.

OR: Trustco will mail the Bond directly to the Applicant within two weeks of receipt of the order.  Once the Bond is received by the Applicant, the Applicant signs as “principal” in two places on the Bond, this signature must be notarized. (It is suggested that the Applicant keep a copy of the Bond for their records.)