Notary Laws for Oklahoma
- Oklahoma has its own specific laws for notaries.timbro image by goccedicolore.it from Fotolia.com
A notary is an individual officially licensed by a state government to perform certain actions in legal matters. The laws governing the requirements, responsibilities, powers, and restrictions of notaries vary between different states. Like all other states, Oklahoma has its own specific laws pertaining to notaries. - Under Oklahoma law, only individuals that are at least eighteen years of age, legal citizens of the United States, and either residing or employed in Oklahoma are eligible to become notaries. The law disqualifies convicted felons from becoming notaries in the state.
- To become a notary in Oklahoma, an individual must first file an application with the Office of the Secretary of State. The applicant must also pay a $25 appointment fee. If the initial application receives approval, the Secretary of State's office will mail the applicant a package which includes a new black and white notary commission, a notarial bond form, an oath of office, and a loyalty oath. The applicant must then file a bond of $1,000, the two oaths, and a $10 filing fee with the Secretary of State's office. The applicant may purchase the bond from an insurance agency or bonding company, or have the bond signed by a property-owning surety in the applicant's county of residence or employment. A bond must be valid for the same four-year span as the notary's term of office. Oklahoma law does not require notaries to keep record books, but it does require them to use ink stamps or embossing seals. To renew a commission, a notary must file a renewal application with the Secretary of State's office no earlier than six weeks prior to the expiration of the notary's term. The notary must also pay a $20 renewal fee and file a new bond with the Secretary of State's office. If the Secretary of State's office receives a notary's renewal application after the notary's term has expired, the Secretary's office will treat the application as an application for a new commission.
- Oklahoma law grants notaries the power to perform notarial acts anywhere in the state, regardless of the notary's county of residence or employment. The law authorizes notaries to administer oaths and affirmations, take acknowledgements, witness or attest signatures, certify or attest copies, demand acceptance or payment of foreign or inland bills of exchange and promissory notes, and protest non-acceptance or non-payment of foreign or inland bills of exchange and promissory notes. The law entitles notaries to charge fees of up to $5 for certain notarial acts.
- Oklahoma law prohibits notaries from notarizing their own signatures or charging fees to notarize absentee ballots.
