How to Become a Notary in Kansas

How do I renew my notary commission in Kansas?

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A Kansas notary may renew a notary commission every four years by submitting a Notary Public Appointment Form prior to the commission expiration date and by following the same steps they took when they applied to become a notary the first time. Renewing notaries may submit their appointment forms up to ninety days before their commissions expire.

Click here to start the notary renewal application process in Kansas.

Who appoints notaries in Kansas?

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The Kansas Secretary of State appoints Kansas notaries public.

Kansas Secretary of State
Notary Public Division
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor,
120 S.W. 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
Phone Number: (785) 296-4564

Can a non-resident of Kansas apply for a commission as a notary public?

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Yes. A non-resident who is a resident of a state bordering the state of Kansas and who has a regular place of employment or practice in Kansas may qualify to apply for a notary commission.

How long is a notary public's commission term in Kansas?

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The term of office of a Kansas notary public is four years. A notary cannot notarize documents after their notary commission expires without first renewing their notary commission with the secretary of state.

Is notary training or an exam required to become a notary or to renew a notary commission in Kansas?

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No. Kansas notary law does not require a notary applicant to take a course or examination to become a traditional Kansas notary public. However, Kansas notary law requires each individual who wants to perform notarial acts on electronic records or for remotely located individuals (remote notarization) to complete a course of study and pass an examination approved by the secretary of state.

The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office offers free training and examination for notary applicants who would like to perform In-Person Electronic Notarizations (IPEN) and Remote Online Notarizations (RON).

The American Association of Notaries recommends that all Kansas notaries keep a copy of the Kansas Notary Public Handbook. Click here to download the Kansas notary handbook.

How much does it cost to become a notary public in Kansas?

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The expenses required to become a notary public in Kansas include:

1. A $25 filing fee for processing your notary application.
2. A four-year, $12,000 notary bond. Click here to view our Kansas notary bond price.
3. A Kansas notary stamp. Click here to view our notary stamp prices.
4. A fee to have your oath taken.

Other expenses include the cost of purchasing:

1. A Kansas notary journal to record all notarial acts performed. Click here to view our notary journal prices.
2. An errors and omissions insurance policy (optional) to protect yourself in the event you are sued for unintentional mistakes or a false claim is filed against you as a notary. Click here to view our notary e/o policy premiums and coverage amounts.

Do I need a notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to become a notary in Kansas?

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A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is not required to become a Kansas notary public or to renew your notary commission. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that every Kansas notary obtain a notary E&O insurance policy. A notary E&O policy covers unintentional notarial mistakes and pays for legal fees and damages based on the coverage you select as a Kansas notary public.

Kansas notary errors and omissions insurance policies are available to order online at the American Association of Notaries website: https://www.kansasnotary.com/notary-insurance.

Do I need a notary bond to become a notary in Kansas?

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Yes. All Kansas notary applicants are required to maintain a four-year, $12,000 notary bond. The notary bond protects the public from a notary's errors.

If a member of the public files a claim against a notary’s bond, the bonding company is very likely to sue the notary to recoup the funds it paid on the notary’s behalf. A notary bond does not protect notaries from mistakes they make. This is why notary errors and omissions insurance (commonly known as “E&O” or “E&O insurance”) is vital.

Kansas notary bonds are available to order online at the American Association of Notaries website: https://www.kansasnotary.com/kansas-notary-bond.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Kansas?

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Kansas notary law requires all Kansas notaries public to use either an embossed seal or an inked stamp to authenticate all notarial acts.

The Kansas notary seal or stamp must contain the following:

• The applicant’s name as listed on the notary application
• The words “Notary Public”
• The words “State of Kansas”
• The words “My Commission Expires” or a phrase that is substantially similar followed by the expiration date or a space for the notary to write in the expiration date
• An image of the Kansas State Capitol building (optional)

Note: 

• A notary public may not use any notary seal unless an impression has first been filed with the Kansas Secretary of State. [K.S.A. 53-5a18]
• A notary who willfully neglects or refuses to attach their commission expiration date when notarizing a document is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. [K.S.A. 53-5a16(g)]
• Kansas notary law does not specify the shape or dimensions of a notary stamp.

The American Association of Notaries offers quality notary stamps and seals at savings of up to 40% compared to the cost of the same products elsewhere. Click here to order your Kansas notary stamp, notary seal, complete notary package, and other notary supplies.

What are the steps to replace a lost or stolen Kansas notary seal?

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If your notary stamp is lost or stolen, you must:

1. Purchase a new notary stamp. The secretary of state encourages notaries to select a stamp that is different from their previous stamp (i.e., round vs. rectangular) to help deter fraudulent use.
2. Complete and submit a Notary Public Change of Status Form NC to notify the secretary of state of the new notary image of the stamping device. This form can be submitted online using the online notary login on the secretary of state’s website.

How much can a Kansas notary public charge for performing notarial acts?

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The Kansas notary statute does not specify the maximum allowable notary fees a Kansas notary public may charge for notarial acts with respect to a tangible record or an electronic record or for a notarial act for a remotely located individual.

A notary who charges a fee for a notarial act must ensure the following requirements are met:

• Before the notarial act is performed, the fee must be disclosed to and agreed upon by the signer.
• The notary must disclose to the signer that a fee is permitted but not required by state law or regulation.
• The fee must be collected at the time the notarial act is performed.
• The fee must be recorded in the notary’s journal.

Is a notary journal required in Kansas?

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Notary journal requirements for traditional notarizations, in-person electronic notarizations (IPENs), and remote online notarizations (RONs) in Kansas – Kansas notaries are required to maintain a journal in a tangible or electronic format. While a notary may maintain only one journal at a time in a tangible format, they may maintain more than one journal in an electronic format to chronicle all notarial acts performed regarding electronic records. A notary journal maintained in a tangible (paper) format should be in a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. If the journal is maintained in an electronic format, it must be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules and regulations of the Kansas Secretary of State.

A notary journal (also known as a record book, log book, or register book) is your first line of defense in proving your innocence if a notarial act you performed is questioned or if you are requested to testify in a court of law about a notarial act you performed in the past. A properly recorded notarial act creates a paper trail that will help investigators locate and prosecute signers who have committed forgery or fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices.

The American Association of Notaries offers notary journals in tangible and electronic formats.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

Click here to become a member and access our electronic notary journal.

What information must Kansas notaries record in their notary journals?

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Kansas notaries performing traditional notarizations, in-person electronic notarizations (IPENs), and remote online notarizations (RONs) are required to record in a notary journal the following information:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. A description of the record, if any, and type of notarial act.
3. The full name and address of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.
4. If the identity of the individual is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect.
5. If the identity of the individual is based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification and the identification credential presented, if any, including the date of issuance and expiration of any identification credential.
6. The fee, if any, charged by the notary public.

What steps should I take if my Kansas notary journal is lost or stolen?

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If your notary journal is lost or stolen, you must:

1. Complete and submit a Notary Public Change of Status Form NC to notify the secretary of state of the lost or stolen notary journal. This form can be submitted online using the online notary login on the secretary of state’s website.
2. Purchase a new notary journal.

How long should I retain my Kansas notary journal?

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You must retain your notary journal for ten years after the last entry recorded in the journal.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Kansas?

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Kansas notaries are authorized to perform notarial acts while physically located anywhere within the geographic borders of the state of Kansas.

What notarial acts can a Kansas notary public perform?

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A Kansas notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts:

• Take acknowledgments
• Administer oaths or affirmations
• Take verifications upon oath or affirmation
• Witness or attest signatures
• Certify or attest copies
• Note protests of negotiable instruments
• Perform any other acts permitted by law

What kind of notarizations are allowed in Kansas?

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Kansas law allows the following three types of notarizations:

Traditional notarization – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. Traditional notarization involves an individual signing a tangible document with an inked pen and a notary public signing and affixing an inked notary official stamp impression to the tangible notarial certificate.

In-person electronic notarization (also known as IPEN and e-notarizations) – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. However, the notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary stamp, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Remote online notarization (RON) – The signer appears remotely before a remote online notary via audio-visual communication technology. The notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary stamp, and an electronic notarial certificate.

What are the steps to register to perform in-person electronic notarizations in Kansas?

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To register to perform in-person electronic notarizations in Kansas, you must:

1. Be an appointed Kansas notary public.
2. Select a IPEN technology provider(s) from the list on the secretary of state’s website.
3. Obtain an electronic signature, electronic stamp, and digital certificate (may be provided by IPEN technology provider or another vendor).
4. Complete a course of study and pass the training and examination administered by the secretary of state.
5. Print the certificate generated when you pass the examination.
6. Complete and submit a Notary Public Change of Status Form NC, course training certificate, and $20 fee to the secretary of state. This form can be submitted online using the online notary login on the secretary of state’s website.

For more information on in-person electronic notarizations, visit the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.

What are the steps to register to perform remote online notarizations in Kansas?

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To register to perform remote online notarizations in Kansas, you must:

1. Be an appointed Kansas notary public.
2. Contract with a RON technology provider that meets state requirements and is listed on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website to provide such services.
3. Obtain an electronic signature, electronic stamp, and digital certificate (may be provided by a RON technology provider or a digital certificate vendor).
4. Complete the required training and exam provided by the secretary of state.
5. Print the certificate after successfully passing the exam.
6. Complete and submit a Notary Public Change of Status Form NC, course training certificate, and $20 fee to the secretary of state. This form can be submitted online using the online notary login on the secretary of state’s website.

For more information on remote online notarizations, visit the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.

How do I update my address on my Kansas notary commission?

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If you change your address during the term of your notary commission, you are required to file a “Notary Public Change of Status Form NC" with the secretary of state. This form can be submitted online using the online notary login on the secretary of state’s website. In addition, any changes to your official stamp, name, email address, and phone number must be updated with the secretary of state.

How do I change my name on my notary commission in Kansas?

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If you change your name by any legal action during the term of your Kansas notary commission, you must obtain a new official stamp that contains the new name and complete and file a “Notary Public Change of Status Form NC” with the Kansas Secretary of State with an impression of the new stamp. This form can be submitted online using the online notary login on the secretary of state’s website.

Note:

• The name on the stamp must identically match the name on the form.
• A notary may not notarize under their new name before the change is processed by the secretary of state. After a notary’s name is changed, the notary may not notarize under the former name.
• There is no fee for a name change.

Revised:

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January 2024