by admin on July 12, 2010
As a result of recent Montana law changes that significantly modernized the state’s Notary regulations & procedures, newly commissioned Notaries in “The Treasure State” must now use an inking stamp-type seal with specific information & a standardized format. An embossing crimper-type seal may no longer be used.
The regulations apply to all of the state’s Notaries who received a brand spanking new or renewal commission on or after October 1, 2009. The new inking stamp must be rectangular & about 1 inch by 2 ½ inches, & it must include an official circular seal bearing the Notary’s name, the words “State of Montana,” & the words “Notarial Seal” or “Notary Public” along with the following information in the rectangle:
* The Notary’s printed name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Commission
* The title, “Notary Public for the State of Montana”
* The words “Residing at” with the name of the city or town where the Notary lives
* The Notary’s commission expiration date, shown in Month/Day/Four-Digit Year format.
As a point of clarification, Montana Notaries may no longer print a blank space in the inking stamp as part of the commission date, & then write in the date by hand. Additionally, all inking seals in the new format must be impressed with blue or black ink.
If any of the information contained in the seal/stamp changes in the coursework of the Notary’s term of office, the stamp must get replaced. Handwritten corrections are no longer allowed.
Notaries holding commissions expiring before October 1, 2013, may use their current seals until their commission expires, after which they must get a replacement seal conforming to the new format.
by admin on July 12, 2010
Recent changes to major federal-issued IDs — including passports and “Green Cards” — have prompted some states to review and update their rules laws regarding “satisfactory proof of identity” for notarial acts.
The most notable changes have been prompted by the emergence of the new federal “Passport Card” — a wallet-sized identification card issued for travelers crossing U.S. borders with Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean at land and sea entry points. The Passport Card graphlimited The Passport Card contains a photograph and limited information about the bearer.
While the passport lacks a physical description and signature — five staples of identification documents for notarizations in plenty of states — officials in Los angeles and Oregon are permitting Notaries to accept these cards as satisfactory proof of a signer’s identity.
In Los angeles, Civil Code Section 1185(b)(3)(B) permits Notaries to accept a U.S. Passport that is current or issued historically five years. The Passport Card meets the standard of the statute because the law does not specifically need the U.S. Passport to contain a signature, photograph and physical description, as are necessary for sure other IDs introduced to a Notary.
In Oregon, House Bill 2085, effective January 1, 2010, permits a Notary to accept a U.S. Passport as satisfactory proof of identity. An amendment to Oregon Administrative Code Section 160-100-0700, also effective January 1, 2010, defines “Passport” to include the U.S. Passport Card.
Notaries in these states ought to familiarize themselves with the Passport Card’s appearance and information
The federal government also has changed the appearance of another longtime identification document, the Permanent Resident Card or “Green Card,” in an hard work to thwart fakes. In May, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a redesign of the card with additional security features, and they are now all colored green to match their common nickname. Most states permit green cards to be used as satisfactory proof, and the redesign does not affect those rules. However, Los angeles is an exception to this rule. It only allows the use of a green card for identification when notarizing USCIS forms.