Looking to make a difference in your community? Let us guide you on a rewarding journey toward a unique profession.
In this comprehensive guide on how to become a notary in New Mexico, we lay out the roadmap to achieving this goal. With easy-to-follow, actionable steps, we’ll help you navigate this intriguing process.
Whether you’re looking to serve your community or generate additional income, this article will offer everything you need to know to get started.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? Have a look at the National Notary Association’s packages, which include the state-required training and exam, notary supplies, a surety bond, and four years of notary hotline phone support.
National Notary Association ($186)
In order to become a notary in New Mexico, you will need to complete a few simple steps.
New Mexico has specific requirements for individuals that want to become notaries. Namely, all applicants must:
In addition to the above, applicants must not:
All notary applicants in New Mexico are required to get a surety bond valued at $10,000 to protect the public from any potential harm caused by their negligence. This bond must:
Note: A notary public should never notarize their own signatures. For applicants, doing so could result in your application being immediately disqualified.
Have a look at the National Notary Association’s packages, which include the state-required training and exam, notary supplies, a surety bond, and four years of notary hotline phone support.
National Notary Association ($186)
After obtaining your notary bond, you’ll need to complete the Notary Education Course and obtain a passing grade of 80% or higher on the final exam in order to continue.
In New Mexico, the National Notary Association offers two primary ways for you to complete your education and exam.
If you successfully complete your training course and exam, you will be issued your certificate of completion. Hold onto this document, as you will soon need to submit it with your application.
The next step involves filling out your Notary Public Application.
When filling out your application, include your name exactly as your legal name appears on your most recent form of state-issued ID — writing it identically on your stamp, bond, and notary signatures too. Then sign the oath of office and get it notarized.
Once this has all been completed, submit your application — alongside your surety bond, certificate of course/exam completion, and a $30 application fee — to the following address:
Notary Division
325 Don Gaspar Ave.
Suite 300
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Note: Your $30 application fee should be paid via check or money order payable to the New Mexico Secretary of State. Cash will not be accepted.
Within 45 days of your application being approved by the New Mexico Secretary of State, you are required to send in the Stamp Registration Form with an imprint of your seal.
Shortly after, the Secretary of State should send you a Certificate of Commission. After this point, you’ll officially be able to perform notarial services!
While not required by law, it’s a good idea to consider protecting yourself with Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance.
This type of insurance provides coverage for any potential mistakes or omissions that you might make as you perform notarial acts. It’s an extra layer of protection that can give you peace of mind while operating for a relatively low opportunity cost.
Once your notary commission is approved, get yourself set up with the necessary notary supplies. These include a notary stamp or seal and a New Mexico notary record book.
Make sure to check out the New Mexico Notary Handbook for a full breakdown of the official stamp requirements.
The seal is used to authenticate your notarial acts, and the record book is for logging all the services you provide.
Even though this last step is not a legal requirement, you should note that New Mexico notary applicants often choose to invest in a notary course. This is because it can offer several benefits, such as:
So, while it’s not mandatory in New Mexico, many aspiring notaries find value in such courses. It’s a personal decision based on individual comfort and professional goals.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? Have a look at the National Notary Association’s packages, which include the state-required training and exam, notary supplies, a surety bond, and four years of notary hotline phone support.
National Notary Association ($186)
In New Mexico, notaries public can only charge up to $5 per notarial act, including acknowledgments, jurats, oaths or affirmations, and witnessing signatures. It’s always essential for notaries to abide by these state-set caps in order to avoid any legal consequences or license revocation.
California tends to be considered one of the trickiest states due to how stringent its education and exam requirements are. That being said, the most important factor in whether it is tricky to become a notary or not is how well-prepared you are. To ensure you’re as prepared as possible, see our article on How to Become a Notary.
In New Mexico, there are certain basic requirements you must meet to become a notary. Namely, you must be at least 18 years old, be a US citizen or legal resident, live or work in New Mexico, and be able to read and write English. If you satisfy these requirements, you’ll be eligible to continue with the application process. To find out more about this, see our article on How to Become a Notary in New Mexico.
A New Mexico notary commission lasts for four years. After this time is up, you’ll need to renew your notary commission if you want to continue to work as a notary. If you are nearing the expiration date of your notary commission, try to start the renewal process as soon as possible to avoid a lapse.
Yes, all prospective notaries in New Mexico are required to undertake a state-mandated education course and achieve a passing grade in the final exam. In addition to this, applicants will need to obtain a $10,000 surety bond, complete the application form, and get their oath of office notarized by a New Mexico notary public.
For all related articles, have a look at our How to Become a Notary page.
Information on this page was researched and gathered from a multitude of sources and was most recently updated on May 31, 2024
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