Montana Notary Commission Course

The Montana Notary Public and Commission

1. Role and purpose of a Montana notary — 5 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-601, 1-5-602, 1-5-604
2. Eligibility and commission qualifications — 7 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-619, 1-5-621
3. Education and examination requirements — 6 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-620; ARM 44.15.101
4. Application, bond and commission term — 7 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-619; ARM 44.15.102–.103

Official Signature, Stamp, Journal and Records

1. Official signature and stamp — 8 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-616; ARM 44.15.107
2. Stamp ownership and security — 5 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-617
3. Journal format and required entries — 12 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-618
4. Journal access, retention and custody — 5 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-618; ARM 44.15.110

The Montana Notarization Process: Appearance, Identity and Refusal

1. Universal notarization workflow and appearance — 8 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-603
2. Personal knowledge and identification credentials — 10 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-603(12)–(14)
3. Credible witnesses — 7 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-603(12)(b)
4. Capacity, willingness and refusal — 8 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-622
5. Representative capacity and physically unable principals — 7 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-603(4), 1-5-623

Notarial Certificates, Venue and Corrections

1. Certificate elements and venue — 9 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-609, 1-5-629
2. Acknowledgment forms — 8 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-603(1), (4), 1-5-610
3. Jurat and signature-witnessing forms — 8 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-603(2)–(3), 1-5-610
4. Copy certificates and certificate corrections — 6 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-603(5), 1-5-609(5), 1-5-610
5. Preventing incomplete or improper certificates — 4 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-625(1)(d)

Core Notarial Acts and Choosing the Correct Procedure

1. Acknowledgments — 6 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-602(1), 1-5-603(1)
2. Signature witnessing — 6 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-602(31), 1-5-603(3)
3. Oaths, affirmations and jurats — 6 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-602, 1-5-603(2), (7)
4. Copy certifications, transcripts and protests — 6 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-603(5)–(8), 1-5-604(4), 1-5-625(1)(c)
5. Determining the requested act without practicing law — 6 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-625(3)–(4)

Montana-Specific and Special Notarial Situations

1. Certification of fact/event — 8 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-602(3), 1-5-603(11), 1-5-610(11)
2. Certification of life — 6 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-603(11)(b), 1-5-610(12)
3. Certification of photograph — 5 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-603(11)(c), 1-5-610(13)
4. Solemnization of marriage — 7 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-630; MCA § 40-1-301
5. Foreign-use records and certificate of authority — 5 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-631; ARM 44.15.105
6. Recognition and territorial authority — 4 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-604–1-5-608, 1-5-629

Ethics, Prohibited Acts, Fees and Discipline

1. Impartiality, self-notarization and conflicts — 7 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-625(1)–(2)
2. Unauthorized practice, immigration matters and advertising — 7 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-625(1)(e)–(h), (3)–(4)
3. Fees and disclosures — 5 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-626; ARM 44.15.109
4. Record/stamp misuse and unlawful acts — 6 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-617, 1-5-618, 1-5-632
5. Discipline, mandatory refusal and ethical judgment — 5 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-621, 1-5-622

Application, Renewal, Change Reporting and Exam Readiness

1. New and renewal workflow — 5 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-619, 1-5-620; ARM 44.15.101–.103
2. Changes, resignation and nonrenewal — 4 minutes
   ARM 44.15.106; MCA § 1-5-618
3. Traditional course vs. remote/electronic authorization — 3 minutes
   MCA § 1-5-615(3)
4. Exam-readiness review — 3 minutes
   MCA §§ 1-5-603, 1-5-620, 1-5-622, 1-5-625