How to Become a Notary Public in Idaho

The cost to become a Notary in Idaho includes the state's $30 application filing fee, the price of your $10,000 surety bond and the cost of your official Notary seal. Prices for your bond, seal and optional Notary supplies and training will vary depending on the vendor you select.

If you are an officer or employee of a state, county, city, or district, and your commission is used for your job, you are exempt from the $30 filing fee.

It can take two to four weeks to get your Notary Public commission depending on your availability and the time it takes for the Secretary of State to process your application.

The Idaho Notary commission is valid for six years, after which you will need to renew it to continue serving as a Notary.

There are basic qualifications an applicant must meet to be a Notary in Idaho:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be able to read and write
• Be a resident of, or an employee in, the state of Idaho
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident

Training is not mandatory for Idaho Notaries. The Secretary of State recommends taking an education course and offers Notary training on their website.

No. Passing an exam is not required to become a Notary Public in Idaho.

A Notary seal is required by the ID Secretary of State. Your official Idaho Notary seal must be an inked stamp and it should not bleed during or after use, as this can cause county officials to reject documents due to smudging. The seal must be either 1" x 2.25" if rectangular or 1.75" in diameter if round. The following information must be on the seal:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words "Notary Public"
• The words "State of Idaho"
• Your commission identification number
• The words "My commission expires _______ (date)" (optional)

While a Notary journal is not required by law in Idaho, it is considered a best practice and is strongly recommended that all commissioned Notaries keep a record of all paper notarial acts. When purchasing a journal, there are a few important features to look for. A journal with numbered pages and tamper-proof sewn construction allows Notaries to easily identify missing pages, which becomes extremely helpful if you're ever named in a lawsuit. Simple notebooks or glue-bound journals do not offer the same level of security.

A six-year, $10,000 surety bond is required for all Idaho Notaries. Additionally, many people choose to purchase optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policies to protect themselves from legal expenses. E&O insurance is not a requirement in Idaho.

The Idaho Secretary of State's Office, located in Boise, ID, issues Notary Public commissions.

Several companies, including the National Notary Association, offer Notary training, supplies, insurance and assistance with the entire application process. Also, the Idaho Secretary of State's website contains the application form with submission details, if you wish to get the process started on your own.

Once commissioned, you will be able to notarize anywhere in the state of Idaho.

Idaho Notaries can perform notarizations for everyone, excluding themselves and their spouses. You cannot notarize your own signature, nor can you notarize documents you are named in or would benefit from. If you perform notarizations as part of your employment, your employer may limit the notarizations you perform during your work hours.

Idaho Notaries can charge a maximum fee of $5 per notarization. An additional fee may be charged, but the signer must agree to it in advance and the fee should not exceed the actual and reasonable expense of traveling to a place where the notarial act will be performed if it’s not the usual palace where you perform notarizations.

If you move or change your name, you must fill out the Notary Public Commission Name or Address Change form. There's no charge for a mailing address change, but a name or physical address change will cost $5. You'll also need to pay the $20 manual processing fee for filing a paper form.

For name changes, you'll receive an amended commission at which point you'll need to buy a new stamp bearing your new name.

The process to renew your commission is the same as when you first applied. You should begin the application process no earlier than 90 days before your commission expires. You must purchase a new Notary seal to reflect your updated commission expiration date. You may also choose to get a new record book (journal) if your old one is full.

As of January 1, 2020, remote online notarization is allowed in Idaho. Remote Notaries can notarize for signers located anywhere as long as the Notary is physically located within Idaho at the time of notarization. There are additional requirements for remote Notaries including the requirement of a journal. Follow the steps in this guide to apply for your remote authorization.

If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.