Utah requires a $95 exam and a mandatory background check — administered by the Lieutenant Governor's office, not the Secretary of State. The bond is only $5,000 ($10,000 for RON notaries). RON has been authorized since November 2019.
Under Utah Code Title 46, Chapter 1, the requirements are:
Utah's $95 exam fee is one of the highest exam costs in the country, and the background check adds to the total. Utah ranks among the more expensive states for notary licensing.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Notary exam fee | Required | $95 |
| Exam retake fee (if needed) | If retaking | $40 |
| $5,000 surety bond (4-year term) | Required | $30–$50 |
| Background check | Required | Included/varies |
| Notary stamp/seal | Required | $15–$35 |
| Notary journal | Recommended | $10–$25 |
| RON registration (optional, requires $10,000 bond) | Optional | Varies |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $150–$205 |
Utah's notary program is administered by the Lieutenant Governor's office, not the Secretary of State. The $95 exam fee is steep — among the highest in the country. If you want to perform RON, you need a larger $10,000 bond (vs the standard $5,000) and separate registration.
Utah's process is exam-first, then bond, then document submission.
Review the official study materials covering Utah notary law (Utah Code Title 46, Chapter 1). The exam is based on these.
Schedule and take the exam. The $95 fee is required; retakes are $40. You'll be directed to the online portal after passing.
After passing the exam, agree to and submit your information for the mandatory background check. This has been required since November 1, 2019.
Buy your 4-year, $5,000 bond from a company authorized to write surety bonds in Utah. The name on the bond must match your application exactly. The bond must be dated within 90 days of when your commission is approved.
Complete the Oath of Office form (usually accompanies your bond) and have it notarized by a current Utah notary. The oath must be notarized before you submit your documents — otherwise your application is rejected.
Upload your Oath of Office, bond, and verify your application information at notary.utah.gov. Once approved, you'll receive your commission. Order your stamp and you're ready.
Utah notaries can perform these acts statewide under Utah Code Title 46, Chapter 1:
Utah caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act (since November 1, 2019):
Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden are the main markets. Utah's strong tech sector ("Silicon Slopes" along the Wasatch Front) and high real estate transaction volume create steady demand. Utah's RON market is also robust — the state was an early RON adopter (2019), and many RON-focused operations are based there.
Utah authorized RON via HB 52 (Remote Notarization Standards), effective November 1, 2019 — making Utah an early adopter:
Your Utah commission is valid for 4 years. Renewal requires retaking the exam.
Utah requires renewing notaries to pass the exam again (the $40 retake fee may apply) and submit a new $5,000 bond. The background check and document submission process is repeated. Start early — renewal isn't automatic.
Utah is one of the few states where the Lieutenant Governor's office (rather than the Secretary of State) handles notary commissioning. In Utah, the Lieutenant Governor performs many functions that Secretaries of State handle elsewhere. The practical effect for you: apply at notary.utah.gov, not a Secretary of State site.
Yes — it's one of the highest exam fees in the country. Most states with exams charge $0-$50. Utah's $95 fee (with $40 retakes) reflects the cost of administering a proctored exam. Budget for it, and study thoroughly to avoid the retake fee.
Standard Utah notaries need a $5,000 bond. If you want to perform remote online notarization, you need a $10,000 bond — double the standard amount. The reasoning: RON carries higher fraud risk (remote identity verification), so the higher bond provides more public protection. If you plan to do RON, get the $10,000 bond from the start to avoid buying two bonds.
Yes. Your commission is statewide regardless of where you reside or work in Utah.
For most applicants, no. The background check (required since November 2019) screens for disqualifying criminal history. If you have no felony convictions or fraud-related offenses, it's a routine step. It does add processing time.
Your surety bond must be dated within 90 days of when your commission is officially approved. If you buy the bond too early and your application is delayed, the bond dates may not align. Coordinate your bond purchase with your application timing — buy it after passing the exam, not before.
Utah's Silicon Slopes tech corridor and early RON adoption make it a strong market for both traditional and remote notary work. Salt Lake City and the Provo-Orem area have particularly high demand. We're recruiting founding-cohort Utah notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
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