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Qualifications: An applicant for a commission as an Iowa Notary Public must (IC 9B.21.2):
(a) be at least 18 years old,
(b) be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States,
(c) be a resident of or have a place of employment or practice in Iowa, but any out-of-state applicant must live in a state bordering Iowa (IC 9B.21.5),
(d) be able to read and write English, and
(e) not be disqualified from receiving a commission by IC 9B.23 (i.e., grounds to deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend or condition a Notary commission).
“The secretary of state may deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or impose a condition on a commission as notary public for any act or omission that demonstrates the individual lacks the honesty, integrity, competence, or reliability to act as a notary public.…” (IC 9B.23.1). Included in the grounds for denying a Notary commission are a conviction of the applicant for a felony or crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit, or a finding against, or admission of liability by, the applicant in any legal proceeding or disciplinary action based on the applicant’s fraud, dishonesty or deceit.Course: Not required for receiving a Notary commission. “[W]e recommend that notaries take a notary public education course, as there is much more to know about protecting yourself and following the law when performing your duties” (HNP).
A course is equired required for authorization to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals: “A notary public who wishes to begin performing notarial acts under Iowa Code section 9B.14A shall, within the six month period immediately preceding the first performance of such an act, satisfactorily complete a training course approved by the secretary of state concerning the requirements and methods for performing notarial acts for remotely located individuals and shall provide satisfactory proof to the secretary of state that the applicant has completed the course” (IAC 721-43.5[3]a).
An updated course is required for any Notary seeking reappointment who wishes to continue performing notarial acts for remotely located individuals under the new appointment: “An applicant for reappointment as a notary public who currently holds a notary public commission, who wishes to continue performing notarial acts under Iowa Code section 9B.14A as enacted by 2019 Iowa Acts, chapter 44, section 6, and who has satisfactorily completed the initial training course required by paragraph 43.5(3)‘a’ at least one time prior to the 12-month period immediately preceding application for reappointment shall, within the 6-month period immediately preceding the deadline for application for reappointment, satisfactorily complete an update course approved by the secretary of state concerning the requirements and methods for performing notarial acts for remotely located individuals and shall provide satisfactory proof to the secretary of state that the applicant has completed the course (IAC 721-43.5[3]b).Exam: Not required.
Application: On the application form, applicants have the option of being placed on a list of bilingual notaries and indicating that they wish to start notarizing electronically. If the applicant opts to notarize electronically, the type of “tamper proof technology” that will be employed must be indicated on the application. The application fee is $30 (IC 9B.21.1]). “Before issuance of a commission as a notary public, an applicant for the commission shall execute an oath of office and submit it to the secretary of state” (IC 9B.21.3]) — this oath of office is made by signing the application form (IAC 721-43.3[1]).
The application fee for new commissions and reappointments is $30 (website, “Forms & Fees”).Background Screening: Not required.
Nonresidents: A resident of a state bordering Iowa may become a Notary if that person’s place of work or business is within the state. Such a commission expires if the person ceases to work or maintain a business in the state (IC 9B.21.5).
Reappointment: “The secretary of state, two months preceding the expiration of a commission, shall notify the notary public of the expiration date and furnish a blank application for reappointment” (IC 9B.21A). Reappointments may be initiated online (website, “Renewal Filing”).
No Immunity or Benefit: “A commission to act as a notary public authorizes the notary public to perform notarial acts. The commission does not provide the notary public any immunity or benefit conferred by law of this state on public officials or employees” (IC 9B.21.7).
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