AZ Notary cheat sheet

A notarial act is any act a notary is authorized to perform, including acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, affirmations, copy certifications, and signature witnessing.

A notarial officer includes notaries public plus judges, clerks, and other officials authorized by law to perform notarial acts.

Personal appearance means the signer is physically present before the notary at the time of the act; appearance by phone or video does not satisfy it unless expressly authorized.

Acknowledgment: signer declares the signature is genuine and voluntarily made; the notary does not administer an oath.

Juror/jurat: notary administers an oath or affirmation and certifies the signer swore to the truth of the statement.

Verification on oath or affirmation is the formal term covering oaths and affirmations administered by a notarial officer.

A signer's signature may be made by a mark, and a notary may sign the person's name if the person directs and the certificate notes that fact.

A credible witness is an individual who personally knows the signer and can swear to identity when the signer lacks satisfactory identification.

Applicant must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Arizona or a resident of a bordering state with an office or regular place of business in Arizona.

Applicant must be able to read and write English and must not have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty within the preceding ten years.

Application is filed with the Secretary of State, accompanied by the required fee and a surety bond of $5,000.

A $5,000 surety bond is a condition of the commission; the bond runs to the state for the benefit of injured parties.

The Secretary of State issues commissions; the term of a notary commission is four years.

Applicant must submit a completed application and may be required to complete a training or examination requirement set by the Secretary of State.

An employer may pay the bond and application costs, but the commission belongs to the individual notary.

Before performing notarial acts the commissioned notary must obtain the official seal or stamp and take the oath of office as prescribed.

A notary may perform notarial acts in Arizona and may perform acts in another state only if that state authorizes the act.

A notary may not perform a notarial act for a document in which the notary is a party, has a direct beneficial interest, or is named as a grantee, grantor, beneficiary, or attorney.

A notary may not notarize the notary's own signature or the signature of a spouse, and may not certify a copy of a document the notary is not authorized to certify.

A notary may certify copies of documents only where the notary is authorized; certified copies of public records or vital records must come from the custodian.

A notary may administer oaths and affirmations, take acknowledgments, witness signatures, and certify copies as authorized by law.

A notary may not give legal advice, explain the legal effect of a document, or draft documents for another person.

A notary has no duty to verify the truth or accuracy of a document's contents; the notary verifies identity and voluntariness.

A notary who is not an attorney may not prepare or select documents for a signer, nor advise on immigration or other legal matters.

Every certificate must state the date of the notarial act, the venue or location, the name of the signer, and the notary's signature and title.

Every certificate must identify the notarial act performed (acknowledgment, jurat, oath, affirmation, or copy certification).

An acknowledgment certificate states the signer personally appeared, was known or identified, and acknowledged the signature as voluntary.

A jurat certificate states the signer personally appeared, was known or identified, and swore or affirmed the truth of the contents.

The certificate must be completed at the time of the notarial act, not before or after, and must be attached to or logically associated with the document.

A certificate may be in a form prescribed by statute or in a substantially equivalent form that contains all required elements.

The notary must sign the certificate in the same manner as the notary's official signature and must not sign blank certificates.

If a certificate lacks required elements, the notary must correct it with a new certificate rather than alter the existing one unlawfully.

The signer must personally appear before the notary at the time the notarial act is performed.

Identification may be established by personal knowledge, a government-issued photo ID, or a credible witness who personally knows the signer.

Acceptable ID is typically a passport, driver license, or other government-issued document bearing a photograph and signature.

The notary must compare the signature on the document with the signature on the identification when using ID-based verification.

If the signer cannot sign, the notary may sign the signer's name if directed by the signer and the certificate notes the signing method.

The notary must confirm the signer is acting voluntarily and appears to be of sound mind and aware of the transaction.

A notary may not notarize a signature obtained through fraud, duress, or undue influence.

For remote or electronic notarizations, statutory procedures for identity proofing and recording must be followed where authorized.

The official seal must include the notary's name, the words Notary Public, the state name Arizona, and the commission expiration date.

The seal may be an embosser or an inked stamp; the impression must be legible and reproducible on the document.

The notary must keep the seal in a secure place and may not allow another person to use it; loss or theft must be reported.

A notarial journal records the date, time, type of act, signer's name and address, identification presented, and the fee charged.

The journal is the notary's property; an employer may not retain it upon termination of employment.

Journal entries must be made at or near the time of the notarial act and must not be altered after the fact.

The notary must retain the journal for the period required by statute and make it available to the Secretary of State upon request.

A notary must not record personal identification numbers or copies of identification documents in the journal unless authorized.

A notary may not perform a notarial act in which the notary has a conflict of interest, such as being a party or beneficiary.

A notary may not notarize for a spouse, parent, child, or other person in a direct line of relationship where the notary benefits.

A notary may not use the title notary public to advertise or promote legal services or the unauthorized practice of law.

A notary may not claim to be an attorney, immigration consultant, or legal advisor unless licensed to do so.

A notary may not charge fees in excess of the statutory maximum for notarial acts.

A notary may not notarize a document that is incomplete or that the notary knows contains false information.

A notary may not delegate notarial duties to an uncommissioned person or permit another to use the notary's seal or signature.

Advertising must not state or imply that the notary can provide legal advice or representation.

A notary must comply with all lawful requests for notarial services within the scope of the commission, subject to disqualification rules.

A notary must keep the commission current and notify the Secretary of State of a change of name or address.

A notary must surrender the seal and commission upon resignation, expiration, or revocation.

Grounds for discipline include fraud, dishonesty, unauthorized practice of law, and failure to maintain the bond or seal.

The Secretary of State may investigate complaints and may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a commission.

A notary who is convicted of a disqualifying felony must report the conviction and may be subject to revocation.

A notary must not perform notarial acts after the commission expires or while suspended.

Penalties may include civil penalties and criminal liability for unauthorized or fraudulent notarial acts.

Real property documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, and mortgages typically require an acknowledgment certificate.

The notary must verify the identity of the grantor and confirm the signature is voluntary and not obtained by duress.

A notary must not notarize a deed in which the notary is named as a grantee, grantor, or beneficiary.

For powers of attorney, the notary confirms the principal's identity and voluntary signature; the notary does not judge capacity beyond apparent awareness.

Affidavits and jurats require the notary to administer an oath or affirmation before the signer signs or acknowledges.

For loan documents and escrow papers, the notary must follow the signing instructions but may not give legal or financial advice.

Certified copies of recorded real property documents must be obtained from the county recorder, not from a notary.

A notary must not backdate or postdate a certificate to match a real property transaction date.

A notarial act is any act a notary is authorized to perform, including acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, affirmations, copy certifications, and signature witnessing.

A notarial officer includes notaries public plus judges, clerks, and other officials authorized by law to perform notarial acts.

Personal appearance means the signer is physically present before the notary at the time of the act; appearance by phone or video does not satisfy it unless expressly authorized.

Acknowledgment: signer declares the signature is genuine and voluntarily made; the notary does not administer an oath.

Jurat: notary administers an oath or affirmation and certifies the signer swore to the truth of the statement.

Verification on oath or affirmation is the formal term covering oaths and affirmations administered by a notarial officer.

A signer's signature may be made by a mark, and a notary may sign the person's name if the person directs and the certificate notes that fact.

A credible witness is an individual who personally knows the signer and can swear to identity when the signer lacks satisfactory identification.

Applicant must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Arizona or a resident of a bordering state with an office or regular place of business in Arizona.

Applicant must be able to read and write English and must not have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty within the preceding ten years.

Application is filed with the Secretary of State, accompanied by the required fee and a surety bond of $5,000.

A $5,000 surety bond is a condition of the commission; the bond runs to the state for the benefit of injured parties.

The Secretary of State issues commissions; the term of a notary commission is four years.

Applicant must submit a completed application and may be required to complete a training or examination requirement set by the Secretary of State.

An employer may pay the bond and application costs, but the commission belongs to the individual notary.

Before performing notarial acts the commissioned notary must obtain the official seal or stamp and take the oath of office as prescribed.

A notary may perform notarial acts in Arizona and may perform acts in another state only if that state authorizes the act.

A notary may not perform a notarial act for a document in which the notary is a party, has a direct beneficial interest, or is named as a grantee, grantor, beneficiary, or attorney.

A notary may not notarize the notary's own signature or the signature of a spouse, and may not certify a copy of a document the notary is not authorized to certify.

A notary may certify copies of documents only where the notary is authorized; certified copies of public records or vital records must come from the custodian.

A notary may administer oaths and affirmations, take acknowledgments, witness signatures, and certify copies as authorized by law.

A notary may not give legal advice, explain the legal effect of a document, or draft documents for another person.

A notary has no duty to verify the truth or accuracy of a document's contents; the notary verifies identity and voluntariness.

A notary who is not an attorney may not prepare or select documents for a signer, nor advise on immigration or other legal matters.

Every certificate must state the date of the notarial act, the venue or location, the name of the signer, and the notary's signature and title.

Every certificate must identify the notarial act performed (acknowledgment, jurat, oath, affirmation, or copy certification).

An acknowledgment certificate states the signer personally appeared, was known or identified, and acknowledged the signature as voluntary.

A jurat certificate states the signer personally appeared, was known or identified, and swore or affirmed the truth of the contents.

The certificate must be completed at the time of the notarial act, not before or after, and must be attached to or logically associated with the document.

A certificate may be in a form prescribed by statute or in a substantially equivalent form that contains all required elements.

The notary must sign the certificate in the same manner as the notary's official signature and must not sign blank certificates.

If a certificate lacks required elements, the notary must correct it with a new certificate rather than alter the existing one unlawfully.

The signer must personally appear before the notary at the time the notarial act is performed.

Identification may be established by personal knowledge, a government-issued photo ID, or a credible witness who personally knows the signer.

Acceptable ID is typically a passport, driver license, or other government-issued document bearing a photograph and signature.

The notary must compare the signature on the document with the signature on the identification when using ID-based verification.

If the signer cannot sign, the notary may sign the signer's name if directed by the signer and the certificate notes the signing method.

The notary must confirm the signer is acting voluntarily and appears to be of sound mind and aware of the transaction.

A notary may not notarize a signature obtained through fraud, duress, or undue influence.

For remote or electronic notarizations, statutory procedures for identity proofing and recording must be followed where authorized.

The official seal must include the notary's name, the words Notary Public, the state name Arizona, and the commission expiration date.

The seal may be an embosser or an inked stamp; the impression must be legible and reproducible on the document.

The notary must keep the seal in a secure place and may not allow another person to use it; loss or theft must be reported.

A notarial journal records the date, time, type of act, signer's name and address, identification presented, and the fee charged.

The journal is the notary's property; an employer may not retain it upon termination of employment.

Journal entries must be made at or near the time of the notarial act and must not be altered after the fact.

The notary must retain the journal for the period required by statute and make it available to the Secretary of State upon request.

A notary must not record personal identification numbers or copies of identification documents in the journal unless authorized.

A notary may not perform a notarial act in which the notary has a conflict of interest, such as being a party or beneficiary.

A notary may not notarize for a spouse, parent, child, or other person in a direct line of relationship where the notary benefits.

A notary may not use the title notary public to advertise or promote legal services or the unauthorized practice of law.

A notary may not claim to be an attorney, immigration consultant, or legal advisor unless licensed to do so.

A notary may not charge fees in excess of the statutory maximum for notarial acts.

A notary may not notarize a document that is incomplete or that the notary knows contains false information.

A notary may not delegate notarial duties to an uncommissioned person or permit another to use the notary's seal or signature.

Advertising must not state or imply that the notary can provide legal advice or representation.

A notary must comply with all lawful requests for notarial services within the scope of the commission, subject to disqualification rules.

A notary must keep the commission current and notify the Secretary of State of a change of name or address.

A notary must surrender the seal and commission upon resignation, expiration, or revocation.

Grounds for discipline include fraud, dishonesty, unauthorized practice of law, and failure to maintain the bond or seal.

The Secretary of State may investigate complaints and may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a commission.

A notary who is convicted of a disqualifying felony must report the conviction and may be subject to revocation.

A notary must not perform notarial acts after the commission expires or while suspended.

Penalties may include civil penalties and criminal liability for unauthorized or fraudulent notarial acts.

Real property documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, and mortgages typically require an acknowledgment certificate.

The notary must verify the identity of the grantor and confirm the signature is voluntary and not obtained by duress.

A notary must not notarize a deed in which the notary is named as a grantee, grantor, or beneficiary.

For powers of attorney, the notary confirms the principal's identity and voluntary signature; the notary does not judge capacity beyond apparent awareness.

Affidavits and jurats require the notary to administer an oath or affirmation before the signer signs or acknowledges.

For loan documents and escrow papers, the notary must follow the signing instructions but may not give legal or financial advice.

Certified copies of recorded real property documents must be obtained from the county recorder, not from a notary.

A notary must not backdate or postdate a certificate to match a real property transaction date.