Notary Handbook - the Montana Secretary of State Website

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTER 3
Q. I just got married/divorced – how do I change my name on my commission?
A. Start by contacting your insurance agent and requesting a “name change rider”. Once the rider is sent to you, you need to
send the rider, along with a completed Contact Information Update form, to: Montana Secretary of State, PO Box 202801,
Helena MT 59620-2801. A certificate reflecting the name change will be sent to you and you can then replace your official
notarial seal/stamp.
Q. Do I have to notify the state if I move or change jobs?
A. Yes. Please send a Contact Information Update form with your updated information to: Montana Secretary of State, PO Box
202801, Helena MT 59620-2801, so that the records reflect your current residence and business information, including
addresses and phone numbers. If you move to a different city, an amended certificate reflecting the change of city will be sent
to you and you can then replace your official notarial seal/stamp, if your commission expires after Oct. 1, 2013.
Q. How do I renew my commission?
A. The instructions for renewing a commission can be found on page 19 of this handbook; however there may be changes in the
process from time to time. You are encouraged to visit the Secretary of State’s website www.sos.mt.gov/Notary to check out
the most current requirements.
Q. I am moving out of state – what do I do with my journal and seal?
A. When terminating a commission for any reason, the notary must deposit all his or her journals with the secretary of state’s
office and destroy the seal.
Q. My former employer paid for my bond and my seal and I have changed jobs. Do I have to get a new bond? Do I leave my
journal and seal with my former employer?
A. The bond is a contract between the notary, personally, and the bonding company, regardless of who paid for it; only the
notary, the bonding company, or the State of Montana (as the obligee) may cancel or change the terms of the bond. Even if
your employer paid for the bond, he cannot cancel it without your knowledge and approval. Likewise, your journal and
seal/stamp are yours, and you have the legal responsibility for keeping and maintaining them in your possession or under your
control at all times.
CHAPTER 3 – Quiz
T_____ F_____ 1. The process for applying for a new appointment is the same as the process for applying for a
reappointment, except that new notary applicants must complete a certified training course before applying.
T_____ F_____ 2. You can renew your commission anytime within three months of your commission expiration date.
T_____ F_____ 3. When sending the paperwork to the Secretary of State’s office for a notary commission, you should send an
original application, a copy of the bond, the errors and omissions insurance, and the filing fee.
Answers:
1. True.
2. False: Renewals must be submitted no more than thirty days before, or thirty days after, your current commission expiration
date.
3. False: When applying for a commission (new or renewal) you send an original application, the original bond, and the filing
fee. Nothing more is necessary; nothing less is acceptable.
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