ORS 194.315
Commission as notary public

  • qualifications
  • no immunity or benefit

(1)

An individual qualified under subsection (2) of this section may apply to the Secretary of State for a commission as a notary public. The applicant shall comply with and provide the information required under rules adopted by the secretary and pay the application fee described in ORS 194.365 (Application fee).

(2)

An applicant for a commission as a notary public must:

(a)

Be at least 18 years of age;

(b)

Be a resident of this state or have a place of employment or practice in this state;

(c)

Be able to read and write English;

(d)

Not have been convicted of a felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit during the 10-year period preceding the date of application;

(e)

Not have been convicted of:

(A)

Acting as or otherwise impersonating a notary public as described in ORS 194.990 (Criminal penalties) (1)(b);

(B)

Obstructing governmental or judicial administration under ORS 162.235 (Obstructing governmental or judicial administration) (1)(b); or

(C)

Engaging in the unlawful practice of law as described in ORS 9.160 (Bar membership required to practice law);

(f)

Not have been found by a court to have:

(A)

Practiced law without a license in a suit under ORS 9.166 (Enjoining practicing law without a license); or

(B)

Engaged in an unlawful trade practice described in ORS 646.608 (Additional unlawful business, trade practices) (1)(vvv);

(g)

Not have entered into an assurance of voluntary compliance, pursuant to ORS 646.632 (Enjoining unlawful trade practices), based on an alleged violation of ORS 646.608 (Additional unlawful business, trade practices) (1)(vvv);

(h)

Not have had a commission as a notary public revoked during the 10-year period preceding the date of application;

(i)

Not be disqualified under ORS 194.340 (Grounds to deny, revoke, suspend or condition commission of notary public) to receive a commission;

(j)

Complete the course of study described in ORS 194.325 (Examination of notary public); and

(k)

Have passed the examination required under ORS 194.325 (Examination of notary public).

(3)

Before the Secretary of State may issue a commission as a notary public, the applicant shall execute an oath of office and submit it to the secretary.

(4)

Upon the applicant’s compliance with this section, the Secretary of State shall issue a commission as a notary public to the applicant for a term of four years.

(5)

A commission 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 of this state.

(6)

Each notary public may file with the Secretary of State a statement waiving the fees specified under ORS 194.400 (Fees for notarial acts). If a notary public files the statement waiving the fees, the office of that notary public is not considered a lucrative office.

(7)

The functions of a notary public are not considered official duties under Article III, section 1, of the Oregon Constitution.

(8)

A commission as a notary public is not considered a commission under Article V, section 18, of the Oregon Constitution. [2013 c.219 §20; 2016 c.47 §3]

Source: Section 194.315 — Commission as notary public; qualifications; no immunity or benefit, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors194.­html.

Attorney General Opinions

Under former similar statute (ORS 194.010)

Constitutionality of the durational residency requirement imposed on notaries public, (1976) Vol 37, p 1223

194.205
Short title
194.215
Definitions
194.225
Authority to perform notarial act
194.230
Requirements for certain notarial acts
194.235
Personal appearance required
194.240
Identification of individual
194.245
Authority to refuse to perform notarial act
194.250
Signature if individual unable to sign
194.255
Notarial act in this state
194.260
Notarial act in another state
194.265
Notarial act under authority of federally recognized Indian tribe
194.270
Notarial act under federal authority
194.275
Foreign notarial act
194.277
Notarial act performed for remotely located individual
194.280
Certificate of notarial act
194.285
Short form certificates
194.290
Official stamp
194.295
Stamping device
194.300
Journal
194.305
Notification regarding performance of notarial act with respect to electronic records
194.315
Commission as notary public
194.325
Examination of notary public
194.340
Grounds to deny, revoke, suspend or condition commission of notary public
194.345
Database of notaries public
194.350
Prohibited acts
194.355
Validity of notarial acts
194.360
Rules
194.365
Application fee
194.370
Investigation of applicant
194.375
Protest of commercial paper
194.380
Record of protest
194.385
Powers of notary public connected with corporation
194.390
Disposition of records on vacancy in office
194.395
Recovery and disposition of fines
194.400
Fees for notarial acts
194.405
Action for damages or injunction
194.415
Attorney General to investigate or prosecute violation
194.425
Disposition of moneys
194.435
Uniformity of application and construction
194.440
Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act
194.800
Short title
194.805
Definitions
194.810
Applicability
194.815
Validity of unsworn declaration
194.820
Required medium
194.825
Form of unsworn declaration
194.830
Uniformity of application and construction
194.835
Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act
194.980
Civil penalties
194.985
Official Warning to Cease Violation
194.990
Criminal penalties
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