How to Become a Notary in the State of Oregon

Resources for the notary are available online from the Oregon Secretary of State.

The Uniform Notary Act of 1973 was designed to reform notary laws. When amended in 1984, the act's name was changed to the Model Notary Act. The State of Oregon has adopted portions of the Model Notary Act.

Instructions

Application Procedure

1. Verify your eligibility to become a notary in the State of Oregon. Qualifications to become a notary in Oregon include being 18 years of age or older; being a resident of Oregon or a resident of California, Idaho, Nevada, or Washington; being employed and carrying on a trade or business in Oregon; being able to read and write the English language; being of good moral character; having had a notary commission revoked for misconduct in the past 5 years; and having successfully completed a background check.

2. Download the Notary Public Guide from the website of the Corporate Division of the Oregon Secretary of State's Office.

3. Complete a three-hour notary training course. Training courses are available free of charge online from the Corporate Division of the Oregon Secretary of State's Office.

4. Download a notary application form and examination from the Corporate Division of the Oregon Secretary of State's Office. Fill out the application in black or dark blue ink. Sign the Oath of Office on the application and have the application notarized.

5. Pass the Oregon Secretary of State's open-book notary examination. The exam is an open-book, true or false and multiple-choice test, based on materials found in the Notary Public Guide and in the live and online seminars The notary exam is attached to the notary application.

After the Notary Application Has Been Approved

1. 

   Pocket seals and stamps are also available for purchase.

   Order a seal, stamp and journal. Notary seals, stamps and journals may be purchased online or at office supply stores.

2. Check the notary seal to make sure that your name is spelled correctly and that the notary commission number and expiration dates are correct and read exactly as printed on the notary certificate.

3. Stamp a legible imprint of your seal in black ink on the Certificate of Authorization to Obtain Official Seal. Send the certificate to the Oregon Secretary of State at the address found near the bottom of the certificate.

4. Wait until after the effective date of your commission before you begin to undertake notarial duties.

Tips & Warnings

• The Oregon Secretary of State offers resources for notaries including maintaining a website, offering notary seminars, publishing guides and being available for questions by telephone, fax and email. Subscribe to the Notary News for legislative updates and news related to the notary public.

• Notaries must use reasonable care in notarizing documents. Although not required by state law, it is prudent for notaries to purchase an "errors and omissions" insurance policy. If sued, the insurance company handles the litigation, may negotiate a settlement or will pay any judgement against the notary-defendant up to the policy limit. Most errors and omissions policies have a policy limit of $50,000 and do not cover intentional misconduct of a notary.

References

• Notary Public Guide: Oregon
• Notary Public Services: Corporation Division, Oregon Secretary of State.
• Model Notary Act Adoptions: National Notary Association

Resources

• Oregon Secretary Of State Corporation Division: Notary Public Application for Commission
• Notary Public Seminar Schedule: Corporation Division, Oregon Secretary of State.
• Subscribe to Notary News: Corporation Division, Oregon Secretary of State.
• Oregon Notary Public Tutorial: Oregon Secretary of State
• The Model Notary Act Of 2010: National Notary Association