Being a Notary Flashcards
What is a Notary?
A person of integrity appointed by the state acting as an impartial witness.
A notary cannot notarize documents for
Themselves or their spouse. It’s best practice not to notarize documents for your immediate family. Notaries also cannot notarize if they would benefit financially.
The responsibilities of a notary are
Know & understand Oregon laws & OARs relating to notarizations.
Act as an officer of the state.
Correctly perform notarizations.
Prevent fraud.
Assure the security of their journal & stamp.
Personal or professional changes a notary should inform the Oregon Secretary of State’s office of include
Name change
Change of address
Resignation of commission
Use of a RON or IPEN platform
Lost or stolen journal or stamp
Notary standards of conduct are
Exercise reasonable care
Obey all laws & regulations
Use common sense & good judgement
Reasons your commission could be revoked
Conviction of a qualifying crime
Misuse of notary commission
The types of misconduct are
Intentional and unintentional
The disclaimer that you can’t practice law must be
On all forms of advertisement
Can you use the words “notario publico”
No
How long is your commission in Oregon
4 years, you can renew 30 days before it expires
How much can you charge per notarial act for in-person services?
$10 per notarial act
Are travel fees permitted?
Yes, with no restrictions or guidelines on how much to charge in Oregon
Fees must be
Charged in a consistent & unbiased way
Made public in advance of notarization
Can be waived but the reason must be noted and also be consistent
Are you required to keep a notarial journal?
Yes
How long must journals be kept?
At least 10 years from the date of the last notarization. It’s recommended that your journal be kept forever.
