Montana notary commission
Montana notary public: four hours of training, an exam and a $25,000 bond
Complete 4 hours of approved training, pass the Montana notary exam with 80%, buy a $25,000 bond on the state's form, then apply online at biz.sosmt.gov with your certificates and the $25 fee. Training counts for 12 months and the exam result for 6, so take them close together. Commissions last four years, and every notarial act goes in a journal.
Montana eligibility
- 18 or older, and a US citizen or permanent legal resident.
- A Montana resident, or: the spouse or dependent of military personnel on active duty in Montana; keeping a Montana place of business registered under Title 35; regularly employed in Montana by a registered employer; or holding a current Montana professional license.
- Able to read and write English.
- At least 4 hours of approved training completed within 12 months before you apply (MCA 1-5-620).
- A passing exam score (80%) earned no more than 6 months before you apply.
- Not disqualified under MCA 1-5-621.
Source: Applying for a Commission (New and Renewal); Montana Notary Public Handbook.
Training, exam, bond, application
- Take 4 hours of approved training. From a Secretary of State-approved provider listed on the Notary Academy page. Save the completion certificate as a PDF.
- Pass the Montana notary exam. 80% to pass. After three failed attempts, wait three months before trying again. Save the exam certificate.
- Buy the $25,000 bond. On Montana's standardized form, which includes the Statement of Qualifications and Oath of Office. Sign once as principal and again before another notary, using your exact notary name.
- Apply online. At biz.sosmt.gov: upload the training and exam certificates and the bond, and pay the $25 non-refundable fee. Paper applications are returned unprocessed.
- Download your commission and set up. Order a stamp that meets state rules and a journal.
Source: Applying for a Commission (New and Renewal); Notary Academy.
Montana costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| 4 hours of training and the exam | Set by provider Secretary of State-approved providers. |
| Application | $25 Non-refundable. |
| $25,000 bond premium | About $50 to $70 The Secretary of State's estimate for the 4-year term. |
| Rectangular ink stamp | Vendor price Blue or black ink; a new one each term. |
| Journal | Vendor price Required for every notarial act. |
The state's charge is $25. With the Secretary of State's bond estimate, the bond and fee come to about $75 to $95 before training, the exam and supplies.
Source: Applying for a Commission (New and Renewal); Bonds, Stamps, and Journals - Tools of the Trade.
MT starter kit · $29
Montana Notary Starter Kit
Montana's training, exam, $25,000 bond and $25 application in order, the 12-month and 6-month clocks, the $10 cap and travel rule, ID rules, the required journal, stamp layout, remote amendments, the required notice, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four years, with continuing education
A Montana commission lasts four years. The bond's effective date must fall within 30 days before or after your application arrives. You can renew from 30 days before expiration to the end of a 30-day grace period after it.
Renewal requires continuing education, either 4 hours in the 12 months before applying or 2 hours in each of the 3 prior years, and the exam again.
Source: Applying for a Commission (New and Renewal).
Adding remote and electronic notarization in Montana
The 2019 Legislature authorized remote online notarization, remote notarization of paper records and in-person electronic notarization. To add it, choose an approved platform, complete the required course, pass the exam and file an amendment with the Secretary of State; before your first remote act, notify the Secretary and identify the system (MCA 1-5-615(3)).
You must be physically in Montana; the principal may be in Montana, elsewhere in the US, or abroad under 1-5-603(10)(a). If the signer isn't personally known, use two or more approved technologies such as knowledge-based authentication, credential analysis or a public key certificate. Record the whole communication and keep it 10 years in your sole possession unless transferred to an approved repository (1-5-618).
Source: Montana Notary Public Handbook.
The $10 cap, the journal and the stamp
MCA 1-5-626(1) caps each notarial act at $10. Travel is extra only if explained as not set by law and agreed in advance, and not above the IRS standard mileage rate. Publish your fee schedule in English.
A journal is required for every act, bound paper or tamper-evident electronic, kept 10 years after the last act. Never record a Social Security, passport or driver's license number, or a birth date (MCA 1-5-618(4)). Your rectangular ink stamp, about 1 by 2½ inches in blue or black, shows your printed name, "Notary Public for the State of Montana", "Residing at" with your city or town, and "My commission expires" with the date written in full.
Source: Montana Notary Public Handbook; Bonds, Stamps, and Journals - Tools of the Trade.
Want loan signings, not just walk-in notarizations? The Loan Signing Cheat Sheet explains the documents in a refinance or purchase package, and the Notary Marketing Kit covers getting found by title companies and local clients.
Montana notary questions
How much training does a Montana notary need?
At least 4 hours from a Secretary of State-approved provider, finished within 12 months before you apply.
What score do I need on the Montana notary exam?
80%. The result counts for 6 months, and after three failed attempts you wait three months to try again.
How much is a Montana notary bond?
The bond is $25,000. The Secretary of State estimates the premium at about $50 to $70 for the four-year term.
Does a Montana notary need a journal?
Yes, for every notarial act, kept 10 years after the last act.
What can a Montana notary charge?
Up to $10 per notarial act, plus agreed travel at no more than the IRS standard mileage rate.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Montana sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Montana Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Montana.