Title 4, Title 4

1. Acknowledgment of a record. A notarial officer who takes an acknowledgment of a record shall determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of the identity of the individual, that the individual appearing before the officer and making the acknowledgment has the id…

If a notarial act relates to a statement made in or a signature executed on a record, the individual making the statement or executing the signature shall appear personally before the notarial officer.

1. Personal knowledge of identity. A notarial officer has personal knowledge of the identity of an individual appearing before the officer if the individual is personally known to the officer through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty that the individual has the …

1. Basis to refuse. A notarial officer may refuse to perform a notarial act if the officer is not satisfied that: A. The individual executing the record is competent or has the capacity to execute the record; or [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).…

If an individual is physically unable to sign a record due to a disability, the individual may direct an individual other than the notarial officer to sign the individual's name on the record. The notarial officer shall insert "Signature affixed by (name of other individual) at t…

1. Persons authorized to perform notarial acts. A notarial act may be performed in this State by: A. A notary public of this State; [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] B. A justice, judge, clerk or deputy clerk of a court of this State; [PL 2021,…

1. Notarial acts in other states recognized. A notarial act performed in another state has the same effect under the laws of this State as if performed by a notarial officer of this State, if the act performed in that state is performed by: A. A notary public of that state; [PL 2…

1. Notarial acts under authority of federally recognized Indian tribes recognized. A notarial act performed under the authority and in the jurisdiction of a federally recognized Indian tribe has the same effect as if performed by a notarial officer of this State, if the act perfo…

1. Notarial act under federal authority recognized. A notarial act performed under federal law has the same effect under the laws of this State as if performed by a notarial officer of this State, if the act performed under federal law is performed by: A. A judge, clerk or deputy…

1. Foreign state. As used in this section, "foreign state" means a government other than the United States, a state or a federally recognized Indian tribe. 2. Foreign notarial acts recognized. If a notarial act is performed under authority and in the jurisdiction of a foreign sta…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Communication technology" means an electronic device or process that allows a notarial officer and a remotely located individual to communicate with each other simultaneously by sight an…

1. Certificate required. A notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate. The certificate must: A. Be executed contemporaneously with the performance of the notarial act; [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] B. Be signed and dated by the notaria…

The following short form certificates of notarial acts are sufficient for the purposes indicated, if completed with the information required by section 1916, subsections 1 and 2. [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] 1. Individual capacity. For an …

A notary public may keep an official stamp, which must: [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] 1. Information included. Include the notary public's name, jurisdiction, commission expiration date and other information required by the Secretary of Sta…

1. Notary public's responsibility. A notary public is responsible for the security of the notary public's stamping device and may not allow another individual to use the device to perform a notarial act. On resignation from, or the revocation or expiration of, the notary public's…

1. Journal required. A notarial officer shall maintain a journal for all electronic and remote notarizations. A notarial officer may maintain a journal for all tangible notarizations. The notarial officer shall retain the journal for 10 years after the performance of the last not…

1. Selection of technology. A notarial officer may select one or more tamper-evident technologies to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records. A person may not require a notarial officer to perform a notarial act with respect to an electronic record with a technol…

1. Application. An individual qualified under subsection 2 may apply to the Secretary of State for a notary public commission. The applicant shall comply with and provide the information required by rules established by the Secretary of State and pay any application fee. 2. Quali…

1. Examination required. An applicant for a notary public commission who at the time of application does not hold a commission in this State must pass an examination administered by the Secretary of State or an entity approved by the Secretary of State. The examination must be ba…

1. Grounds. The Secretary of State may deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend or impose a condition on a notary public commission for any act or omission that demonstrates the individual lacks the honesty, integrity, competence or reliability to act as a notary public, including:…

The Secretary of State shall maintain an electronic database of notaries public: [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] 1. Verification. Through which a person may verify the authority of a notary public to perform notarial acts; and 2. Electronic r…

1. Acts not authorized. A notary public commission does not authorize an individual to: A. Assist persons in drafting legal records, give legal advice or otherwise practice law; [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. A, §8 (AFF).] B. Act as an immigration consult…

Except as otherwise provided in section 1904, subsection 6, the failure of a notarial officer to perform a duty or meet a requirement specified in this chapter does not invalidate a notarial act performed by the notarial officer. The validity of a notarial act under this chapter …

1. Rules. The Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement this chapter. Rules adopted regarding the performance of notarial acts with respect to electronic records may not require, or accord greater legal status or effect to, the implementation or application of a specific te…

A notary public commission in effect on July 1, 2023 continues until its date of expiration. A notary public who applies to renew a notary public commission on or after July 1, 2023 is subject to and shall comply with this chapter. A notary public, in performing notarial acts aft…

This chapter does not affect the validity or effect of a notarial act performed before July 1, 2023.

In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

This chapter modifies, limits and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 United States Code, Section 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit or supersede Section 101(c) of that Act, 15 United States Code, Section 7001(c), or authoriz…

This chapter takes effect July 1, 2023.