Become a notary in Montana

Where to register

Applications go to the Montana Secretary of State. Open their page for the current application, not a StampSide form.

• Commissioning page

  Montana Secretary of State

  https://sosmt.gov/notary/

• Official lookup

  Official lookup for commissioned notaries in Montana.

  https://biz.sosmt.gov/search/notary

Requirements

What the official page states. If a topic is missing here, that page did not spell it out.

Qualifications

SOS applying page: at least 18; U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; able to read and write English; and either a Montana resident or (spouse/legal dependent of military on active duty here; a Title 35-registered Montana business meeting local licensing; regularly employed in Montana by a registered, licensed employer; or a current Montana professional license). Must not be disqualified under 1-5-621, MCA.

Education

New notaries: at least 4 hours of approved training within 12 months of application (1-5-620, MCA). Renewing: at least 4 hours in the 12 months before application, or 2 hours in each of the previous 3 years.

Exam

ARM 44.15.101: take and pass the Montana notary examination no more than six months before submitting the application. 80% is passing. After three failed attempts, wait three months before trying again.

Bond

$25,000 surety bond for the four-year term (ARM 44.15.103 / current SOS applying page). Standardized bond form includes the Statement and Oath of Office — sign twice (principal, then again before another notary). Name on the bond must match the application.

Fee (as posted)

$25 non-refundable. Card, debit, or eCheck. State employees may use Procards or IUJs.

Term

Four-year commission.

How to get started

1. 01

   Complete approved training and pass the exam

   Save PDFs of the training certificate(s) and the exam certificate. The SOS Notary Academy lists approved courses.

2. 02

   Get the $25,000 bond and take the oath on that form

   Use the official notary name you will sign with. Paper applications are returned unprocessed — file only through the SOS online portal.

3. 03

   File online and download the certificate

   Upload training, exam, and bond. The name on the application must match the bond. Track status in the Notary Work Queue. After the approval email, download the Commission Certificate, then buy a stamp that meets SOS specifications and a journal (paper and/or electronic).

4. 04

   Register on StampSide

   After you use the Montana Secretary of State site, create a public page: photo, where you work, and how clients reach you. Share the URL on emails and invoices. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

Tools after you apply

Official pages and named suppliers already listed in this product. Checkout is on their site — StampSide does not sell stamps.

• Bond or E&O

  Montana posts a $25,000 surety bond for the four-year term. E&O is optional; the SOS help center says the bond protects the public, not you.

  National Notary Association

• Stamp or seal

  Download the commission certificate first. The SOS lists recommended stamp vendors who agreed to sell only the prescribed types. Blue or black ink and a photographically reproducible image are described in SOS materials.

  Named suppliers on StampSide

• Journal

  Montana requires a journal of notarial acts. The SOS says you may use a tamper-proof paper journal, a tamper-evident electronic journal, or both.

  Notary Rotary

• More suppliers

  Notary Rotary, Notary.net, and the National Notary Association are on the supplies list. State-specific seals only.

  StampSide supplies list

More official pages

• Applying for a Montana commission (new and renewal)
• Montana notary academy (approved training)
• Montana notary statutes and rules