Notary Public Guide
Montana Notary Public Guide 2026
A complete walkthrough of everything involved in getting your Montana Notary Public commission — from the mandatory 4-hour education course and state exam to filing your $25,000 surety bond. This guide covers eligibility, the online application, seal and journal requirements, authorized notarial acts, and Remote Online Notarization (RON). Ready to start practicing? Try FREE practice questions from our Montana sample tests.
Role of a Notary Public
A Montana Notary Public is a public officer appointed by the Montana Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness in performing official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. Notaries help protect the public against fraud and forgery by verifying the identity of signers and confirming they are acting voluntarily.
This is a statewide commission. Once appointed, you may perform notarial acts anywhere in Montana. Your core responsibilities include taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, executing jurats, witnessing signatures, certifying copies, and — with separate RON registration — conducting remote online notarizations.
Unlike many states, Montana requires all new and renewing notary applicants to complete approved education and pass the state notary examination before receiving a commission. This makes the Montana process more rigorous than purely application-based states, and thorough preparation is essential.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Montana Notary Public commission, you must meet all of the following statutory requirements under the Montana Notaries Public Act (Title 1, Chapter 5, MCA):
Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
Residency / Nexus: You must be a Montana resident; OR the spouse or legal dependent of active-duty military personnel stationed in Montana; OR maintain a registered Montana place of business; OR be regularly employed in Montana by a registered or licensed employer; OR hold a current Montana professional license.
Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
Language: You must be able to read and write English.
Education & Exam: You must complete at least 4 hours of approved notary education and pass the Montana Notary Examination (80% or higher) before applying.
Background: You must not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or moral turpitude.
If you pass the exam, you must submit your application within 6 months of the exam date. Applications submitted after 6 months require you to retake the examination.
Application Process
Montana's notary application is completed and submitted entirely online through the Secretary of State's portal. Here is the step-by-step process:
- Complete the 4-hour education course from an approved provider. A list of approved providers is available through the SOS training page. The Montana Secretary of State also offers the Notary Academy as a free training resource.
- Pass the Montana Notary Examination with a score of 80% or higher. The exam is administered online through the Secretary of State's portal at no cost.
- Submit your application online at sosmt.gov/notary within 6 months of passing the exam. Pay the $25 non-refundable filing fee by credit/debit card or eCheck.
- Obtain your $25,000 surety bond from a licensed Montana surety company. Montana uses a standardized notary bond form that also includes your Statement and Oath of Office. You must sign the bond form twice — once as the "principal," and once in front of another notary public to swear your Statement of Qualifications and Oath of Office.
- Submit your completed bond and oath to the Secretary of State. Once approved, your commission will be issued for a 4-year term.
- Order your notary seal (ink stamp) and set up your notary journal. You must have both before you may perform any notarial acts.
The entire process from education to receiving your commission typically takes 2–4 weeks, depending on how quickly you complete the coursework and examination.
Application Fee & Surety Bond
The costs to become a Montana Notary Public are straightforward:
Application Filing Fee: $25
Paid online to the Secretary of State by credit/debit card or eCheck. This fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Surety Bond: ~$35–$55
A $25,000 surety bond is required for all Montana notaries. The bond protects the public against losses caused by a notary's errors or misconduct. Bonding companies typically charge $35–$55 for a 4-year term.
Education Course: Varies (~$0–$50)
The Secretary of State provides the free Notary Academy online. Some approved third-party providers may charge a fee.
Notary Exam: FREE
The Montana Notary Examination is administered by the Secretary of State at no charge.
Notary Supplies: ~$30–$60
You will need to purchase a compliant ink stamp seal and a notary journal from a stationery, stamp, or office supply store.
Total estimated out-of-pocket cost to become a Montana Notary Public is approximately $100–$160, making it one of the more affordable states.
Education Requirement
Since July 1, 2020, all Montana notary applicants — both new and renewing — must complete approved notary education before applying for a commission:
New Applicants
Must complete at least 4 hours of approved notary education before sitting for the exam.
Renewing Notaries
Must complete either: at least 4 hours of continuing education in the 12 months preceding their renewal application, OR at least 2 hours in each of the 3 years preceding the application. All renewing notaries must also pass the state examination again.
The Montana Secretary of State offers the free Notary Academy online, which satisfies the education requirement at no cost. The course covers Montana notary law, duties, and best practices.
After completing your education, you must proceed to take and pass the state examination. Your application must be submitted within 6 months of your exam date.
The Montana Notary Examination
The Montana Notary Examination is administered online by the Secretary of State through the official notary portal. It tests your knowledge of Montana notary law and proper notarial procedures.
Cost: The exam is free of charge.
Passing Score: You must score 80% or higher to pass.
Format: Multiple-choice questions based on Montana notary statutes and the Montana Notary Public Handbook.
Application Window: Once you pass, you must submit your application within 6 months. If you miss this window, you must retake the exam.
Retakes: There is no stated waiting period between exam attempts. You may retake the exam if you fail.
The exam covers the core topics from the Montana Notary Public Handbook, including:
Eligibility & Application: Qualifications, the commission process, and the surety bond requirements.
Notarial Acts: Acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, affirmations, witnessing signatures, certified copies, and credible witness procedures.
Seal & Journal: Specific requirements for the ink stamp seal and mandatory journal recordkeeping.
Fees: Maximum allowable fees per notarial act.
Prohibited Acts & Penalties: What notaries cannot do, and the civil and criminal consequences of misconduct.
RON: Rules governing remote online notarization in Montana.
80%
Minimum score required to pass the Montana Notary Examination.
Notarial Acts
A Montana Notary Public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts under Title 1, Chapter 5, MCA:
Acknowledgment: The signer personally appears and declares to the notary that they signed the document voluntarily. This is the most common notarial act and is used for real estate documents, powers of attorney, and more.
Jurat (Verification on Oath or Affirmation): The signer takes an oath or affirmation that the contents of a document are true and signs in the notary's presence. Used for affidavits and sworn statements.
Oath or Affirmation: The notary administers a spoken or written oath or affirmation to a person, without necessarily notarizing a document.
Witnessing a Signature: The notary witnesses a person sign a document and confirms the signer's identity.
Certified Copy: The notary certifies that a copy of a document is a true and correct reproduction of the original. Montana notaries generally may not certify copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) as those require the issuing government agency.
Copy of Notary Journal Entry: A notary may certify a copy of an entry from their own notary journal.
A notary must personally appear with the signer for all traditional notarial acts. For Remote Online Notarization (RON), the notary and signer must be connected via two-way audio-visual technology with identity proofing requirements met.
Notary Seal Requirements
Montana law requires every notary public to have an official ink stamp seal. The seal must be used on every notarial certificate you complete. Requirements are specific:
Shape: The seal must be rectangular, approximately 1 inch × 2½ inches in size.
Ink Color: The seal may use blue or black ink only.
Required Text: The seal must contain:
- Your printed name
- The title: "Notary Public for the State of Montana"
- "Residing at" followed by the name of your city or town
- Your commission expiration date in Month/Day/Four-Digit-Year format
You may purchase your seal from most stationery, stamp, or office supply stores, or from online notary supply vendors. Have your commission certificate ready when ordering, as the vendor will need your official commission information to produce an accurate seal.
Seal Security: You must keep your seal in a secure location when not in use. If your seal is lost, stolen, or damaged, you must notify the Montana Secretary of State promptly and obtain a replacement.
Notary Journal
Montana notaries are required by law to maintain a notary journal. The journal serves as an official record of every notarial act you perform and provides critical protection in the event of a dispute or investigation.
Each journal entry must include:
- The date and time of the notarization
- The type of notarial act performed
- A description of the document (type and date)
- The type of identification used to verify the signer's identity
- The signature, printed name, and address of the signer (except for certified deposition transcripts or certified copies)
- The fee charged for the notarization, if any
Prohibited Information: A notary may NOT record a signer's Social Security number, passport number, driver's license number, birth date, or any other information prohibited by the Secretary of State in the journal.
Retention Period: You must retain your journal for at least 10 years after the date of the last entry.
Journal Security: Keep your journal in a secure, locked location when not in use. Your journal is your personal property and must not be surrendered to an employer.
Fees You Can Charge
Montana law sets a maximum fee for notarial acts. You may charge up to — but not exceed — the statutory maximums:
| Acknowledgment (per signature) | Up to $10 |
| Jurat / Verification on Oath | Up to $10 |
| Oath or Affirmation | Up to $10 |
| Witnessing a Signature | Up to $10 |
| Certified Copy | Up to $10 |
| Any other authorized notarial act | Up to $10 |
Notaries may also charge reasonable travel fees if they travel to the signer's location, provided the fee is disclosed and agreed upon before the notarization. Fees are not mandatory — you may choose to notarize at no charge.
Important: You must always record the fee (or $0 if no fee was charged) in your notary journal entry.
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Montana authorized Remote Online Notarization (RON) effective October 1, 2019 / July 1, 2020. This allows commissioned Montana notaries to notarize documents for signers who are not physically present, using two-way audio-visual communication technology.
Who Can Perform RON?
Any commissioned Montana notary public who has registered with the Secretary of State as an Online Notary and completed the required RON training.
Notary Location Requirement
The notary must be physically located within Montana at the time of the RON session. However, the signer may be located anywhere in the world.
Technology Requirements
You must use an approved communication technology platform that provides live two-way audio-visual communication, identity proofing (credential analysis and/or knowledge-based authentication), and audio-visual recording of the session.
RON Journal & Seal
RON sessions must also be recorded and logged. The same $25,000 surety bond required for traditional notarization covers RON sessions — no additional bond is required.
For full RON registration details, visit the Montana SOS Technology-Based Notarization page.
Renewing Your Commission
A Montana Notary Public commission is valid for 4 years. You must go through the full education and examination process each time you renew.
Education: Complete the required continuing education (4 hours in the preceding 12 months, or 2 hours in each of the preceding 3 years).
Examination: Pass the Montana Notary Examination again with a score of 80% or higher.
Application: Submit the renewal application online and pay the $25 filing fee within 6 months of passing the exam.
Bond: Obtain a new $25,000 surety bond, execute the new Oath of Office, and submit to the Secretary of State.
Seal: Order a new seal with the updated commission expiration date. Destroy or deface your old seal upon expiration.
It is best to begin the renewal process at least 3–4 months before your commission expires to avoid any gap in your authority to notarize.
Study Strategy
Montana's 80% passing threshold is higher than most states' exams, making thorough preparation especially important. Most candidates spend 10–20 hours studying before sitting for the exam. A structured approach works best:
1. Read the Handbook
Download and read the Montana Notary Public Handbook from cover to cover at least twice. The exam is based directly on this document.
2. Know the Seal Rules
Memorize the exact seal specifications: rectangular shape, ~1" × 2½", blue or black ink only, required elements. These are frequently tested.
3. Master Journal Requirements
Know exactly what must be recorded in each journal entry, what is prohibited (SSN, passport numbers, etc.), and the 10-year retention rule.
4. Practice Sample Tests
Use our practice questions to build familiarity with how Montana law is tested. Aim to score 90%+ on practice tests before sitting for the real exam.
Focus particular attention on the differences between notarial acts (acknowledgments vs. jurats vs. oaths), the fee schedule, and the prohibited acts sections, as these are common exam topics.
Practice Tests
Because Montana requires an 80% passing score, targeted practice is the most effective preparation strategy. Practice tests help you identify knowledge gaps and get comfortable with the specific phrasing used in Montana statutes.
Our Montana Notary Practice Exams: You can take unlimited practice exams right here on our site. Our questions are updated for 2026 and cover all exam topics including notarial acts, seal and journal requirements, fees, RON, and prohibited acts.
A good benchmark: if you can consistently score 90% or higher on our practice tests, you are in strong shape for the state's 80% passing requirement.
Quick Reference
| Minimum age | 18 years old |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident |
| Education (New) | 4 hours approved notary education |
| Education (Renewal) | 4 hrs in prior 12 months, or 2 hrs/yr × 3 years |
| Exam passing score | 80% |
| Exam fee | Free |
| Application filing fee | $25 (non-refundable) |
| Surety bond | $25,000 (required) |
| Bond cost (approx.) | $35–$55 for 4-year term |
| Application window | Within 6 months of passing exam |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Seal shape | Rectangular, ~1" × 2½" |
| Seal ink | Blue or black only |
| Journal | Required by law |
| Journal retention | 10 years after last entry |
| Max fee per notarial act | $10 |
| RON authorized | Yes (registration required) |
| Primary agency | Montana Secretary of State (sosmt.gov) |