United States Notary Association

HI: Notary Public Law Changes Result of Hawaiian Man's Murder

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:00:15 GMT

John Elwin, a Kauai resident, was murdered in the Philippines in 2006 so his long-time business associate could steal Elwin's Kauai property. The transaction was made possible by substituting legitimately notarized documents for a transfer of an automobile for documents related to the property transfer.

TN: Tennessee Governor Signs Citizenship Requirements for Notaries

Fri, 02 May 2008 18:08:25 GMT

Gov. Phil Bredesen signed House Bill 2954 into law on April 30 requiring notaries to be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. The bill previously passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously.

NJ: New Jersey's Hero Act May Change License Look

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:38:39 GMT

A bill pending in the New Jersey legislature (A.B. 4644) could lead to a slight change in the look of New Jersey drivers' licenses and personal identification (ID) cards.

TN: Education Could Become Mandatory for Tennessee Notaries

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:37:59 GMT

Tennessee state legislators are considering amendments to the Tennessee Code that affect notaries public.

LA: New Orleans to Merge Offices

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:35:43 GMT

A special election will be held Oct. 4, 2008, in New Orleans to fill the Recorder of Mortgages post, an office that will be dissolved in January 2009.

NJ: New Jersey Legislators Look to Change Notary Law

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:34:59 GMT

After nearly 30 years, New Jersey legislators are considering some major revisions to the Notary Public Law of 1979.

WA: State Passes Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:35:38 GMT

On March 18, Washington became the 16th state to adopt the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (URPERA) when Gov. Chris Gregoire signed House Bill 2459 into law. The new law, which goes into effect on June 12, states that if a law requires a document to be on paper or another tangible medium, or in writing, or signed before it can be recorded, the requirement is satisfied by an electronic document. Also, if a document or a signature associated with a document must be notarized, acknowledged, verified, witnessed, or made under oath before it can be recorded, the requirement is satisfied if an electronic signature and all other required information are attached to or logically associated with the document or signature.

NV: Nevada Schedules Training for New Notaries

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:34:34 GMT

The Nevada Secretary of State's office has scheduled training for new notaries public on Thursday, April 17, at the Elko Red Lion Inn from 8 a.m. to noon.

The training is designed for new notaries as well as notaries whose appointments expired more than one year ago or any notary who has been cited for a violation in the last four years.

AR: Arkansas Schedules Statewide Spring Notary Public Seminars

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:33:54 GMT

The Arkansas Secretary of State's office has announced the schedule of free spring notary seminars.
The seminars, which run for 90 minutes, cover a myriad of topics including the application process, jurisdiction, notarial powers, administering oaths, electronic notarization and taking acknowledgments, affidavits and depositions. In addition, the course also covers what kind of documents may be notarized and commission requirements.

UT: Utah Passes Attorney Notary Bill

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:33:14 GMT

A bill allowing an attorney to notarize documents when the attorney is named in the documents was signed by Gov. Jon Huntsman on March 14.

VA: Virginia Approves New Oath Standard

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:31:56 GMT

Virginia has amended its notary public law to allow notaries public in any state or country to administer oaths to individuals in the military or civilians on active duty and deployed by the Department of Defense who are elected or appointed to Commonwealth offices. that require an oath of office to make such an oath in front of any notary public in the United States.

WI: Wisconsin Cracking Down on Notarios

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:30:42 GMT

Anyone trying to impersonate a notario publico in Wisconsin is going to pay a hefty price.

Gov. Jim Doyle signed Assembly Bill 468 on March 18. The new law prohibits a notary public who is not an attorney from acting in ways that would make someone think that he or she is a lawyer. The bill also makes it illegal for a notary to use the Spanish words notario or notarizaciones in signs, advertisements and other written communication.

SD: South Dakota Revises Notary Law

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:59:30 GMT

South Dakota modified its notary seal requirements to incorporate the notary's commission expiration date and also now allows non-residents who work in the state to become notaries.

MS: New Seal Requirements for Mississippi

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:44:30 GMT

Last year, new seal requirements were implemented for Mississippi. As a Mississippi notary, you will want to make sure that you are using the proper seal to perform your notarial acts.

NJ: Notary Public Education Seminars Scheduled

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:57:57 GMT

For the first time, the United States Notary Association (USNA), in partnership with the New Jersey Notary Association, is offering specially-designed notary education seminars to New Jersey notaries public beginning in April at two locations, Jersey City and Cherry Hill.

PA: DOS Opens eNotarization to Multiple Vendors, Drops $40 Fee

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:23:09 GMT

The Pennsylvania Department of State is making some major changes to the Commonwealth's Electronic Notarization Initiative as the program enters its third year.

Beginning Jan. 30, the department is opening the program to allow multiple vendors to participate, providing notaries with more choices on how to electronically notarize documents.

CA: California Bills Address Variety of Issues

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:13:46 GMT

California passed Assembly Bill 434 that will affect the way notaries produce copies of their registers as of Jan. 1, 2008.

CA: Bill Passed, Notary Responsibilities Toughened

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:47:26 GMT

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 886 into law on Oct. 10, requiring, among other, a thumbprint for all notarized documents, requiring all notaries to provide a physical address as their business address, prohibiting notaries from using personal knowledge in identifying their customers, and allowing a peace officer to seize a notarial journal without a warrant.

NV: New Nevada Notaries Need Education Now

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:31:06 GMT

Effective Oct.1, some applicants for notary public commissions in Nevada will be required to complete a four-hour notary class conducted by the secretary of state’s office.

NJ: New Jersey Launches Public Education Campaign

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:45:09 GMT

New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced the Sept. 10 launch of a new public education campaign that explains what services notaries public are legally allowed to offer consumers.

AR: Arkansas Offers Free Notary Seminars

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 18:21:39 GMT

The Arkansas Secretary of Stateâs office is holding 30 free notary public seminars in 27 counties this fall.

IL: Illinois Passes Real Property Electronic Recording Act

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:08:32 GMT

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed the Senate Bill 319 on Aug.27, creating the state's Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act.

ME: Maine Unveils New Online Notary Service

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:50:27 GMT

Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced a new notary search tool that features the capacity to search for notaries public and dedimus justices by name, location or preferred language.

TX: Texas Law Requires Original Signatures on Recorded Paper Documents

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:09:13 GMT

Effective Sept. 1, 2007, a paper document concerning real or personal property may not be recorded in Texas unless it contains an original signature or is attached to an affidavit with an original signature.

ME: Exams in Maine to Prove "Fitness" of Notaries

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:02:30 GMT

Notaries in Maine will soon be required to pass a written exam to prove they are capable of performing their notarial duties.

VA: Virginia Antique Vehicles Must Meet Safety Requirements

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:01:56 GMT

In an effort to rid Virginia highways and byways of clunker vehicles registered as antiques, the state Legislature has amended Code 46.2-730 dealing with the licensing and registration of antique motor vehicles.

Notary Whose Supreme Court Case Set Precedent Dies

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:00:06 GMT

The Maryland man whose quest to become a notary public turned into a Supreme Court case died on June 9, 2007, 46 years after the court validated his refusal to take a state oath requiring him to declare a belief in God.

More Countries Join Apostille Convention in 2007

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:58:17 GMT

Three more countries have ratified or acceded to Convention 12 of The Hague Conference in 2007. The Convention went into effect for the Republic of Moldova on March 16, for Georgia on May 14, and for the Republic of Korea on July 14.

New State Amendments

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:55:24 GMT

Several states have made changes to their notary laws in recent weeks. These states include Tennessee, Louisiana, Arizona, and Rhode Island.

ID: Idaho Approves URPERA

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:12:42 GMT

Idaho is the latest state to enact the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (URPERA). Title 31 Chapter 29 of the Idaho Code took effect on July 1.

South Korea joins Hague Conference

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:36:07 GMT

Officially known as The Republic of Korea, South Korea became a member state of the Hague Conference on July 14, 2007.

Cortés Named NASS President-Elect

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:40:51 GMT

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Pedro Cortés has been named president-elect of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) at the association’s summer conference in July.

FL: Florida Passes Electronic Notarization Law

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:59:03 GMT

On Thursday, June 28, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed House Bill 1305, which establishes standards for electronic notarizations and for the use of electronic notary seals.

U.S. State Department Changes Passport Rules—Again!

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:29:11 GMT

Now through Sept. 30, 2007, U.S. citizens who wish to travel by air to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean can do so without passports as long as they can prove they have applied for passports.

VA: Virginia Makes Changes in Notary Public Law

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:29:11 GMT

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia has been inundated with telephone calls in the last week regarding changes to the Notary Public Law. The United States Notary Association wants to make sure Virginia notaries are aware of the changes.

CO: Cost-cutting Measure Cuts Notary Renewal Notices

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:17:40 GMT

As of July 1, 2007, the Colorado Secretary of State's office will no longer mail renewal reminder post cards to notaries when their terms are about to expire.