How to Become a Notary in Wyoming

How do I renew my notary commission in Wyoming?

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Wyoming notaries public may re-apply for a new notary commission beginning six weeks prior to their current commission expiration dates. Notaries applying for reappointment as notaries public must follow the same commissioning steps as they did when initially applying for appointment as a notary public, which include:

1. Reviewing the Notary Education Presentation and completing the notary public examination or taking an educational course from an approved provider.
2. Completing the prescribed application form and passing the notary public examination or including the course certificate of completion.
3. Submitting a $60 filing fee.
4. Obtaining a new official notary stamp upon receipt of the renewed commission certificate.
5. Maintaining a tangible or electronic journal for all notarial acts.

The Wyoming Secretary of State does not send out renewal reminders/applications notices. To start the Wyoming notary renewal process, download the Notary Application/Renewal Form from the secretary of state’s website.

Who appoints notaries in Wyoming?

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The Wyoming Secretary of State appoints notaries public, administers the commissioning process, and maintains an electronic database of active notaries.

Notary Division
Herschler Building East
Suites 100
122 West 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020
Phone: (307) 777-7370
Email: notaries@wyo.gov

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

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Yes. A nonresident can apply to obtain a Wyoming notary public commission if the individual is employed in Wyoming or if they are a spouse or legal dependent of a member of the military on active duty in Wyoming.

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

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The term of office for a Wyoming notary public is six years.

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

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Yes. Notaries public must either:

1. review and certify that they completed the Notary Education Presentation and complete the test found on the application; or
2. take an approved notary course and submit proof of course completion and an exam certificate.

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

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The cost to become a notary in Wyoming includes:

1. A $60 filing fee payable to the Wyoming Secretary of State to process the application for appointment or reappointment as a notary public.
2. The cost of an official notary stamp. Click here to view our notary stamp prices.
3. The cost of a notary journal. Click here to view our notary journal prices.
4. An errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy (optional) to protect yourself if you are sued for unintentional mistakes or if a false claim is filed against you.  

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

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A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is not required to become a Wyoming notary public or to renew your notary commission. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that every Wyoming notary obtain a notary E&O insurance policy. This insurance protects you from a claim if a client sues you as a notary. A notary E&O policy covers unintentional notarial mistakes and pays for legal fees and damages based on the coverage you select as a Wyoming notary public.

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

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No.  New and renewing Wyoming notary applicants are not required by law to maintain a notary bond for the duration of their notary term.  

Note: A notary public is liable to any person for damages that result from their negligence, errors, official malfeasance, or omissions. Wyoming notaries are encouraged to purchase a notary E&O insurance policy to insure themselves against such claims.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Wyoming?

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Wyoming requires all new and renewing notaries to use an official notary stamp or seal to authenticate all notarial acts performed. The official stamp or seal of a notary public, whether it is physical or electronic, must:

• Be rectangular in shape and approximately 1 inch wide by 2 ½ inches long.
• Be in blue or black ink.
• Have a border outline that contains the following information:
  • Your notary public commission name.
  • The words “Notary Public.”
  • The words “State of Wyoming.”
  • Your commission ID number.
  • The words “My commission expires” followed by the expiration date of your notary public commission.

IMPORTANT:

• The Great Seal of the State of Wyoming or any other image or content other than as prescribed in this statute are not allowed to be engraved on the official notary stamp/seal.
• Your county of residence CANNOT be engraved on the notary stamp/seal.
• If your notary commission was issued before July 1, 2021, you may continue to use your current stamp until you renew your notary commission.

What are the steps to replace a lost or stolen Wyoming notary seal?

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If a Wyoming notary public’s stamp or seal is lost or stolen, the notary pubic must promptly notify the secretary of state. The notification can be sent via email to notaries@wyo.gov.

How much can a Wyoming notary public charge for performing notarial acts?

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The Wyoming notary fees are set by state notary statute [WS § 32-3-126(b)]. A notarial officer may charge the maximum fees as specified below, charge less than the maximum fees, or waive the fees. A notarial officer may charge:

• Not more than ten dollars ($10.00) per notarial act.
• Not more than ten dollars ($10.00) per acknowledgement, signature, oath or affirmation, certification, or note of protest if more than one person appears before a notarial officer to complete a notarial act on a single record.

A Wyoming notary public may also charge a technology fee associated with utilizing an electronic notarization system or other form of communication technology, if:

• The notarial officer and the person requesting the notarial act agree upon the total fee in advance of the notarial act; and
• The notarial officer explains to the person requesting the notarial act that the technology fee is both separate from the notarial fee, if any, and neither specified nor mandated by law.

A Wyoming notary public may charge a travel fee when traveling to perform a notarial act, if:

• The fee charged for travel is equal to or less than the standard mileage rates allowed by the United States Internal Revenue Service.
• The notarial officer and the person requesting the notarial act agree upon the travel fee in advance of the travel.
• The notarial officer explains to the person requesting the notarial act that the travel fee is both separate from the notarial fee, if any, and neither specified nor mandated by law.

Is a notary journal required in Wyoming?

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Notary Journal requirements for each type of notarization in Wyoming:

For traditional notarizations, electronic notarizations, remote ink notarizations and remote online notarizations – The state of Wyoming requires notaries to log every notarial act, refusal, and correction in a notary journal. Wyoming notaries can maintain more than one notary journal on a tangible medium or in an electronic format.

 A notary journal (also known as a record book, log book, or register book) is your first line of defense in proving your innocence if a notarial act you performed is questioned or if you are requested to testify in a court of law about a notarial act you performed in the past. A properly recorded notarial act creates a paper trail that will help investigators locate and prosecute signers who have committed forgery and fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices.

 

The American Association of Notaries offers notary journals in tangible and electronic formats.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

Click here to become a member and access our electronic notary journal.

What information must Wyoming notaries record in their notary journals?

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Wyoming notary law does not list what is required to be recorded; however, the Wyoming Secretary of State provides an example of what notaries should chronicle in their notary journals:

When using a tangible notary journal:

1. The notarization date.
2. The type of notarization.
3. The document date.
4. The type of document (e.g., power of attorney, car title, affidavit).
5. The signer’s printed name and signature.
6. The signer’s address.
7. A detailed description of how the signer was identified.
8. The notary fee.

When using an electronic notary journal:

1. The signer’s name and address.
2. The notarization date.
3. The method of identification.
4. The type of notarization.
5. The document date.
6. The type of document (e.g., power of attorney, property sale).
7. The notary fee.

What steps should I take if my Wyoming notary journal is lost or stolen?

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A Wyoming notary must promptly notify the secretary of state by sending an email to notaries@wyo.gov upon discovering that the notary public’s journal is lost or stolen. If a notary public does not have access to email, they can send a letter to the Compliance Division of the Wyoming Secretary of State at 122 West 25th Street, Suite 100, Cheyenne, WY, 8200-0020.

How long should I retain my Wyoming notary journal?

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The best practice is to keep your notary journal indefinitely. However, the Wyoming Secretary of State recommends that Wyoming notaries public retain their notary journals for, at a minimum, the duration of their notary commissions.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Wyoming?

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A Wyoming notary has statewide jurisdiction and may perform notarial acts while physically present in any county in Wyoming. A Wyoming notary public may also notarize documents in a bordering state if that state recognizes the Wyoming notary's authority to do so.

What notarial acts can a Wyoming notary public perform?

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A Wyoming notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts:  

• Taking an acknowledgment.
• Administering an oath and affirmation.
• Taking a verification upon oath or affirmation.
• Performing a jurat.
• Witnessing or attesting a signature.
• Certifying or attesting a copy.
• Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument.
• Other acts authorized by the laws of Wyoming.

What type of notarizations are allowed in Wyoming?

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Wyoming law allows the following four types of notarizations:

Traditional notarization – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. Traditional notarization involves an individual signing a tangible document with an inked pen and a notary public signing and affixing an inked notary stamp impression to the tangible notarial certificate.

Electronic notarizations (in person) – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. However, the notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Remote online notarizations (RON) – The signer appears remotely before a notary via audio-visual communication technology. The notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Remote ink notarizations (RIN) – RIN is only allowed when performing acknowledgments. This type of notarization requires the signer to appear before a notary via audio-video communication technology. The signer and the notary send the tangible document(s) to each other, and the notary public uses a physical stamp to notarize the document without the aid of an electronic seal or electronic signature.

What are the steps to register to perform electronic notarizations in Wyoming?

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A Wyoming notary who would like to perform in-person electronic notarizations must first select either a platform which requires multifactor authentication and has other security features or another form of communication technology.  Then, they must email the secretary of state at notaries@wyo.gov expressing their interest in performing electronic notarizations and include the name(s) of the platform(s) they will be using. After the email is received, the Wyoming Secretary of State will update the notary’s information on file

What are the steps to register to perform remote notarizations in Wyoming?

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A Wyoming notary who would like to perform remote online notarizations or remote ink notarizations must first select either a platform which requires multifactor authentication and has other security features or another form of communication technology. Then, they must email the secretary of state at notaries@wyo.gov expressing their interest in performing remote notarizations and include the name(s) of the platform(s) they will be using. After the email is received the Wyoming Secretary of State will update the notary’s information on file.  

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

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A Wyoming notary public must notify the Wyoming Secretary of State within thirty days of any change in the information on file.

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

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A notary public must notify the Wyoming Secretary of State within thirty days of a name change by completing and mailing the Notary Public Name Change Form.

Revised:

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February 2024