How to Become a Notary in Utah (2026 Guide)
Utah requires a $5,000 surety bond, a state exam ($95), and a background check to commission as a notary. There is no training course, only a state study guide; commissions last 4 years, and the maximum fee is $10 per traditional notarial act ($25 for remote online work). Total startup cost runs about $160 to $170.
A notary commission is not one business. It’s five.
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Eligibility Requirements
To apply for a Utah notary commission you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be a United States citizen or have permanent resident status.
- Be lawfully residing in Utah or employed in the state for at least 30 days before applying, and maintain that residency or employment going forward.
- Be able to read, write, and understand the English language.
Application Process
- Study for the exam. Download the state’s Utah Notary Public Study Guide; it is the source for every exam question and the closest thing Utah has to a training requirement.
- Create your online account at the Lieutenant Governor’s notary site, which handles the exam, application, and document upload in one place.
- Pass the notary exam. The first attempt costs $95; each retake is $40.
- Complete the background check. Submit the signed waiver with your application; the office routes it for state screening.
- Buy your $5,000 surety bond. The bond covers civil liability for wrongful acts you commit as a notary, and the oath of office usually comes packaged with it.
- Upload everything to your online account and wait for the commission.
The Exam and the Study Guide
Utah skips formal training but not testing: the online exam must be passed before you can be commissioned. The free study guide from the state covers notary law and practice, and reading it end to end is the difference between one attempt and three.
The $5,000 Bond and Insurance
The surety bond is mandatory and protects the public against your wrongful acts, not you. Errors and omissions insurance is the optional coverage that protects you, and experienced Utah notaries carry it for exactly that reason; a policy in the standard $25,000 to $100,000 band costs roughly $15 to $100 a year from notary-specialty insurers.
Stamp and Journal
A notary stamp is required to perform duties in Utah. A journal is not, for traditional paper notarizations, though keeping one is strongly recommended. Remote online notaries must keep the secure electronic journal and session recordings their RON registration requires. One rumor worth quashing: a “journal mandate effective May 6, 2026” sometimes attributed to SB139 traces to a wrong bill citation. Utah’s 2025 SB139 was a mineral-rights bill, and no verified notary journal law has been enacted.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application and exam (first attempt) | $95 |
| Each exam retake | $40 |
| $5,000 surety bond | ~$50 |
| Notary stamp | $15-$25 |
| Journal (recommended, not required) | $10-$50 |
| Total (first attempt) | ~$160-$170 |
Commission Length and Renewal
Utah notary commissions run 4 years from issue. Renewal repeats the same steps: exam, background check, bond, and application through your online account. Start early enough that your current commission does not lapse, because you cannot notarize on an expired commission.
Authorized Notarial Acts
- Taking acknowledgments
- Administering oaths or affirmations
- Performing jurats
- Certifying copies
- Witnessing signatures
How Much You Can Charge
Utah caps the fee at $10 per traditional notarial act and $25 per remote online notarization. You may always charge less, and travel fees for mobile work are separate.
Notarizing for Family Members
Utah has no flat family ban, but you can never notarize a document in which you hold a direct financial interest, which rules out most transactions that name you or your spouse. For real estate documents, require proper identification even from relatives you know well; familiarity is how family-document errors happen.
Penalties for Misconduct
Notarizing without authority is a misdemeanor; fraud or forgery brings felony charges. The Lieutenant Governor can revoke a commission, and your $5,000 bond stands behind the public for wrongful acts, with the surety entitled to repayment from you. Letting anyone else use your stamp is itself a criminal offense, and an employer who pushes you into misconduct can share the liability.
Your Commission Belongs to You
A Utah commission is personal: if you change jobs, the stamp, journal, and commission go with you, and no employer controls them.
Becoming a Signing Agent
Utah notaries can add signing agent work on top of the commission: complete a signing agent training course and exam, carry E&O coverage, and register with signing services. Our guide to becoming a notary signing agent walks through the certification options.
How Utah Compares to Neighboring States
| Requirement | Utah | Colorado | Arizona | Nevada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond | $5,000 | None | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Exam | Yes | Yes | Yes ($46.75) | Course incl. exam |
| Training | No (study guide) | Yes (free SOS course) | No | Yes (3+ hrs) |
| Term | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Max Fee | $10 | None | $10 | $15 |
| Journal | Trad. no / RON yes | Required | Required | Required |
| RON | Yes ($10K bond) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Utah is the only one of the four that skips formal training while still testing; Colorado pairs its exam with a free secretary of state course, Arizona tests through Prometric ($46.75) without requiring a class, and Nevada teaches the exam inside its mandatory course. Nevada’s $10,000 bond doubles Utah’s. Guides: Colorado, Arizona, Nevada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a notary exam required in Utah?
Yes. The online state exam must be passed before commissioning, and the $95 fee covers your first attempt; retakes cost $40 each.
Do I need a surety bond in Utah?
Yes, a $5,000 notarial bond filed with your application, and remote online notaries need a $10,000 bond.
Is a notary journal required in Utah?
Not for traditional paper notarizations, though keeping one is strongly recommended. Remote online notaries must maintain a secure electronic journal and session recordings. Claims of a journal mandate arriving in May 2026 trace to a wrong bill citation and no such law has been verified.
How long does a Utah notary commission last?
4 years from the date of issue.
Can Utah notaries perform remote online notarizations?
Yes, with an additional application, an approved RON vendor, and a $10,000 bond.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Utah?
About $160 to $170 all in: $95 for the application and exam, roughly $50 for the bond, and $15 to $25 for your stamp. A paper journal adds $10 to $50 and is worth it even though the state does not require one.
Updated October 2026. Requirements verified against the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s notary office (notary.utah.gov); SB139 rumor check per current bill records.
