Utah’s booming real estate market, growing business community, and steady population growth make it a fantastic place to build a notary career. Whether you’re looking to add a professional credential to your resume, support your employer, or start a mobile notary side hustle along the Wasatch Front, becoming a notary public in Utah is straightforward once you understand the process. This guide walks you through every requirement, cost, and step — straight from the current guidelines of the Utah Office of the Lieutenant Governor, which commissions the state’s notaries.
Disclaimer: Notary laws change periodically. Always verify current requirements with the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s office before applying. This article does not constitute legal advice.
Who Can Become a Notary in Utah?
Utah keeps its eligibility requirements simple and clear. To qualify as a notary public, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a resident of Utah
- Have no felony convictions unless pardoned
That’s it. There’s no requirement to be a U.S. citizen, and you don’t need any specific professional background. If you meet those three conditions, you’re eligible to move forward.
What You’ll Need
Before diving into the application, it’s worth gathering everything you’ll need so the process goes smoothly without unexpected delays:
- A valid government-issued photo ID
- A passing score on the Utah notary exam
- A $5,000 surety bond (premium typically $25–$50)
- The $95 application and testing fee ($55 application + $40 exam)
Having these items ready upfront means you won’t be scrambling for your ID or your bond when it’s time to submit.
Step 1: Study the Utah Notary Study Guide
Utah doesn’t require a training course — but it does require you to pass an exam, so you’ll want to study. The Lieutenant Governor’s office publishes a free Utah Notary Public Study Guide covering Utah-specific notary laws, proper procedures for different notarial acts, and the real-world responsibilities you’ll carry as a commissioned notary.
The guide is practical, not theoretical. You’ll learn how to handle common scenarios like verifying signer identity, dealing with incomplete documents, and understanding the differences between acknowledgments, jurats, and other notarial acts. Read it carefully — it’s exactly what the exam tests.
Step 2: Pass the Notary Exam
Next, you’ll need to pass the Utah notary examination (the $40 testing fee is part of the $95 total). This isn’t designed to be a gotcha test — it covers the study guide material, including state notary laws, the types of notarial acts you’ll perform, proper identification procedures, and best practices for avoiding common mistakes.
Study the guide thoroughly, and you should be in good shape. Once you pass, you’ll have documentation of your score to include with your application.
Step 3: Complete the Application
With your exam results in hand, you’re ready to submit your notary application to the Utah Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The application will ask for your full legal name, residential address, and county of residence.
Double-check everything before submitting. Errors on your application — especially your name or address — can cause processing delays or require you to start over. Your legal name on the application should match the name on your government-issued ID exactly, since that’s what will appear on your commission.
Step 4: Receive Your Commission
Processing typically takes 1-2 weeks, though it can vary depending on application volume. Once approved, you’ll receive your commission certificate.
Your notary commission in Utah is valid for four years, so mark your calendar or set a reminder well before expiration. Letting your commission lapse means you’ll need to go through the entire process again, and you won’t be able to perform notarial acts in the meantime.
Step 5: Get Your Notary Supplies
Once you’re commissioned, you need the right tools to do the job properly. Utah notaries need two essential supplies:
- A Utah notary stamp — must meet state requirements for format, size, and included information
- A notary record book (journal) — required by Utah law for recording every notarial act you perform
Don’t cut corners on supplies. An improperly formatted stamp can cause documents to be rejected, and a missing journal puts you at serious risk if a notarization is ever questioned. Your journal is your best protection — it creates a contemporaneous record of every act you perform, including the date, type of act, signer information, and the form of identification used.
Browse Notary StampsStep 6: File Your Oath and Bond with the Lieutenant Governor
This is the step that trips up more new Utah notaries than any other. Before you can perform a single notarization, you must have your oath of office notarized and upload it, along with your $5,000 surety bond, to the Lieutenant Governor’s online notary system. This step is mandatory, and your commission may become void if you skip it or delay it.
Many new notaries assume that receiving their commission certificate means they’re good to go — but that’s not the case in Utah. The oath and bond filing is what officially activates your authority. Take care of this immediately after receiving your commission, before you accept any notarization requests.
Common Mistakes New Utah Notaries Make
Learning from others’ missteps can save you headaches down the road:
- Not filing the oath and bond before performing acts — both go to the Lieutenant Governor, and your commission may become void, with any notarizations you performed open to invalidation
- Not keeping a journal — Utah requires a record of every notarial act, no exceptions
- Using an incorrect stamp format — your stamp must meet Utah requirements exactly, or documents may be rejected by recording offices
- Letting your commission expire — reappointment takes time, and you can’t notarize with an expired commission
- Notarizing without the signer physically present — this is grounds for commission revocation in Utah, even if you “know” the person well
How Much Does It Cost?
Here’s a realistic breakdown of what you can expect to spend to become a notary in Utah:
- Application and testing fee: $95
- Surety bond ($5,000): $25-50
- Notary stamp: $15-30
- Notary journal: $15-25
Total estimated cost: $150-200
This doesn’t include optional but worth-considering expenses like errors and omissions insurance, which we’ll cover below. The core costs are modest, especially considering a notary commission lasts four years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the whole process take in Utah?
From passing the exam to having your stamp, journal, and filed oath ready to go, plan on about 1-2 weeks. Most of that time is processing, so the sooner you submit a clean application, the better.
Is there really an exam?
Yes. Utah requires you to pass a notary examination covering state laws and procedures — though no training course is required first. It’s based on the state’s free study guide, so if you read it carefully, you should be well prepared.
Can I perform remote online notarizations in Utah?
Yes. Utah authorizes remote online notarization (RON), which means you can notarize documents for signers who aren’t physically in the same room — or even the same state — as long as you follow the state’s RON requirements, including using approved technology providers and maintaining proper audio-visual communication throughout the session.
Do I really need errors and omissions insurance?
It’s not required by Utah law, but it’s strongly recommended. E&O insurance protects you personally if you make an honest mistake that causes financial harm to someone. Without it, you could be on the hook for legal fees and damages out of pocket. For the relatively small cost, it’s smart protection — especially if you plan to notarize frequently or work as a mobile notary.
How much can I charge per notarization?
Utah notaries may charge $10 per notarization. If you’re offering mobile notary services, you can also charge additional travel fees, which makes mobile notarizing a potentially lucrative side business — particularly in areas like Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden where demand is strong.
State-Specific Notes
- Remote notarization: Utah allows remote online notarization (RON), giving you flexibility to serve clients beyond your immediate geographic area.
- Journal requirement: Utah law requires you to maintain a notary journal. This isn’t optional, and it’s one of the first things the state will check if a complaint is filed.
- The Lieutenant Governor runs the show: Utah commissions notaries through the Office of the Lieutenant Governor — your application, exam, oath, and bond all run through its online notary system rather than county offices.
Sources
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Ready for the next step?
Notary Signing Agent Academy — loan signing agents in Utah commonly report earning $75–$200 per appointment, though rates vary by state and experience. One of the most comprehensive training programs available.
*RON Pro: Remote Online Notarization (our sister site) — Utah supports remote notarization. Learn how to notarize documents online and reach clients anywhere.
How to Start a Mobile Notary Business — turn your Utah notary commission into a profitable business.
How to Market Your Notary Business — get clients from day one with proven strategies.
How to Become a Notary — our complete guide covering requirements for all 50 states.
