Utah Notary Public: Requirements, Exam, Bond and Commission Fees
Utah Notary Public: Requirements, Exam, Bond and Commission Fees
A Utah notary public is commissioned by the Lieutenant Governor's office, not licensed the way a contractor or cosmetologist is. The commission lets you witness signatures, administer oaths and certify certain documents. If you want to become a notary utah employers and clients recognize, you need to meet the eligibility rules, pass the online exam, post a $5,000 bond and pay the administration fee. This guide walks through each step, the fees you should expect, and the record-keeping rules that changed in 2026.
This guide is informational only. It is not legal or tax advice. Notary law and fees change, so confirm every figure with the agency before you pay or file. If your situation is complex, such as remote notarization for a company or a business with multiple locations, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA.
Who Qualifies for a Utah Notary Commission
The Lieutenant Governor's office requires that you meet all of the following before you apply:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident.
- Be a lawful Utah resident, or be employed in Utah for at least 30 days.
- Read and write English.
- Pass a background check.
Check the eligibility wording on notary.utah.gov before you start, because the office sets the final requirements. If you work in Utah but live across the state line, confirm how the 30-day employment rule applies to your situation with the office.
The Application Steps, in Order
Utah moved notary applications to a new online system in September 2026. The application is at notaryapplication.utah.gov. The general sequence is:
- Confirm your eligibility against the list above.
- Take the online exam. The test cost is non-refundable, so study before you pay for it. Confirm the current test fee on the notary site, because it is not part of the figures set out below.
- Pay the $95 administration fee after you pass the exam. This is the commission fee, and it is paid separately from the test.
- Obtain a $5,000 notarial bond from a surety company (details in the next section).
- Complete the background check the application requires.
- Upload your bond and your signed Oath of Office to the application.
Confirm the exact order on the application screens, since the system is new. Once the office approves your file, you receive your commission. Do not order a stamp or journal until you know the commission is issued, and keep the commission details exactly as the office records them.
The Exam and Retake Rules
The exam is taken online. Each failed attempt requires a $40 retake fee. The retake offer is valid for 30 days from your first test date, so if you fail, schedule the retake inside that window. If the 30 days pass, the office's current rules govern whether you start over, so ask before you assume the offer carries forward.
Study the state's notary handbook and the statutory duties it covers before you test. The identification and journal rules changed in 2026 and are covered below.
The $5,000 Notary Bond
Utah requires a $5,000 notarial bond. A bond is not insurance for you. It protects the public if you make an error or act wrongly in your duties, and the surety company pays a claim and then looks to you for repayment. The bond is purchased from a surety company, and you pay a premium on top of the $5,000 face amount. The premium is not a fixed number. Quotes vary by provider, so ask the surety for the exact premium before you buy.
Two details cause most bond problems:
- The name must match your application exactly. A bond issued in a different name than the one on your application can be rejected at upload, which delays your commission. Use your legal name as it appears on your identification.
- Upload the bond through the application. The office needs the bond on file before it issues the commission.
Utah Notary Fees at a Glance
The table below lists the fees the state has published for a standard notary commission. Lines marked "confirm" are costs the state does not set as a single figure, so verify them before budgeting.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online exam | Confirm with the office | Non-refundable. Paid when you test. |
| Administration fee | $95 | Paid after you pass the exam. |
| Retake fee | $40 per failed attempt | Offer valid 30 days from the first test date. |
| Notarial bond | $5,000 face amount | Premium is extra. Confirm the premium with the surety. |
| Notary stamp and journal | Set by private vendors | You buy these from a private vendor, not the state. |
| Remote online notary application | $50 | Additional to the standard commission. |
Budget for the exam, the $95 fee, the bond premium and the stamp and journal before you apply. The stamp and journal are not optional, because the rules below require a journal for most commissions issued after May 6, 2026.
The 2026 Journal and Identification Rules (S.B. 139)
Senate Bill 139 of 2026 took effect May 6, 2026. It changes how you keep records and how you verify identity. Under the bill:
- A notary who receives a commission, or a new commission, on or after May 6, 2026 must keep a physical journal of notarial acts.
- A notary who performs remote notarizations must keep a secure electronic journal instead.
- Journal entries must be kept for 10 years.
- To establish identity, you must use an unexpired identification document.
If you were commissioned before May 6, 2026, confirm with the Lieutenant Governor's office how the journal rule applies to your existing commission. The office, not this guide, decides how the bill applies to notaries already in office. Whatever the answer, keep detailed records. A journal is the strongest protection you have if a signature is ever questioned.
Remote Online Notarization
If you want to notarize documents for people who are not physically in front of you, you need a remote online notary (RON) commission. The requirements are stricter:
- A total bond of $10,000. This means either a rider to your existing bond or an additional $5,000 bond on top of the standard $5,000.
- A $50 application fee for the RON authority.
- A secure electronic journal for each remote notarization, as described above.
Remote notarization is not a shortcut. It adds a second bond, a second journal and a technology requirement. Confirm the approved platforms and procedures with the office before you offer the service.
Renewal Is Not a Thing in Utah
Utah has no notary renewal. When your commission ends, you reapply, pay the fees again, post a new bond and retake the exam. Put the expiration date on a calendar well in advance, because a lapse means you start the whole process over. Confirm the length of your commission term on your commission record.
Notary Work as a Business
A notary commission is not a state business license. Utah issues no statewide general business license. If you plan to run a notary service as a business, you typically need a business license from the city or town where you are located or operating, or from the county if you are outside city limits. A city license does not transfer from one city to another, so if you move your office, check the new location.
If you form an entity to run the business, such as an LLC, you file a Certificate of Organization with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. That filing is a registration, not a license. The yearly filing is an annual renewal. If you operate under a name other than your legal name, the assumed name (DBA) is also filed with the state Division, not the county. Start at commerce.utah.gov/corporations and confirm current fees there, because the fees on that site are the controlling figures.
Your notary stamp and journal are not a business license. They are required by the commission, so they do not replace the local license.
A Practical Checklist Before You Apply
- Confirm your eligibility, including residency or 30 days of Utah employment.
- Study the handbook and schedule the exam within a timeframe you can meet.
- Budget the exam fee, the $95 fee, the bond premium and the stamp and journal.
- Get a quote for the $5,000 bond and match the name to your identification exactly.
- Have your unexpired identification ready for the background check and any future notarizations.
- Save your commission confirmation and the approved bond and oath records.
- If you plan to run a notary business, check the city or county license before you advertise.
Where to Confirm Each Detail
Use these official resources as your final source for any figure in this guide:
- Notary commission rules, exam and eligibility: notary.utah.gov
- Notary application system: notaryapplication.utah.gov
- Business entity filings and assumed names: commerce.utah.gov/corporations
- Tax questions, including any sales tax account for a notary business: tax.utah.gov
For a notary who also runs a formal business, a qualified attorney can advise on the entity structure, and a CPA can advise on how income from notary fees is taxed. Your commission itself is a personal state appointment, but the business that surrounds it may carry filings and taxes that need professional review.
Reminder: this guide is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Verify every fee, deadline and requirement with the Lieutenant Governor's office or the named agency before you act.