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Montana Notary Public — Requirements & Free Practice

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Notary Public Commission

Four-year Montana notary public commission. Initial issuance and renewal involve the Montana Notary Exam. Changes to the existing holder’s name or city of residence result in an amended commission certificate. Technology-based services require a separate registration update and approved course examination.

Licensing authority: Montana Secretary of State · Application information

New commission by examination
Montana Notary Exam
Applicant
Applicant for a new Montana notary public commission.
Attempt limit
After three unsuccessful examination attempts, wait three months before attempting the examination again (ARM 44.15.101(4)(a)(ii)).
Bond
Obtain the prescribed $25,000 surety bond or functional equivalent from an authorized provider covering the four-year commission term. Maintain valid assurance on file before performing notarial acts (MCA 1-5-619(4)(d)).
Commission term
Four years; an individual may hold only one Montana notary public commission at a time (MCA 1-5-619(5)-(6)).
Education
Complete at least four hours of approved notary public education within the previous 12 months; approval may be by the Secretary of State or the commission of continuing legal education (MCA 1-5-620(3)(a)).
English
Able to read and write English (MCA 1-5-619(1)(d)).
Exam score age
Take and pass the Montana Notary Exam no more than six months before submitting the application; passing grade is 80% (ARM 44.15.101(4)(a)).
Filing time
Submit the application, bond, certification and fee within 30 days before or after the effective date of the surety bond or expiration of the previous commission (MCA 1-5-619(4)(f)).
Fitness
Not disqualified under MCA 1-5-621; the Secretary of State may assess honesty, integrity, competence and reliability, including criminal history, misstatements, misconduct and prior commission discipline. A criminal conviction is not a complete bar when full rights have been restored.
Legal status
United States citizen or permanent legal resident (MCA 1-5-619(1)(b)).
Minimum age
At least 18 years old (MCA 1-5-619(1)(a)).
Montana connection
Satisfy at least one MCA 1-5-619(1)(c) alternative: Montana residence; spouse or legal dependent of military personnel on active duty in Montana; a Montana place of business registered under Title 35 with applicable local business licenses; regular employment at a Montana office, business or facility by an employer registered and licensed in Montana; or a current professional license issued by an appropriate Montana authority to practice in Montana.
Oath and signature
Execute the statement and oath of office before another notary and use the official signature; the application name must match the bond name.
Online application
Submit the prescribed online application with education and examination certificates, bond and $25 nonrefundable filing fee; include explanatory documentation for affirmative background responses other than having previously held a Montana commission.
Technology services
Before performing an initial technology-based notarial act, separately identify the selected system or communication technology, complete approved technology instruction and pass the examination based on that course, and submit proof to the Secretary of State (MCA 1-5-615(3)). This additional course examination is not uniquely identified by the official registration instructions.
Amended certificate following a name change
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Applicant
Existing Montana notary public commission holder whose official name changes.
Bond rider
Upload a surety-company rider or other document showing the new bond name, signed with the new official signature.
Certificate and stamp
After approval, download the amended certificate of commission and purchase a new stamp displaying the new name.
Filing
Notify the Secretary of State through the online portal within 30 calendar days of the information change.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal of an existing commission
Montana Notary Exam
Applicant
Current or recently expired Montana notary public commission holder applying for renewal.
Attempt limit
After three unsuccessful examination attempts, wait three months before attempting the examination again (ARM 44.15.101(4)(a)(ii)).
Bond
Obtain the prescribed $25,000 surety bond or functional equivalent from an authorized provider covering the four-year commission term. Maintain valid assurance on file before performing notarial acts (MCA 1-5-619(4)(d)).
Commission term
Four years; an individual may hold only one Montana notary public commission at a time (MCA 1-5-619(5)-(6)).
Education
Complete either at least four hours of approved notary public continuing education within the previous 12 months, or at least two hours in each of the previous three years; approval may be by the Secretary of State or the commission of continuing legal education (MCA 1-5-620(3)(b)).
English
Able to read and write English (MCA 1-5-619(1)(d)).
Exam score age
Take and pass the Montana Notary Exam no more than six months before submitting the application; passing grade is 80% (ARM 44.15.101(4)(a)).
Filing time
Submit the application, bond, certification and fee within 30 days before or after the effective date of the surety bond or expiration of the previous commission (MCA 1-5-619(4)(f)).
Fitness
Not disqualified under MCA 1-5-621; the Secretary of State may assess honesty, integrity, competence and reliability, including criminal history, misstatements, misconduct and prior commission discipline. A criminal conviction is not a complete bar when full rights have been restored.
Legal status
United States citizen or permanent legal resident (MCA 1-5-619(1)(b)).
Minimum age
At least 18 years old (MCA 1-5-619(1)(a)).
Montana connection
Satisfy at least one MCA 1-5-619(1)(c) alternative: Montana residence; spouse or legal dependent of military personnel on active duty in Montana; a Montana place of business registered under Title 35 with applicable local business licenses; regular employment at a Montana office, business or facility by an employer registered and licensed in Montana; or a current professional license issued by an appropriate Montana authority to practice in Montana.
Oath and signature
Execute the statement and oath of office before another notary and use the official signature; the application name must match the bond name.
Online application
Submit the prescribed online application with education and examination certificates, bond and $25 nonrefundable filing fee; include explanatory documentation for affirmative background responses other than having previously held a Montana commission.
Renewal window
The online portal accepts renewal only within 30 days before commission expiration and the 30-day grace period after expiration. The expired commission does not authorize acts during that grace period.
Technology services
Before performing an initial technology-based notarial act, separately identify the selected system or communication technology, complete approved technology instruction and pass the examination based on that course, and submit proof to the Secretary of State (MCA 1-5-615(3)). This additional course examination is not uniquely identified by the official registration instructions.
Amended certificate following a city of residence change
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Applicant
Existing Montana notary public commission holder whose city of residence changes and who remains qualified under MCA 1-5-619.
Certificate and stamp
After approval, download the amended certificate of commission and purchase a new stamp displaying the new city of residence.
Filing
Notify the Secretary of State through the online portal within 30 calendar days of the information change.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Montana Notary Exam

Provider
Montana Secretary of State; current examination hosted by ProProfs
Format
Online examination
Exam questions
30 questions
Passing score
80%
Examination outline
  • Montana Code Annotated, Title 1, Chapter 5, Part 6 — Notarial Acts
  • Administrative Rules of Montana, Title 44, Chapter 15 — Notaries Public
Examination sources