Montana requires a journal for every notarial act with 10-year retention. Driver’s license numbers, SSNs, and birthdates are expressly prohibited from the journal. Thumbprints are permitted but not required. Montana notaries may also notarize tangible documents in Wyoming and North Dakota. NotaryAct is state-configured for Montana — prohibited fields blocked, permitted fields enabled.
| ⚖️ Montana Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | MCA Title 1, Chapter 5, Part 6 (§ 1-5-615 journal) · ARM Title 44, Chapter 15 |
| Journal Required? | Yes — every notarial act ✓ |
| Formats | Bound paper (numbered pages) OR electronic (commercially produced, sequential, non-modifiable, digital-format accessible) |
| Retention | 10 years after last notarial act · Notary may retain or send to SOS |
| Lost / Stolen | Notify SOS within 30 days |
| Prohibited Entries | ⛔ Driver’s license numbers, SSNs, dates of birth — all prohibited |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | ✔ Permitted as additional proof — not required, not prohibited (MT handbook explicitly confirms) |
| WY and ND Jurisdiction | Montana notaries may notarize tangible documents in Wyoming and North Dakota when physically present ✓ |
| RON A/V Recording | Required — 10-year retention · Signer location must be noted in RON certificate |
| RON Certificate (March 5, 2026) | Must identify place within U.S. where principal was located — updated forms effective March 5, 2026 ✓ |
| Surety Bond | $25,000 — one of the highest in the country · Renewed each commission term ✓ |
| Education/Exam | 4 hours required · Exam required · Must pass MT Notary Exam · CE required at renewal |
| Max Traditional Fee | $10 per notarial act · Reasonable RON fee by prior agreement |
| Commission Term | 4 years · $25 application fee |
Montana’s journal law under MCA § 1-5-615 requires a record of every notarial act, retained for 10 years. Electronic journals must be commercially produced and create chronological, sequential, non-modifiable records accessible on demand in digital format. Multiple journals may be maintained simultaneously — the Montana Handbook explicitly allows this.
Montana’s prohibition list is specific: driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth may not be recorded in the journal. The ID type (e.g., “Montana driver’s license”) and expiration date are appropriate to record; the number itself is not. NotaryAct’s Montana configuration captures ID type and expiration only, consistent with this rule.
Montana stands out for explicitly permitting thumbprints in the journal as additional evidence — a middle position between states that require them (California) and states that prohibit them (Illinois, Pennsylvania). NotaryAct’s Montana configuration makes fingerprint capture available as an optional field, consistent with the handbook’s guidance.
| 1 | Date and Time of Notarial Act Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Type of Notarial Act and Document Description Acknowledgment, jurat, oath, signature witnessing, copy certification, or other. Montana also authorizes certification of fact, certification of life, and certification of a photograph. NotaryAct dropdown covers all Montana-authorized types. |
| 3 | Name and Address of Each Person Full name and address. NotaryAct’s barcode scanner auto-fills from any Montana driver’s license — name and address only; no driver’s license number (prohibited). |
| 4 | Identity Verification Method and ID Type Personal knowledge, or ID type + expiration date (not the number itself — prohibited), or credible witness. NotaryAct captures ID type and expiration only per Montana’s prohibition. |
| 5 | Fee Charged Montana’s maximum is $10 per notarial act. NotaryAct includes a fee field. |
| OPT | Thumbprint / Fingerprint — Optional ✔ Montana handbook expressly permits thumbprints as additional proof. NotaryAct’s Montana configuration makes fingerprint capture available via camera photo or Bluetooth scanner as a voluntary field. |
⛔ Prohibited from Montana journals: Driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth may not be recorded. NotaryAct’s Montana configuration captures ID type and expiration only — the number itself is not stored.
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Montana: All required fields enabled. Prohibited identifiers blocked. Thumbprint capture available as optional feature per handbook guidance. Electronic journal meets Montana’s commercially-produced, non-modifiable, digitally-accessible requirements. 10-year cloud retention built in.
Other state guides: Idaho · Colorado · Washington · Wyoming · All 50 States →
NotaryAct is state-configured for Montana — DL numbers, SSNs, and DOBs blocked; thumbprint capture available as permitted optional; 10-year encrypted cloud retention. Compliant from the first entry, whether you’re in Montana, Wyoming, or North Dakota.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Montana Code Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5, Part 6 and ARM Title 44, Chapter 15 (including the Montana Notary Public Handbook and RON certificate updates effective March 5, 2026) as in effect June 2026. Consult the Montana Secretary of State Notary Services Division at sosmt.gov/notary or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
