Alaska Notary News

• Notary Law updated via HB 97 which became effective July 1st, 2005.
  The 24th Alaska Legislature passed HB 97, An Act Relating to the authority to take oaths, affirmations, and acknowledgments in the state, to notarizations, to verifications, to Acknowledgments, to fees for issuing certificates with the seal of the state affixed, and to notaries public; and providing for an effective date, which went into effect on July 1st, 2005.
  
  • HB 97 in Acrobat format (easiest to read)
  • HB 97 in plain text format
  • Comparison of new law and prior law.
  • Changes affecting current notaries
  
  
  
• A word of caution regarding solicitations - August 9, 2005
  As an Alaska notary you will receive offers in the mail from businesses and notary organizations selling supplies, services and training opportunities. Like any other advertisement, the tone and wording of these mailings can be misleading if not read carefully. A casual reading may even give the impression that they have some formal connection with the State of Alaska.
  
  Please be advised that the State of Alaska does not use private businesses or organizations to distribute notary information and we do not require that you purchase notary bonds, supplies, services or training materials from any specific vendor.
  
  If you receive an advertisement and have any questions about the validity of statements or assertions made in the ad - or about the nature of the vendor's relationship to the State of Alaska or your notary commission - please contact our office for clarification.
  
  
• Embossed notary seals - August 9, 2005
  The old law allowed, and the new law continues to allow, for the use of both rubber stamp and embossing notary seals. One important aspect of the law regarding any notary seal that you use is that it be "photographically reproducible." For embossing seals, this means that the raised portion of the seal impression must be shaded over after it is placed on the document so that the information it contains will reproduce if photographed, copied, scanned or faxed. Notary supply vendors sell special ink pads that are designed for this purpose.
  
  Rather than accept somebody else's word about what the new law does or doesn't require, why not take a look for yourself? We also operate a mailing list that notaries can use to ask questions and discuss notary related topics and, of course, you are always welcome to call the office with any questions or concerns you may have.
  
  
• HB 97 passes, Alaska Notary Law changes - July 1, 2005
  I will be working on an annotated version of the notary statutes that will eventually appear under the "Alaska Notary Law" section above. Until then, the links will pull up a .pdf version of HB 97. All Alaska notaries should read through HB 97 and contact me with any questions or for clarification of any aspect of the new law.
  

• Alaska creates a new type of notary commission: The Limited Governmental Notary Commission - July 1, 2005
  Please see HB 97 text or contact me directly for more information.
  
  
• Fees for Alaska Authentication and Commission Certificate Copies increase from $2.00 to $5.00 each - July 1, 2005
  The fee for a copy of a commission certificate is now $5.00
  
  
• Alaska Notary Test is no longer required for applications - July 1, 2005
  The State is no longer requiring that a notary test be submitted as part of the commission application process. We do strongly encourage that all notaries, especially those applying for their first commission in Alaska, continue to take and submit the notary test. Even though the State is no longer mandating that the test be taken, employers and/or Sureties may continue to require applicants to take and submit the notary test.
  
  
• Commission Certificates Redesigned
  The Notary Commission certificates issued by the Lieutenant Governor are now printed with blue ink and a silver foil State Seal. The dimensions of the new certificates have been reduced to 4" by 9.25"
  
  The previous commission certificate is no longer being issued.