How to Become a Notary in Alaska

How do I renew my notary commission in Alaska?

Neither the Alaska notary statute nor the Office of Lieutenant Governor provides the process for renewing a notary public commission.  However, the Office of Lieutenant Governor recommends that a notary public submit his or her notary commission application thirty days before the current commission expires if the notary wishes to retain the same month and day as his or her current commission. The Office of Lieutenant Governor will not process a renewal notary commission application until thirty days prior to the expiration of a notary’s current commission. The renewal application process is the same as for the initial notary commission application for a notary public.  To renew a notary public commission, click here.

Who appoints notaries in Alaska?

The Office of Lieutenant Governor receives applications for appointment and reappointment as a notary public, processes the applications for limited governmental notaries public, administers the commissioning process for all notaries public, and maintains the Notary Database Online. To contact the Office of Lieutenant Governor:

Office of Lieutenant Governor
Notary Public Office
240 Main Street, Room 301
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 465-3509 or (877) 764-1234 (toll-free within Alaska)
Email: notary@alaska.gov
https://ltgov.alaska.gov/notaries-public/

Can a non-resident of Alaska apply for a commission as a notary public?

No. An individual who is not a resident of Alaska by being physically present in Alaska with the intent to remain indefinitely and by maintaining an abode in Alaska does not qualify for an Alaska notary public commission.

How long is a notary public's commission term in Alaska?

The term of office for an Alaska notary public is four years commencing with the date specified in the notary public commission (AS §44.50.010[b]). However, a notary’s commission may be rendered void:   

1. By resignation, death, or revocation.
2. When a notary public ceases to reside in the state of Alaska during his or her commission term.
3. When a notary public has been convicted of a felony offense that has become final and no pardon or certificate of restoration of citizenship rights has been granted.

Note: The term of a limited governmental notary public commission coincides with the term of government employment.

Is notary training or an exam required to become a notary or to renew a notary commission in Alaska?

No. The Alaska notary statute does not require new applicants seeking an appointment as a notary public or renewing notaries public to take a course of study or examination to be commissioned as notaries public in Alaska. The Office of Lieutenant Governor recommends that any new applicant seeking an Alaska notary public commission take and complete an educational course of study so that the notary applicant can clearly understand the state notary laws, the notarial duties and responsibilities, and the general principles and practices of a notary public.

How much does it cost to become a notary public in Alaska?

An Alaska notary applicant’s expenses may include the following:    

1. A $40 filing fee to process a notary commission application.
2. The cost of a $2,500 notary bond.
3. The price of a notary stamp.
4. The cost of a journal.
5. The fee for an E&O insurance policy if an Alaska notary public wishes to purchase such a policy for his or her personal protection against liability.

Do I need a notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to become a notary in Alaska?

No. An errors and omissions insurance policy is optional in Alaska. It is not mandatory to have E&O insurance when applying for appointment as a notary public. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that Alaska notaries obtain an errors and omissions insurance policy for their personal protection against liability. Errors and omissions insurance is designed to protect notaries public from liability against unintentional notarial mistakes or omissions that result in financial or other type of loss to the public or from a client who sues a notary public for recovery. An E&O policy customarily covers legal fees and damages based on the coverage an Alaska notary public selects.

Do I need a notary bond to become a notary in Alaska?

Yes. An Alaska official bond in the amount of $2,500 is required for all new applicants seeking appointments as notaries public and for renewing notaries public (AS §44.50.034). A notary bond may be purchased through an insurance agency, in which case the notary public will be commercially bonded. New applicants and renewing notaries must submit their commercial notary bond and any supporting documentation provided from their insurance/bonding company as part of their commission application. The bond must be for a term of four years from the date of commission.

If new applicants and/or renewing notaries prefer not to purchase a commercial bond, the mandatory bond requirement can be obtained using a private bond that comes from a business, organization, or private individual who acts as a private surety on behalf of a notary public, in which case, the notary public will be privately bonded. In such case, the new applicant and/or renewing notary public is required to submit a signed and notarized notary bond form from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor with his or her notary commission application. It is not necessary to submit the state’s notary bond form in addition to a commercial notary bond.  The blank notary bond form is only intended to be used by applicants and renewing notaries who are supplying their own third party individual surety. New applicants and/or renewing notaries may not function as their own sureties.

The bond obligates a notary public’s surety unconditionally for the entire four-year period of the notary’s commission. If a notary public chooses to fill out the State’s notary bond form instead of purchasing a commercial notary bond, the notary public’s surety must understand that once the notary’s commission is issued, the surety will be liable for the bond for the entire four year period and will not be able to withdraw from their obligation as surety.  A notary public may submit subsequent bonds (to become effective upon receipt), but a notary’s surety does not have the ability to withdraw support from a bond once it has been accepted by the State and the notary public commission has been issued.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Alaska?

The Alaska notary statute requires all notaries public to use a rubber stamp or an embosser seal to authenticate their official acts (AS §44.50.065an). Section 44.50.064 of the Alaska Statutes provides the legal specifications regarding the layout and the information required on a notary public’s official seal. For Alaska notary supplies, visit the American Association of Notaries website at www.usnotaries.com, by calling 800.721.2663, or click here.

Dimensions: The inked stamp or embosser seal may be:

1. A circular form not over two inches in diameter.
2. A rectangular form not more than one inch in width by two and one-half inches in length.
3. An electronic form as authorized by regulations adopted by the Lieutenant Governor.

Required Elements: A notary public’s official seal must be photographically reproducible when embossed, stamped, or printed on a document, and it must contain the following:

1. The name of the notary public exactly as indicated on the notary public’s commission certificate.
2. The words “Notary Public”.
3. The words “State of Alaska”.  
4. Optional:  “My commission expires (date)”.

Section 09.63.030(c) states, “If the document is sworn to or affirmed before a notary public of the state, the notary public shall affix on the document the:

• Notary public’s official signature and official seal.
• Date of expiration of the notary public’s commission.”

An embossed seal impression that is not photographically reproducible may be used in addition to, but not in place of, the seal impression or depiction required by Section 44.064(a).

A notary public may use a seal in electronic form on electronic documents notarized by the notary public as authorized by regulations adopted by the Lieutenant Governor (AS §44.50.065[d]). A notary public’s official seal must be affixed on the notarial certificate near the notary’s official signature and only at the time the notarial act is performed. A notary public is prohibited from affixing his or her official seal to a document unless the person who is to sign the document appears and signs the document before the notary public, except as provided by AS §44.50.075 (remotely located individuals).

Very Important: If the notary public’s official seal is stolen, lost, or the security of the notary’s official electronic seal is compromised, the notary public must provide a written notification to the Lieutenant Governor within ten days of the theft, loss, or compromised security (AS §44.50.064[d]).

To order an Alaska notary stamp, notary seal, complete notary package, and notary supplies please visit the American Association of Notaries website, or call 713-644-2299.

How much can an Alaska notary public charge for performing notarial acts?

The maximum fees a notary public may charge for notarial services have not been addressed in the Alaska Statutes. Nor has the Lieutenant Governor adopted regulations that set forth the notarial fees a notary public may charge for notarial services. The fees that Alaska notaries public may charge for notarial services are at their discretion. Section 44.50.062(4) of the Alaska Statutes states, “A notary public may not charge a fee for a notarial act unless a fee schedule has been provided to the signer before the performance of the notarial act.” If a notary public intends to collect a fee for his or her notarial services, he or she must provide the document signer with a published fee schedule prior to the performance of the notarial act.

Is a notary journal required in Alaska?

Yes. The Alaska notary statute requires a notary public to maintain a journal in which the notary public chronicles all notarial acts that the notary public performs under AS §44.50.075 (notarial acts for remotely located individuals). A notary public may create a journal on a tangible medium or in an electronic format. A notary public shall maintain at least one journal in a tangible medium to chronicle all notarial acts using communications technology for remotely located individuals. A notary public may maintain one or more journals in an electronic format to chronicle all notarial acts with respect to remotely located individuals. If a journal is maintained in an electronic format, the journal must be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with the regulations of the Lieutenant Governor under AS §44.50.072.

A notary public must make an entry in a journal contemporaneously with performance of the notarial act. The Alaska statute prescribes the specifics a notary public is required to record in the notary’s journal for each notarial act performed for a remotely located individual. Alaska notaries must retain their journals for ten years after the performance of the last notarial act chronicled (AS §44.50.078an). If a notary public's journal is lost or stolen, the notary public must promptly notify the Lieutenant Governor upon discovering that the journal is lost or stolen. If a notary resigns his or her commission, or if the commission is revoked or suspended, the notary public must retain his or her journal as specified by state notary law and inform the Lieutenant Governor where the journal is located. The American Association of Notaries and the Lieutenant Governor recommend that all Alaska notaries public maintain journals of all the notarial acts they perform. To order an Alaska notary journal, please visit the American Association of Notaries website, or call 713-644-2299.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Alaska?

An Alaska notary public has statewide jurisdiction and may perform notarial acts in any county anywhere within the geographic borders of the State of Alaska. Likewise, an Alaska notary public may not perform notarial acts outside of Alaska.

What notarial acts can an Alaska notary public perform?

An Alaska notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts, whether performed with respect to a tangible or electronic record, that is identified as a notarial act under AS §09.63.120 and an act that a notary public is directed to perform under AS §44.50.060 (AS §44.50.200):

1. Taking acknowledgments.
2. Administering oaths and affirmations.
3. Attesting documents.
4. Taking verifications on oath and affirmation (AS §09.63.040).
5. Administering protests (AS §45.03.505[b]).

Can I perform electronic notarizations in Alaska?

Yes. The Alaska 31st Legislature (2020) passed House Bill 124, which includes a provision authorizing a notary public to select one or more tamper-evident technologies with which to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records (AS §44.50.145). This bill becomes effective January 1, 2021. In addition, the State of Alaska has enacted the “Uniform Electronic Transactions Act,” which authorizes a notary public to obtain an electronic or digital signature and electronic seal to notarize electronic documents in the physical presence of the individual seeking the notarization. Lastly, Section 44.50.063 of the Alaska Statutes provides the statutory authorization of electronic signatures and electronic seals used by Alaska notaries public.

Before a notary public performs his or her initial notarial act with respect to an electronic record, the notary public must notify the Lieutenant Governor that he or she will be performing notarial acts with respect to electronic records. All the same rules, standards, practices, and regulations that apply to a traditional paper notarization also apply to an electronically signed document, including the requirement to personally appear before the notary public. The State of Alaska has not yet adopted permanent regulations that establish standards, guidelines, and procedures for the performance of notarial acts with respect to electronic records.

What is the process to become an Alaska electronic notary public?

Before a notary public performs the initial notarial act with respect to an electronic record, he or she must:

1. Notify the Office of Lieutenant Governor that he or she will be performing notarial acts with respect to electronic records.  
2. Provide the Lieutenant Governor with a description of the communication technology he or she intends to use to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records.
3. Make sure that the communication technology he or she intends to use to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records conforms to the standards established by the Lieutenant Governor in accordance with the Alaska Statutes, Title 44, Chapter 50 and the promulgated administrative rules.

If the communication technology conforms to the standards, the Lieutenant Governor shall approve the use of the notary public’s communication technology.

A person may not require a notary public to perform a notarial act with respect to an electronic record with a technology that the notary public has not selected (AS §44.50.145an). House Bill 124 (2020) provides that a recorder may accept for recording a tangible copy of an electronic record containing a notarial certificate as satisfying any requirement that a record accepted for recording be an original, if the notarial officer executing the notarial certificate certifies that the tangible copy is an accurate copy of the electronic record (AS §44.50.145[c]). For further information regarding electronic notarization, visit the Office of Lieutenant Governor at: https://ltgov.alaska.gov/notaries-public/.

Can I perform remote online notarizations in Alaska?

Yes. The Alaska 31th Legislature enacted House Bill 124 (2020), which includes the remote online notarization provisions. House Bill 124 was signed into law on April 30, 2020 and becomes effective on January 1, 2021. House Bill 124 authorizes Alaska notaries public to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals using communications technology that complies with the standards adopted by the Lieutenant Governor.

House Bill 124 also states that a remotely located individual may comply with AS §44.50.062(5)(A) by using communication technology to appear before a notary public. The new act requires a notary public to be located in the state of Alaska to perform a notarial act using communication technology for a remotely located individual. House Bill 124 requires the Lieutenant Governor to adopt permanent regulations to carry out the purposes of Title 44, Chapter 50 of the Alaska Statutes, which include the new remote notarization provisions.  Before a notary public performs the notary public’s initial notarial act for a remotely located individual, he or she must notify the Office of the Lieutenant Governor that he or she will be performing notarial acts with respect to remotely located individuals using communication technology.

How do I become a remote online notary in Alaska?

Before a notary public performs his or her initial notarial act for a remotely located individual, the notary public must:

1. Notify the Office of the Lieutenant Governor that he or she will be performing notarial acts with respect to remotely located individuals using communications technology.
2. Provide the Lieutenant Governor with a description of the communications technologies the notary public intends to use to perform notarial acts with respect to remotely located individuals.
3. Make sure that the communications technology the notary public intends to use to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals conforms to the standards established by the Lieutenant Governor by adopted regulations.
4. Act in accordance with the requirements, powers, and duties of a notary public under Title 44, Chapter 50 of the Alaska Statutes and the remote notarization provisions.

A notary public is required to maintain a journal in which he or she chronicles all notarial acts with respect to remotely located individuals. For additional information regarding the notary public’s approval to perform notarial acts with respect to remotely located individuals, visit the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at:  https://ltgov.alaska.gov/notaries-public/.

Do I need an electronic notary stamp to notarize electronically in Alaska?

Yes. The Alaska 31st Legislature passed House Bill 124 (2020), which includes a provision authorizing a notary public to select one or more tamper-evident technologies with which to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records (AS §40.50.145). The bill becomes effective January 1, 2021. In addition, the State of Alaska has enacted the “Uniform Electronic Transactions Act,” which authorizes a notary public to obtain an electronic or digital signature and electronic seal to notarize electronic documents in the physical presence of the individual seeking the notarization.

A notary public may use a seal in electronic form on electronic documents notarized by the notary public as authorized by regulations adopted by the Lieutenant Governor (AS §44.50.065[d]). The Lieutenant Governor has not yet adopted a permanent regulation that provides the electronic seal format required of a notary public who performs notarial acts with respect to electronic records.

How do I update my address on my Alaska notary commission?

Within thirty days of a change in a notary public's mailing address, physical address, or contact information, the notary public must submit a written notification of the change on a form provided by the Lieutenant Governor (AS §44.50.066an). The notary public must submit a signed Name and Address Change Form and a $5 filing fee to the Lieutenant Governor by mail, email, or fax (907) 465-5400. Notarization is not required if a notary public is not changing his or her name. To download the Name and Address Change form, visit the Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s website.

How do I change my name on my notary commission in Alaska?

An Alaska notary public whose name legally changed during the notary’s commission term must provide a written notice of the new name on the Name and Address Change Form provided by the Lieutenant Governor within thirty days after such a name change. To obtain a replacement certificate of commission with the notary public’s new name, the notary public reporting a name change must:

1. Obtain a new identification card in his or her new name.
2. Fill out the Name and Address Change Form completely.
3. Have his or her signature on the oath of office notarized.
4. Pay a $5 filing fee.
5. Mail the completed and notarized name change form to the address indicated in the instructions for filling out the form (no fax or email copies accepted).

When the notary public receives the updated commission certificate reflecting the notary’s new name change, the notary public must:

1. Purchase a new notary seal that reflects the notary’s new name.
2. Notify the surety/bonding company responsible for his or her notary bond of the new name change and update the notary bond.
3. Obtain a bond rider that reflects the notary’s new name.
4. Mail the name change bond rider to the Lieutenant Governor.

The Lieutenant Governor may require a notary public to update the information required under AS §44.50.032, including the notary public's current notarized signature and information regarding the notary public's electronic signature. To download the Name and Address Change Form, visit the Lieutenant Governor’s website or click here.

Revised:

November 2020