Notary Purchase

Purchase of Notary Bonds for State Employees

Policy

RCW 42.44 requires all individuals applying for a notary certificate in the State of Washington to file a $10,000 notary public bond with the Department of Licensing (DOL) prior to their appointment as a notary public. RCW 43.19.1935 places the responsibility and authority for the purchase of commercial insurance and bonds for all state agencies with the Risk Management Division (ORM). As ORM has the authority to authorize state agencies to make direct purchases, it has established the following procedure which allows state employees to purchase notary bonds directly from the state Broker of Record.

Procedure

Procedures for Original Appointments and Renewals
Please note that the process for a new or renewal appointment for a Notary Public will take four to six weeks to process. To expedite the process, it is important that the steps below are followed:

I. Original Appointment as a Notary Public

  • The employee/applicant is to obtain and complete a DOL application form http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary.
  • The employee/applicant must decide if they want the standard blue self-inking notary stamp which is available through the state insurance broker or a seal which must be purchased by the employee at the employees own expense.
  • The completed application and a letter of request with the employee/applicants business address and a check for:

    $90.00 for the bond, certificate and stamp

    OR

    $67.00 for the bond and certificate without a stamp

    (employee to purchase notary public seal at their own expense)

TO:

II. Renewal of Existing Appointment

  • If the appointment has expired, the employee must complete a new Department of Licensing application http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary. Please allow adequate time for the renewal process to be completed before the current appointment expires.
  • The employee/applicant must decide if they want the standard blue self-inking notary stamp which is available through the state insurance broker or a seal which must be purchased by the employee at the employees own cost.
  • Return the courtesy renewal notice from the Department of Licensing or a copy of the current certificate with the notation "renewal" at the bottom and a check for:

    $90.00 for the bond, certificate and stamp

    OR

    $67.00 for the bond and certificate without a stamp

    (employee to purchase seal at own expense)

TO:

  • Ogishima & Associates will procure a notary bond on behalf of the applicant and will file the application or renewal, bond and fee with the Department of Licensing.
  • The Department of Licensing will send the applicant a Notary Public certificate.
  • Applicant will mail or fax a copy of the Notary Public certificate to Ogishima & Associates.
    Ogishima & Associates will procure stamp and forward to business address of the applicant.

NOTE: State Law prohibits Ogishima & Associates from procuring stamps before receipt of certification of Notary appointment.(RCW 42.44.050)

The applicant signature on the application and bond MUST BE IDENTICAL.

Procedure for Change of Name and Address

I. Change of Name

  • Applicant will send a copy of certificate, a letter requesting a name change, and a check for $38 to Ogishima & Associates at the address shown on page 1.
  • Ogishima & Associates will procure a rider to the existing notary bond and file the rider with the Department of Licensing.
  • The Department of Licensing will send a new certificate to the applicant.
  • The applicant will mail or fax a copy of the new certificate to Ogishima & Associates
  • Ogishima & Associates will procure a new notary stamp and send it to the business address of the applicant.


II. Change of Address

  • The applicant will send a copy of the current certificate and a letter showing the new address directly to the Department of Licensing.
  • There is no charge for a change of address.