Notary Handbook - the Montana Secretary of State Website

The MUSTS & MUSTN’TS
for
MONTANA NOTARIES PUBLIC
There is one absolute: The person whose signature, acknowledgement, or oath is being
notarized MUST be in your physical presence when the notarization takes place.
ALWAYS. EVERYTIME. NO EXCEPTIONS – EVER.
There are nine elements to a proper notarial block in Montana; all of them are
statutorily mandated; NONE is optional. A Montana notary MUST complete a full
notarial block regardless of the preprinted format. The prescribed combination
seal/stamp unit includes 5 of the required 9 elements.
Every Montana notary MUST “keep and maintain an official notary journal
recording the details of each notarial act performed…” [1-5-416(1)(g), Eff. 10/1/2009]
A Montana notary MUST use the full four-digit year when placing the
commission expiration date on the notarial block.
In a proper notarial block, the notary’s name MUST appear three times: the
notary’s signature; the notary’s name printed, typed, or stamped below the signature;
and in the notary’s Official Seal.
All notarial blocks shall be placed as close to the notarized signature as possible.
A separate piece of paper should only be used as a last resort.
A notary is expected to know, understand, and follow all
statutes, rules, and standards applicable to the professional conduct of
the role of a Montana Notary Public.
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