Sen Lin, PrepPass Founder · Verified against Montana Secretary of State — Notary Exam · How we review
Free · printable · one page
Montana Notary Public Exam Cram Sheet (2026)
The highest-yield points on the Montana Notary Publicexam, grouped by the exam's real content areas. Print it, review the ones you keep missing, then drill them with free practice questions.
22questions
60 mintime limit
80to pass
5content areas
Notarial Acts and Certificates
26% of the exam- An acknowledgment certifies that the identified signer appeared and acknowledged signing voluntarily for the document's stated purpose.
- A verification on oath or affirmation (jurat) certifies that the signer appeared, signed in the notary's presence, and swore or affirmed the statement is true.
- The notary may not decide which act a document requires; that is the unauthorized practice of law.
- Every act requires the signer's personal appearance before the notary.
- A jurat requires an oath or affirmation; an acknowledgment does not.
- For a jurat the signer must sign in front of the notary; for an acknowledgment the signature may already exist.
- An oath and an affirmation carry the same legal weight and the same penalty for false statements; only the wording differs.
- The notary certifies identity and, for a jurat, that an oath was given, never the truth of the contents beyond the signer's sworn word.
- A notary may certify a copy the custodian presents, but not vital records (birth, death, marriage) or already-recorded government documents.
- Refuse when the signer does not personally appear or cannot be identified.
- Refuse when the signer appears confused, unwilling, or coerced.
- A notary may notarize a foreign-language document only if able to communicate directly with the signer and identify them.
- State the venue: the state and county where the act was performed.
- State the date of the act and the notary's signature exactly as commissioned.
- Affix the official stamp so it is legible and reproducible.
- Montana does not require a thumbprint; a notary never records a signer's Social Security number.
Identifying the Signer
18% of the exam- Personal knowledge means the notary actually knows the individual through dealings sufficient to eliminate reasonable doubt.
- Satisfactory evidence means an acceptable identification document, or the oath of a credible witness.
- A signer merely stating their name is never sufficient identification.
- A current government-issued ID with a photograph, signature, and identifying number qualifies, such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID.
- Social Security cards, credit cards, and library cards are not acceptable because they lack the required features.
- The document should be current or unexpired; a badly outdated ID undermines confidence in identity.
- A credible witness must personally know the signer and be known to, or identified by, the notary.
- The notary must place the credible witness under oath or affirmation before relying on them.
- A credible witness should have no financial interest in the transaction.
- If identity cannot be established by any allowed method, the notary must decline the act.
Journal and Official Stamp
18% of the exam- Record every notarial act in a permanent, bound paper journal or a tamper-evident electronic journal.
- Each entry records the date and time, type of act, a description of the document, the signer's name and signature, the identification method, and the fee.
- Keep the journal under the notary's control; it is a record of acts, not a copy of documents.
- Do not record sensitive data such as Social Security or account numbers.
- The stamp is rectangular, roughly 1 inch by 2.5 inches, in blue or black ink only.
- It shows the notary's printed name and the title 'Notary Public for the State of Montana.'
- It states 'Residing at' with the city or town and the commission expiration date.
- The impression must be legible and photographically reproducible on the document.
- Keep the stamp and journal secure and under the notary's exclusive control.
- Report a lost or stolen stamp or journal to the Secretary of State promptly.
- When the commission ends, dispose of the stamp so it cannot be misused.
Commission, Bond, and the Exam
18% of the exam- An applicant must be at least 18 and able to read and write English.
- The applicant must reside in Montana, or reside in a bordering state while regularly employed or practicing in Montana.
- The commission is valid for four years and is not automatically renewed.
- Citizenship and property ownership are not required.
- Montana requires a $25,000 surety bond, filed with the Secretary of State.
- The bond compensates members of the public harmed by the notary's misconduct.
- If the surety pays a claim, the notary must reimburse the surety.
- The exam has 50 questions with a 60-minute time limit.
- It is open-book and taken online; a score of 80% is required to pass.
- An applicant may attempt the exam three times, then must wait three months.
- Open-book means know where the answers are; success depends on understanding the handbook, not memorization alone.
Prohibited Acts, Fees, and Liability
20% of the exam- Most notarial acts are capped at $10 per act.
- A notary may charge less, or waive the fee, but never more than the cap.
- Any fee charged should be recorded in the journal.
- A notary may not act when a party to the transaction or holding a disqualifying financial or beneficial interest beyond the fee.
- A notary may never notarize their own signature.
- A notary must refuse when the signer is absent, unidentified, unwilling, or appears coerced.
- A non-attorney notary may not give legal advice or select a notarial certificate for the signer.
- A non-attorney notary may not advertise as a 'notario publico,' which falsely implies legal authority.
- The notary may perform the notarization while declining to advise on the document's meaning or effect.
- Knowingly making a false certificate can bring civil liability, revocation, and criminal prosecution.
- The Secretary of State may investigate complaints and suspend or revoke a commission.
- The bond compensates the public; the notary remains personally responsible and must repay claims.
Now prove you know them
Reading the outline is not the same as recalling it under exam pressure. Drill 22+ free Montana Notary Public practice questions to find your weak areas, then sit a full timed mock — no signup, no paywall.
Study aid, not a substitute for the official material — always confirm the current rule with Montana Secretary of State — Notary Exam. Last verified: August 2026.