Senate Bill 934-Second Edition

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

S 2

SENATE BILL 934

Judiciary II Committee Substitute Adopted 5/12/05

Short Title: Notary Public Act.-AB		(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

March 24, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to Repeal Chapter 10A of the General statutes regarding the regulation of notaries public, and to enact chapter 10B relating to notaries.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. Chapter 10A of the General Statutes is repealed.

SECTION 2. The General Statutes of North Carolina are amended by adding a new Chapter to read:

"Chapter 10B.

"Notaries.

"Article 1.

"Notary Public Act.

"Part 1. General Provisions.

"§ 10B-1. Short title.

This act is the "Notary Public Act" and may be cited by that name.

"§ 10B-2. Purposes.

This Chapter shall be construed and applied to advance its underlying purposes, which are the following:

(1) To promote, serve, and protect the public interests.

(2) To simplify, clarify, and modernize the law governing notaries.

(3) To prevent fraud and forgery.

(4) To foster ethical conduct among notaries.

(5) To enhance interstate recognition of notarial acts.

(6) To integrate procedures for traditional paper and electronic notarial acts.

"§ 10B-3. Definitions.

The following definitions apply in this Chapter:

(1) "Acknowledgment" means a notarial act in which an individual, at a single time and place:

a. Appears in person before the notary and presents a record; and

b. Is personally known to the notary or identified by the notary through satisfactory evidence and indicates to the notary that the signature on the record was voluntarily affixed by the individual for the purposes stated within the record and, if applicable, that the individual had due authority to sign in a particular representative capacity.

(2) "Affirmation" means a notarial act, or part thereof, which is legally equivalent to an oath and in which an individual at a single time and place:

a. Appears in person before the notary;

b. Is personally known to the notary or identified by the notary through satisfactory evidence; and

c. Makes a vow of truthfulness on penalty of perjury, based on personal honor and without invoking a deity or using any form of the word "swear".

(3) "Commission" means the empowerment to perform notarial acts and the written evidence of authority to perform those acts.

(4) "Credible witness" means an honest, reliable, and impartial person who is personally known to the notary and takes an oath or affirmation from the notary to confirm a signer's identity.

(4a) "Department" means the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State.

(5) "Director" means the Division Director for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of state Notary Public Section.

(6) "Jurat" means a notarial act in which the notary certifies the date, place, and person before whom an affidavit is sworn or affirmed.

(7) "Moral turpitude" means conduct contrary to expected standards of honesty, morality, or integrity.

(8) "Nickname" means a descriptive, familiar, or shortened form of a proper name.

(9) "Notarial act," "notary act," and "notarization" mean any act that a notary is empowered to perform under this Chapter.

(10) "Notarial certificate" and "certificate" mean the portion of a notarized record that is completed by the notary, bears the notary's signature and seal, and states the facts attested by the notary in a particular notarization.

(11) "Notary public" and "notary" mean a person commissioned to perform notarial acts under this Chapter. A notary is a public officer of the State of North Carolina and shall act in full and strict compliance with this act.

(12) "Oath" means a notarial act, or part thereof, which is legally equivalent to an affirmation and in which an individual at a single time and place:

a. Appears in person before a notary;

b. Is personally known to the notary or identified by the notary through satisfactory evidence; and

c. Makes a vow of truthfulness on penalty of perjury while invoking a deity or using any form of the word "swear".

(13) "Official misconduct" means either of the following:

a. A notary's performance of a prohibited act or failure to perform a mandated act set forth in this Chapter or any other law in connection with notarization.

b. A notary's performance of a notarial act in a manner found by the Secretary to be negligent or against the public interest.

(14) "Personal appearance" and "appear in person before a notary" mean an individual and a notary are in close physical proximity to one another so that they may freely see and communicate with one another and exchange records back and forth during the notarization process.

(15) "Personal knowledge of identity" means familiarity with an individual resulting from interactions with that individual over a period of time sufficient to eliminate every reasonable doubt that the individual has the identity claimed.

(16) "Principal" means a person whose signature is notarized; or a person, other than a credible witness, taking an oath or affirmation from the notary.

(17) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium and called a traditional or paper record.

(18) "Regular place of work or business" means a location, office or other workspace, where an individual regularly spends all or part of the individual's work time.

(19) "Satisfactory evidence of a signer's identity" means identification of an individual based on either of the following:

a. At least one current document issued by a federal, state, or federal- or state-recognized tribal government agency bearing the photographic image of the individual's face and either the signature or a physical description of the individual.

b. The oath or affirmation of one credible witness unaffected by the record or transaction who is personally known to the notary and who personally knows the individual seeking to be identified.

(20) "Seal" and "stamp" mean a device for affixing on a paper record an image containing a notary's name, the words "notary public," and other information as required in G.S. 10B-24.

(21) "Secretary" means the North Carolina Secretary of State or the Secretary's designee.

(22) "Signature" means the act of personally signing one's name in ink by hand.

(23) "Subscribing witness" means a person who either watches another individual sign a record or takes that individual's acknowledgment of an already-signed record and appears before the notary on behalf of the principal. The subscribing witness must sign the document in addition to the principal, must be personally known by the notary or prove identity to the notary by satisfactory evidence, and must take an oath or affirmation stating that he or she witnessed the principal sign.

(24) "Verification" or "proof" means a notarial act where a person certifies under oath or affirmation that the person witnessed the principal either execute, record, or acknowledge the principal's signature on an already-executed record.

"Part 2. Commissioning.

"§ 10B-4. Qualifications.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the Secretary shall commission as a notary any qualified person who submits an application in accordance with this Chapter.

(b) A person qualified for a notarial commission shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Be at least 18 years of age or legally emancipated.

(2) Reside or have a regular place of work or business in this State.

(3) Reside legally in the United States.

(4) Speak, read, and write the English language.

(5) Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.

(6) Pass the course of instruction described in this Article, unless the person is a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar.

(7) Purchase and keep as a reference the most recent manual approved by the Secretary that describes the duties and authority of notaries public.

(8) Submit an application containing no significant misstatement or omission of fact. The application form shall be provided by the Secretary and be available at the register of deeds office in each county. Every application shall include the signature of the applicant written with pen and ink, and the signature shall be acknowledged by the applicant before a person authorized to administer oaths. The applicant shall also obtain the recommendation of one publicly elected official in North Carolina whose recommendation shall be contained on the application.

(9) Pay a nonrefundable application fee of fifty dollars ($50.00).

(c) The notary shall be commissioned in his or her county of residence, unless the notary is not a North Carolina resident, in which case he or she shall be commissioned in the county of his or her employment or business.

(d) The Secretary may deny an application for commission or recommission if any of the following apply to an applicant:

(1) Submission of an incomplete application or an application containing material misstatement or omission of fact.

(2) The applicant's conviction or plea of admission or nolo contendere to a felony or any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude. In no case may a commission be issued to an applicant within 10 years after release from prison, probation, or parole, whichever is later.

(3) A finding or admission of liability against the applicant in a civil lawsuit based on the applicant's deceit.

(4) The revocation, suspension, restriction, or denial of a notarial commission or professional license by this or any other state or nation. In no case may a commission be issued to an applicant within five years after the completion of all conditions of any disciplinary order.

(5) A finding that the applicant has engaged in official misconduct, whether or not disciplinary action resulted.

(6) An applicant knowingly using false or misleading advertising in which the applicant as a notary represents that the applicant has powers, duties, rights, or privileges that the applicant does not possess by law.

(7) A finding by a state bar or court that the applicant has engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.

"§ 10B-5. Application for commission.

Every application for a notary commission shall be made on paper with original signatures, or in another form determined by the Secretary, and shall include all of the following:

(1) A statement of the applicant's personal qualifications as required by this Chapter.

(2) A certificate or signed statement by the instructor evidencing successful completion of the course of instruction as required by this Chapter.

(3) A notarized declaration of the applicant, as required by this Chapter.

(4) Any other information that the Secretary deems appropriate.

(5) The application fee required by this Chapter.

"§ 10B-6. Statement of personal qualification.

(a) The application for a notary commission shall include at least all of the following:

(1) The applicant's full legal name and the name to be used for commissioning, excluding nicknames.

(2) The applicant's date of birth.

(3) The mailing address for the applicant's residence, the street address for the applicant's residence, and the telephone number for the applicant's residence.

(4) The applicant's county of residence.

(5) The name of the applicant's employer, the street and mailing address for the applicant's employer, and telephone number for the applicant's employer.

(6) The applicant's last four digits of the applicant's social security number.

(7) The applicant's personal and business e-mail addresses.

(8) A declaration that the applicant is a citizen of the United States or proof of the applicant's legal residency in this country.

(9) A declaration that the applicant can speak, read, and write in the English language.

(10) A complete listing of any issuances, denials, revocations, suspensions, restrictions, and resignations of a notarial commission, professional license, or public office involving the applicant in this or any other state or nation.

(11) A complete listing of any criminal convictions of the applicant, including any pleas of admission or nolo contendere, in this or any other state or nation.

(12) A complete listing of any civil findings or admissions of fault or liability regarding the applicant's activities as a notary, in this or any other state or nation.

(b) The information contained in an application under this section is a public record as defined in G.S 132-1. The information contained in subdivisions (2), (3), and (6) of this subsection shall be considered confidential information.

"§ 10B-7. Course of study and examination.

(a) Every applicant for an initial notary commission shall, within the three months preceding application, take a course of classroom instruction of not less than six hours approved by the Secretary and take a written examination approved by the Secretary. An applicant must answer at least eighty percent (80%) of the questions correctly in order to pass the exam. This subsection shall not apply to a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar.

(b) Every applicant for recommissioning shall pass a written examination approved by and administered by or under the direction of the Secretary, unless the person is a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar.

(c) The content of the course of instruction and the written examinations shall be notarial laws, procedures, and ethics.

(d) The Secretary may charge such fees as are reasonably necessary to pay the cost associated with developing and administering examinations permitted by this Chapter and for conducting the training of notaries and notary instructors. All funds received by the Secretary under this section shall be deposited into the Notary Public Special Fund and used for the purposes authorized under G.S. 10B-60.

"§ 10B-8. Length of term and jurisdiction.

A person commissioned under this Chapter may perform notarial acts in any part of this State for a term of five years, unless the commission is earlier revoked or resigned. No commissions shall be effective prior to the administration of the oath of office. Any notarial acts performed before the administration of the oath of office, either the original commissioning or recommissioning, are invalid.

"§ 10B-9. Commission; oath of office.

(a) If the Secretary grants a commission to an applicant, the Secretary shall notify the appointee and shall instruct the appointee regarding the proper procedure for taking the oath at the register of deeds office in the county of the appointee's commissioning.

(b) The appointee shall appear before the register of deeds no later than 45 days after commissioning and shall be duly qualified by taking the general oath of office prescribed in G.S. 11-11 and the oath prescribed for officers in G.S. 11-7.

(c) The register of deeds shall then place the notary record in a book designated for that purpose, or the notary record may be recorded in the Consolidated Document Book and indexed in the Consolidated Real Property Index under the notary's name in the grantor index. The notary record may be kept in electronic format so long as the signature of the notary public may be viewed and printed. The notary record shall contain the name and the signature of the notary as commissioned, the effective date and expiration date of the commission, the date the oath was administered, and the date of any restriction, suspension, revocation, or resignation. The record shall constitute the official record of the qualification of notaries public.

(d) The register of deeds shall deliver the commission to the notary following completion of the requirements of this section and shall notify the Secretary of the delivery.

(e) If the appointee does not appear before the register of deeds within 45 days of commissioning, the register of deeds must return the commission to the Secretary, and the appointee must reapply for commissioning. If the appointee reapplies within one year of the granting of the commission, the Secretary may waive the educational requirements of this Chapter.

(f) As soon as practicable, or within 24 months of the effective date of this act, all North Carolina registers of deeds and clerks of superior court shall submit to the Department for archiving in permanent storage legible and reproducible copies of the pages contained in their "Records of Notaries Public" created prior to 1991. The copies shall be reproduced pursuant to standards set by the Department to ensure the legibility of the copies and the compatibility with the Department's existing systems. The Department shall be responsible for any expense incurred relating to the shipment or transfer of these records.

"§ 10B-10. Recommissioning.

(a) A commissioned notary may apply for recommissioning no earlier than 10 weeks prior to the expiration date of the notary's commission.

(b) A notary whose commission has not expired must comply with the following requirements to be recommissioned:

(1) Submit a new application under G.S. 10B-5.

(2) Meet the requirements of G.S. 10B-4(b).

(3) Pass the written examination required under G.S. 10B-7, unless the notary is a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar.

(c) An individual may apply for recommissioning within one year after the expiration of the individual's commission. The individual must comply with the requirement of subsection (b) of this section. The individual must also fulfill the educational requirement under G.S. 10B-7(a), unless the Secretary waives that requirement.

"§ 10B-11. Notarized declaration.

The application for a notary public commission shall contain the following declaration to be executed by each applicant under oath:

Declaration of Applicant

I, (name of applicant), solemnly swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the information in this application is true, complete, and correct; that I understand the official duties and responsibilities of a notary public in this State, as described in the statutes; and that I will perform to the best of my ability all notarial acts in accordance with the law.

(signature of applicant)

"§ 10B-12. Application fee.

Every applicant for a notary commission shall pay to the Secretary a nonrefundable application fee of fifty dollars ($50.00).

"§ 10B-13. Instructor's certification.

(a) The course of study required by G.S. 10B-4(b) shall be taught by an instructor certified under rules adopted by the Secretary. An instructor must meet the following requirements to be certified to teach a course of study for notaries public:

(1) Complete and pass an instructor certification course of not less than six hours taught by the Director or other person approved by the Secretary.

(2) Have at least one year of active experience as a notary public.

(3) Maintain a current commission as a notary public.

(4) Possess the current notary public guidebook.

(5) Pay a nonrefundable fee of fifty dollars ($50.00).

(b) Certification to teach a course of study for notaries shall be effective for two years. A certification may be renewed by passing a recertification course taught by the Director or other person approved by the Secretary and by paying a nonrefundable fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). All funds received by the Secretary under this section shall be deposited into the Notary Public Special Fund and used for the purposes authorized under G.S. 10B-60.

(c) The following individuals may be certified to teach a course of study for notaries public without paying the fee required by this section, and they may renew their certification without paying the renewal fee, so long as they remain actively employed in the capacities named:

(1) Registers of deeds.

(2) Clerks of court.

(3) The Director and other duly authorized employees of the Secretary.

(d) Former registers of deeds and clerks of court who have been certified as notary public instructors must apply for commissioning as a notary public but are exempt from the education requirements of G.S. 10B-7 after successful completion of an examination administered by the Secretary.

(e) Assistant and deputy registers of deeds and assistant and deputy clerks of court must have a regular notary commission prior to receiving a certification or recertification as a notary public instructor.

(f) The Secretary may suspend or revoke the certification of a notary instructor for violating the provisions of this Chapter or any of the administrative rules implementing it.

"Part 3. Notarial Acts, Powers, and Limitations.

"§ 10B-14. Powers and limitations.

(a) A notary may perform any of the following notarial acts:

(1) Acknowledgments.

(2) Oaths and affirmations.

(3) Execute jurats.

(4) Verifications or proofs.

(b) A notarial act shall be attested by all of the following:

(1) The signature of the notary, exactly as shown on the notary's commission.

(2) The readable appearance of the notary's name, either from the notary's signature or from the notary's typed or printed name near the signature.

(3) The clear and legible appearance of the notary's stamp or seal.

(4) A statement of the date the notary's commission expires.

(1) The principal or subscribing witness is not in the notary's presence at the time the notarial act is to be performed.

(2) The principal or subscribing witness is not personally known to the notary or identified by the notary through satisfactory evidence.

(3) The principal or subscribing witness shows a demeanor that causes the notary to have a compelling doubt about whether the principal knows the consequences of the transaction requiring a notarial act.

(4) The principal or subscribing witness, in the notary's judgment, is not acting of the principal's or the subscribing witness's own free will.

(5) The notary is a signer of or is named, other than as a trustee in a deed of trust, in the document that is to be notarized.

(6) The notary will receive directly from a transaction connected with the notarial act any commission, fee, advantage, right, title, interest, cash, property, or other consideration exceeding in value the fees specified in G.S. 10B-20, other than fees or other consideration paid for services rendered by a licensed attorney, a licensed real estate broker or salesperson, a motor vehicle dealer, or a banker.

(d) A notary may certify the affixation of a signature by mark on a record presented for notarization if:

(1) The mark is affixed in the presence of the notary;

(2) The notary writes below the mark: "Mark affixed by (name of signer by mark) in presence of undersigned notary"; and

(3) The notary notarizes the signature by performing an acknowledgment, oath or affirmation, jurat, or verification or proof.

(e) If a principal is physically unable to sign or make a mark on a record presented for notarization, that principal may designate another person as his or her designee, who shall be a disinterested party, to sign on the principal's behalf pursuant to the following procedure:

(1) The principal directs the designee to sign the record in the presence of the notary and two witnesses unaffected by the record;

(2) The designee signs the principal's name in the presence of the principal, the notary, and the two witnesses;

(3) Both witnesses sign their own names to the record near the principal's signature;

(4) The notary writes below the principal's signature: "Signature affixed by designee in the presence of (names and addresses of principal and witnesses)"; and

(5) The notary notarizes the signature through an acknowledgment, oath or affirmation, jurat, or verification or proof.

(f) A notarial act performed in another jurisdiction by a notary public of that jurisdiction is valid to the same extent as if it had been performed by a notary commissioned under this Chapter.

(g) Commissioned officers on active duty in the United States armed forces who are authorized to perform notarial acts may perform the acts for persons serving in or with the United States armed forces, their spouses, and their dependents.

(h) The Secretary and register of deeds in the county in which a notary qualified may certify to the commission of the notary.

(i) A notary public who is not an attorney licensed to practice law in this State who advertises the person's services as a notary public in a language other than English, by radio, television, signs, pamphlets, newspapers, other written communication, or in any other manner, shall post or otherwise include with the advertisement the notice set forth in this subsection in English and in the language used for the advertisement. The notice shall be of conspicuous size, if in writing, and shall state: "I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND I MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE." If the advertisement is by radio or television, the statement may be modified but must include substantially the same message.

(j) A notary public who is not an attorney licensed to practice law in this State is prohibited from representing or advertising that the notary public is an "immigration consultant" or expert on immigration matters unless the notary public is an accredited representative of an organization recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals pursuant to Title 8, Part 292, section 2(a-e) of the Code of Federal Regulations (8 C.F.R. § 292.2(a-e)).

(k) A notary public who is not an attorney licensed to practice law in this State is prohibited from rendering any service that constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.

(1) A notary public required to comply with the provisions of subsection (g) of this section shall prominently post at the notary public's place of business a schedule of fees established by law, which a notary public may charge. The fee schedule shall be written in English and in the non-English language in which the notary services were solicited and shall contain the notice required in subsection (i) of this section, unless the notice is otherwise prominently posted at the notary public's place of business.

(m) If notarial certificate wording is not provided or indicated for a record, a nonattorney notary shall not determine the type of notarial act or certificate to be used. This does not prohibit a notary from offering the selection of certificate forms recognized in this Chapter or promulgated by the Department of the Secretary.

(n) A nonattorney notary shall not assist another person in drafting, completing, selecting, or understanding a record or transaction requiring a notarial act.

(o) A notary shall not claim to have powers, qualifications, rights, or privileges that the office of notary does not provide, including the power to counsel on immigration matters.

"§ 10B-15. Notaries ex officio.

(a) The clerks of the superior court may act as notaries public in their several counties by virtue of their offices as clerks and may certify their notarial acts only under the seals of their respective courts. Assistant and deputy clerks of superior court, by virtue of their offices, may perform the following notarial acts and may certify these notarial acts only under the seals of their respective courts:

(1) Oaths and affirmations.

(2) Verifications or proofs.

Upon completion of the course of study provided for in G.S. 10B-4(b), assistant and deputy clerks of superior court may, by virtue of their offices, perform all other notarial acts and may certify these notarial acts only under the seals of their respective courts. A course of study attended only by assistant and deputy clerks of superior court may be taught at any mutually convenient location agreed to by the Secretary and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

(b) Registers of deeds may act as notaries public in their several counties by virtue of their offices as registers of deeds and may certify their notarial acts only under the seals of their respective offices. Assistant and deputy registers of deeds, by virtue of their offices, may perform the following notarial acts and may certify these notarial acts only under the seals of their respective offices:

(1) Oaths and affirmations.

(2) Verifications or proofs.

Upon completion of the course of study provided for in G.S. 10B-4(b), assistant and deputy registers of deeds may, by virtue of their offices, perform all other notarial acts and may certify these notarial acts only under the seals of their respective offices. A course of study attended only by assistant and deputy registers of deeds may be taught at any mutually convenient location agreed to by the Secretary and the North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds.

(c) The Director may act as a notary public by virtue of the Director's employment in the Department of the Secretary and may certify a notarial act performed in that capacity under the seal of the Secretary.

(d) Unless otherwise provided by law, a person designated a notary public by this section may charge a fee for a notarial act performed in accordance with G.S. 10B-20. The fee authorized by this section is payable to the governmental unit or agency by whom the person is employed.

(e) Nothing in this section shall authorize a person to act as a notary public other than in the performance of the official duties of the person's office unless the person complies fully with the requirements of G.S. 10B-4.

"§ 10B-16. False certificate.

(a) A notary shall not execute a notarial certificate containing information known or believed by the notary to be false.

(b) A notary shall not provide or send a signed or sealed notarial certificate to another person with the understanding that it will be completed or attached to a record outside of the notary's presence.

(c) A notary shall not affix an official signature or seal on a notarial certificate that is incomplete. Prior to performing a notarial act, the notary shall cross out blank lines and spaces in the certificate.

(d) A notary shall not execute a certificate that is not written in the English language. A notary may execute a certificate written in the English language that accompanies a record written in another language, which record may include a translation of the notarial certificate into the other language. In those instances, the notary shall execute only the English language certificate.

"§ 10B-17. Improper records.

(a) A notary shall not notarize a signature:

(1) On a blank or incomplete record; or

(2) On a record without a notarial certificate indicating what type of notarial act was performed.

(b) A notary shall neither certify, notarize, nor authenticate a photograph. A notary may notarize an affidavit regarding and attached to a photograph.

"§ 10B-18. Testimonials.

A notary shall not use the official notary title or seal in a manner intended to endorse, promote, denounce, or oppose any product, service, contest, candidate, or other offering. This section does not prohibit a notary public from performing a notarial act upon a record executed by another individual.

"Part 4. Fees.

"§ 10B-19. Imposition and waiver of fees.

(a) For performing a notarial act, a notary may charge up to the maximum fee specified in this Chapter.

(b) A notary shall not discriminatorily condition the fee for a notarial act on any attribute of the principal that would constitute unlawful discrimination.

"§ 10B-20. Fees for notarial acts.

The maximum fees that may be charged by a notary for notarial acts are as follows:

(1) For acknowledgments, jurats, verifications or proofs, five dollars ($5.00) per principal signature.

(2) For oaths or affirmations without a signature, five dollars ($5.00) per person, except for an oath or affirmation administered to a credible witness to vouch for a principal's identity.

"§ 10B-21. Notice of fees.

Notaries who charge for their notarial services shall conspicuously display in their places of business, or present to each principal outside their places of business, an English-language schedule of fees for notarial acts. No part of any notarial fee schedule shall be printed in smaller than 10-point type.

"Part 5. Signature and Seal.

"§ 10B-22. Official signature.

When notarizing a paper record, a notary shall sign by hand in ink on the notarial certificate exactly and only the name indicated on the notary's commission. The notary shall print or type his or her name directly below the official signature. The notary shall affix the official signature only at the time the notarial act is performed. The notary shall not sign a paper record using a facsimile stamp or an electronic or other printing method.

"§ 10B-23. Official seal.

(a) A notary shall keep an official seal or stamp (herein "seal") that is the exclusive property of the notary. The notary shall keep the seal in a secure location that is accessible only to the notary. A notary shall not allow another person to use or possess the seal, and shall not surrender the seal to the notary's employer upon termination of employment.

(b) The seal shall be impressed only at the time the notarial act is performed. The notary shall place the image or impression of the seal near the notary's signature on every paper record notarized. The seal and the signature shall appear on the same page.

(c) A notary shall do the following within 10 days of discovering that the notary's seal has been stolen, lost, damaged, or otherwise rendered incapable of affixing a legible image:

(1) Inform the appropriate law enforcement agency in the case of theft or vandalism.

(2) Notify the appropriate register of deeds and the Secretary in writing and signed in the official name in which he or she was commissioned.

(d) As soon as is reasonably practicable after resignation, revocation, or expiration of a notary commission, or death of the notary, the seal shall be delivered to the Secretary for disposal.

"§ 10B-24. Seal image.

(a) Near the notary's official signature on the notarial certificate of a paper record, the notary shall place a sharp, legible, permanent, and photographically reproducible image of the official seal.

(b) A notary's official seal shall include the following elements:

(1) The notary's name exactly as commissioned;

(2) The words "Notary Public";

(3) The county of commissioning, including the word "County" or the abbreviation "Co."; and

(4) The words "North Carolina" or the abbreviation "NC".

(c) The notary seal may be either circular or rectangular in shape. The circular seal shall not be less than 1 1/2 inches, nor more than 2 inches in diameter, The rectangular seal shall not be over 1 inch high and 2 1/2 inches long. The perimeter of the seal shall contain a border that is visible when impressed.

(d) After December 31, 2009, notary seals shall not contain a commission expiration date.

"Part 6. Certificate Forms.

"§ 10B-25. Notarial certificates in general.

(a) In addition to the notarial certificates contained in this section, a notary public shall also use certificates that are in substantially the same form as those contained in Chapter 47 of the General Statutes. All statutory forms for the certification of acknowledgment or proof of written instruments shall include all of the following:

(1) The name of the state and county in which the certification occurs.

(2) The body of the certificate, stating before whom, by whom, and in what manner the signature was acknowledged or proved.

(3) The date of the acknowledgment or proof.

(4) The signature and seal or stamp of the officer who took the acknowledgment or proof.

(5) The notary's commission expiration date.

(b) Any certificate of acknowledgment taken in another jurisdiction shall be sufficient in this State if it is taken in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction where the acknowledgment is made.

"§ 10B-26. General acknowledgment.

A notary public shall use a certificate in substantially the following form in notarizing the signature or mark of persons acknowledging for themselves or as partners, corporate officers, attorneys-in-fact, or in other representative capacities:

State of North Carolina

County

I, [name of notary], a notary public of County, North Carolina, do certify that on this ______ day of _________, 20 ___ , before me personally appeared [name], [and title, if applicable], (personally known to me) (proved to me by satisfactory evidence) (proved to me on the oath or affirmation of _____________________, who is personally known to me,) to be the person(s) whose name(s) (is) (are) signed on the preceding or attached record, and acknowledged to me that (he) (she) (they) signed it voluntarily for its stated purpose.

(Official Seal) Official Signature of Notary

My commission expires the day of , 20 .

"§ 10B-27. Verification or proof of acknowledgment.

A notary shall use a certificate in substantially the following form in notarizing a signature or mark on an affidavit or other sworn or affirmed written declaration:

State of North Carolina

County

I, [name of notary], a notary public of County, North Carolina, do certify that on this ______ day of _________, 20 ___ , before me personally appeared____________________, (personally known to me) (proved to me by satisfactory evidence) (proved to me on the oath or affirmation of _____________________, who is personally known to me,) to be the person(s) who signed the preceding or attached record in my presence and who swore or affirmed to me that the signature(s) (is) (are) voluntary and the record truthful.

(Official Seal) Official Signature of Notary

My commission expires the day of , 20 .

"§ 10B-28. Subscribing witness of absent signer.

A notary shall use a certificate in substantially the following form to take an oath or affirmation from a subscribing witness that a signer, not appearing before the notary, did in fact execute or sign the record:

State of North Carolina

County

I, [name of notary], a notary public of County, North Carolina, do certify that on this ______ day of _________, 20 ___ , before me personally appeared _______________, (personally known to me) (proved to me by satisfactory evidence) (proved to me on the oath or affirmation of _____________________, who is personally known to me,) or (proved to me by satisfactory evidence) to be the person whose name is signed on the preceding or attached record as subscribing witness and who declared to me under oath that (he) (she) personally knows _________________(name of signer not appearing before notary), that they are not a named party to this and have no interest in this transaction, and that (he) (she) witnessed that individual sign or acknowledge the record having signed the same as witness.

Signature of Subscribing Witness

(Official Seal) Official Signature of Notary

My commission expires the day of , 20 .

"§ 10B-29. Signer by mark; person unable to sign.

As modified by the following provisions, the certificates in this Chapter may be used for signers by mark or persons physically unable to sign or make a mark.

(a) A notary may certify the affixation of a signature by mark on a record presented for notarization if:

(1) The mark is affixed in the presence of the notary;

(2) The notary writes below the mark: "Mark affixed by (name of signer by mark) in presence of undersigned notary"; and

(3) The notary notarizes the signature by performing an acknowledgment or jurat.

(b) If a principal is physically unable to sign or make a mark on a record presented for notarization, that principal may designate another person as his or her designee, who shall be a disinterested party, to sign on the principal's behalf pursuant to the following procedure:

(1) The principal directs the designee to sign the record in the presence of the notary and two witnesses unaffected by the record;

(2) The designee signs the principal's name in the presence of the principal, the notary, and the two witnesses;

(3) Both witnesses sign their own names to the record near the principal's signature;

(4) The notary writes below the principal's signature: "Signature affixed by designee in the presence of (names and addresses of principal and witnesses)"; and

(5) The notary notarizes the signature through an acknowledgment or jurat.

"§ 10B-30. Other certificates allowed.

In addition to the notarial certificates contained in this section, a notary public may also use other certificates provided by North Carolina law.

"Part 7. Changes in Status.

"§ 10B-31. Change of address.

Within 45 days after the change of a notary's residence, business, or any mailing address or telephone number, the notary shall send to the Secretary by fax, e-mail, or certified mail, return receipt requested, a signed notice of the change, giving both old and new addresses or telephone numbers.

"§ 10B-32. Change of name.

(a) Within 45 days after the legal change of a notary's name, the notary shall send to the Secretary by fax, e-mail, or certified mail, return receipt requested, a signed notice of the change. The notice shall include both the notary's former name and the notary's new name.

(b) A notary with a new name may continue to use the former name in performing notarial acts until all of the following steps have been completed:

(1) The notary receives a confirmation of Notary's Name Change from the Secretary.

(2) The notary obtains a new seal bearing the new name exactly as that name appears in the confirmation from the Secretary.

(3) The notary appears before the register of deeds to which the commission was delivered within 45 days of the effective date of the change to be duly qualified by taking the general oath of office prescribed in G.S. 11-11 and the oath prescribed for officers in G.S. 11-7 under the new name and to have the notary public record changed to reflect the new commissioned name.

"§ 10B-33. Change of county.

(a) A notary who has moved to another county in North Carolina remains commissioned until the current commission expires, is not required to obtain a new seal, and may continue to notarize without changing his or her seal.

(b) When a notary who has moved applies to be recommissioned, if the commission is granted the, Secretary shall issue a notice of recommissioning. The commission applicant shall then do all of the following:

(1) Obtain a new seal bearing the new county exactly as in the notice of recommissioning.

(2) Appear before the register of deeds to which the commission was delivered within 45 days of recommissioning, to be duly qualified by taking the general oath of office prescribed in G.S. 11-11 and the oath prescribed for officers in G.S. 11-7 under the new county and to have the notary public record changed to reflect the new county name.

"10B-34. Change of both name and county.

(a) Within 45 days after the legal change of a notary's name, and if the notary has also moved to a different county than as last commissioned, the notary shall submit to the Secretary a recommissioning application and fee pursuant to this Chapter. The notary may continue to perform notarial acts under the notary's previous name and seal until all of the following steps have been completed:

(1) The notary receives a transmittal receipt of reappointment due to name and county change from the Secretary.

(2) The notary obtains a new seal bearing the new name and county exactly as those items appear in the transmittal receipt.

(3) The notary appears before the register of deeds to which the commission was delivered within 45 days of recommissioning to be duly qualified by taking the general oath of office prescribed in G.S. 11-11 and the oath prescribed for officers in G.S. 11-7 under the new name and county and to have the notary public record changed to reflect the new name and county.

"§ 10B-35. Resignation.

(a) A notary who resigns the notary's commission shall send to the Secretary by fax, e-mail, or certified mail, return receipt requested, a signed notice indicating the effective date of resignation.

(b) Notaries who cease to reside in or to maintain a regular place of work or business in this State, or who become permanently unable to perform their notarial duties, shall resign their commissions and shall deliver their seals to the Secretary by certified mail, return receipt requested.

"§ 10B-36. Disposition of seal; death of notary.

(a) When a notary commission is resigned or revoked, the notary shall deliver the notary's seal to the Secretary within 45 days of the resignation or revocation. Delivery shall be accomplished by certified mail, return receipt requested. The Secretary shall destroy any seal received under this subsection.

(b) A notary whose commission has expired and whose previous commission or application was not revoked or denied by this State, is not required to deliver the seal to the Secretary as provided under subsection (a) of this section if the notary intends to apply to be recommissioned and is recommissioned within three months after the notary's commission expires.

(c) If a notary dies while commissioned or before fulfilling the disposition of seal requirements in this section, the notary's estate shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than the closing of the estate, notify the Secretary in writing of the notary's death and deliver the notary's seal to the Secretary for destruction.

"Part 8. Enforcement, Sanctions, and Remedies.

"§ 10B-37. Enforcement and penalties.

(a) The Secretary may warn, restrict, suspend, or revoke a notarial commission for a violation of this Chapter and on any ground for which an application for a commission may be denied under this Chapter. Any period of restriction, suspension, or revocation shall not extend the expiration date of a commission.

(b) Except as otherwise permitted by law, a person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor:

(1) Holding one's self out to the public as a notary if the person does not have a commission.

(2) Performing a notarial act if the person's commission has expired or been suspended.

(3) Performing a notarial act before the person had taken the oath of office.

(c) Any notary who takes an acknowledgment, performs an oath, affirmation, verification, proof, or jurat without the principal appearing before the notary, without personal knowledge, or without satisfactory evidence of the signer's identity is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(d) A notary shall be guilty of a Class I felony if the notary does any of the following:

(1) Takes an acknowledgment, verification, proof, or jurat, or performs an oath or affirmation if the notary knows it is false or fraudulent.

(2) Takes an acknowledgment, verification, proof, or jurat without the principal appearing if the notary does so with the intent to commit fraud.

(e) It is a Class I felony for any person to perform notarial acts in this State with the knowledge that the person is not commissioned under this Chapter.

(f) Any person who without authority obtains, uses, conceals, defaces, or destroys the seal or notarial records of a notary is guilty of a Class I felony.

(g) For purposes of enforcing this Chapter and Article 34 of Chapter 66 of the General Statutes, the law enforcement agents of the Department of the Secretary of State have statewide jurisdiction and have all of the powers and authority of law enforcement officers. The agents have the authority to assist local law enforcement agencies in their investigations and to initiate and carry out, on their own or in coordination with local law enforcement agencies, investigations of violations.

(h) Resignation or expiration of a notarial commission does not terminate or preclude an investigation into a notary's conduct by the Secretary, who may pursue the investigation to a conclusion, whereupon it may be a matter of public record whether or not the finding would have been grounds for disciplinary action.

(i) The Secretary may seek injunctive relief against any person who violates the provisions of this Chapter. Nothing in this Chapter diminishes the authority of the North Carolina State Bar.

(j) Any person who knowingly solicits, coerces, or in any material way influences a notary to commit official misconduct, is guilty as an aider and abettor and is subject to the same level of punishment as the notary.

(k) The sanctions and remedies of this Chapter supplement other sanctions and remedies provided by law, including, but not limited to, forgery and aiding and abetting.

"Part 9. Validation of Notarial Acts.

"§ 10B-38. Acts of notaries public in certain instances validated.

(a) Any acknowledgment taken and any instrument notarized by a person prior to qualification as a notary public but after commissioning or recommissioning as a notary public, or by a person whose notary commission has expired, is hereby validated. The acknowledgment and instrument shall have the same legal effect as if the person qualified as a notary public at the time the person performed the act.

(b) All documents bearing a notarial seal and which contain any of the following errors are validated and given the same legal effect as if the errors had not occurred:

(1) The date of the expiration of the notary's commission is stated, whether correctly or erroneously.

(2) The notarial seal does not contain a readable impression of the notary's name, contains an incorrect spelling of the notary's name, or does not bear the name of the notary exactly as it appears on the commission, as required under G.S. 10B-24.

(3) The notary's signature does not comport exactly with the name on the notary commission or on the notary seal, as required by G.S. 10B-14.

(4) The notarial seal contains typed, printed, drawn, or handwritten material added to the seal, fails to contain the words "North Carolina" or the abbreviation "NC", or contains correct information except that instead of the abbreviation for North Carolina contains the abbreviation for another state.

(d) All notary acknowledgments performed before January 1, 1953, bearing a notarial seal are hereby validated.

(e) This section applies to notarial acts performed on or before July 1, 2002.

"§ 10B-39. Certain notarial acts validated.

(a) Any acknowledgment taken and any instrument notarized by a person whose notarial commission was revoked on or before January 30, 1997, is hereby validated.

(b) This section applies to notarial acts performed on or before August 1, 1998.

"Article 2.

"Electronic Notary Act.

"Part 1. General Provisions.

"§ 10B-40. Short title.

This act is the Electronic Notary Public Act and may be cited by that name.

"§ 10B-41. Definitions.

The following definitions apply in this Article:

(1) "Electronic" means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.

(2) "Electronic Notary Public" and "Electronic Notary" mean a notary public who has registered with the Secretary the capability of performing electronic notarial acts in conformance with this Article.

(3) "Electronic Document" means information that is created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means.

(4) "Electronic Notarial Act" and "Electronic Notarization" mean an official act by an electronic notary public that involves electronic documents.

(4) "Electronic Notary Seal" and "Electronic Seal" mean information within a notarized electronic document that includes the notary's name, jurisdiction, and commission expiration date, and generally corresponds to data in notary seals used on paper documents.

(5) "Electronic Signatures" means an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic document and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the document.

(6) "Notary's Electronic Signature'' means those forms of electronic signature which have been approved by the Secretary as authorized in G.S. 10B-51, as an acceptable means for an electronic notary to affix the notary's official signature to an electronic record that is being notarized.

"§ 10B-42. Scope of this Article.

Article 1 of this Chapter applies to all acts authorized under this Article unless the provisions of Article 1 directly conflict with the provisions of this Article.

"Part 2. Registration.

"§ 10B-43. Qualifications.

(a) A person qualified for electronic notary registration shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Hold a valid commission as a notary public in the State of North Carolina.

(2) Except as otherwise provided, abide by all the provisions of Article 1 of this Chapter.

(3) Satisfy the requirements of G.S. 10B-45.

(4) Submit an electronic registration form containing no significant misstatement or omission of fact.

(5) Pay a nonrefundable registration fee of fifty dollars ($50.00).

(b) The Secretary may deny a registration as an electronic notary as authorized in G.S. 10B-4(d). All funds received by the Secretary under this section shall be deposited into the Notary Public Special Fund and used for the purposes authorized under G.S. 10B-60.

"§ 10B-44. Registration with the Secretary of State.

(a) Before performing notarial acts electronically, a notary shall register the capability to notarize electronically with the Secretary.

(b) The term of registration as an electronic notary shall coincide with the term of the notary's commission under Article 1 of this Chapter.

(c) An electronic notary shall reregister the capability to notarize electronically at the same time the notary applies for recommissioning under the requirements of Article 1 of this Chapter.

(d) An electronic form shall be used by an electronic notary in registering with the Secretary and it shall include, at least all of the following:

(1) The official name of the registrant.

(2) The state and county of commissioning of the registrant.

(3) The expiration date of the registrant's notary commission.

(4) Proof of successful completion of the course of instruction on electronic notarization as required by this Article.

(5) A description of the technology the registrant will use to create an electronic signature in performing official acts.

(6) If the device used to create the registrant's electronic signature was issued or registered through a licensed certification authority, the name of that authority, the source of the license, the starting and expiration dates of the device's term of registration, and any revocations, annulments, or other premature terminations of any registered device of the registrant that was due to misuse or compromise of the device, with the date, cause, and nature of each termination explained in detail.

(7) The e-mail address of the registrant.

(e) The electronic registration form for an electronic notary shall be transmitted electronically to the Secretary and shall include any decrypting instructions, codes, keys, or software that allow the registration to be read.

(f) Within 10 business days after the change of any registration information required of an electronic notary, the notary shall electronically transmit to the Secretary a notice of the change of information signed with the notary's official electronic signature.

"§ 10B-45. Course of instruction.

(a) Before performing electronic notarial acts, a notary shall take a course of instruction of least three hours approved by the Secretary and pass an examination of this course, which shall be in addition to the educational requirements provided in Article 1 of this Chapter.

(b) The content of the course and the basis for the examination shall be notarial laws, procedures, technology, and ethics as they pertain to electronic notarization.

"§ 10B-46. Fees for registration.

The fee payable to the Secretary for registering or reregistering as an electronic notary is fifty dollars ($50.00). All funds received by the Secretary under this section shall be deposited into the Notary Public Special Fund and used for the purposes authorized under G.S. 10B-60.

"Part 3. Electronic Notarial Acts, Powers, and Limitations.

"§ 10B-47. Types of electronic notarial acts.

The following types of notarial acts may be performed electronically:

(1) Acknowledgments;

(2) Jurats;

(3) Verifications or proofs; and

(4) Oaths or affirmations.

"§ 10B-48. Prohibitions.

An electronic notarization shall not be performed if the signer of the electronic document:

(1) Is not in the presence of the electronic notary at the time of notarization; and

(2) Is not personally known to the notary or identified by the evidence in accordance with other provisions of this Chapter.

"§ 10B-49. Notarial components of electronic document.

In performing an electronic notarial act, all of the following components shall be attached to, or logically associated with, the electronic document by the electronic notary, all of which shall be immediately perceptible and reproducible in the electronic record to which the notary's electronic signature is attached:

(1) The notary's name, state, and county of commissioning exactly as stated on the commission issued by the Secretary;

(2) The words "Electronic Notary Public";

(3) The words "State of North Carolina";

(4) The expiration date of the commission;

(5) The notary's electronic signature;

(6) The notary's e-mail address, and

(7) The completed wording of one of the following notarial certificates:

a. General acknowledgment;

b. Jurat;

c. Verification or proof; or

d. Oath or affirmation.

"§ 10B-50. Maximum fees.

For performing electronic notarial acts, the maximum fees that may be charged by an electronic notary are as follows:

(1) For acknowledgments, $10.00 per signature.

(2) For jurats, $10.00 per signature.

(3) For verifications or proofs, $10.00 per signature.

(4) For oaths or affirmations, $10.00 per signature.

"Part 4. Electronic Notary Records, Maintenance, and Disposition.

"§ 10B-51. Electronic signature, electronic seal.

(a) The notary's electronic signature in combination with the electronic notary seal shall be used only for the purpose of performing electronic notarial acts.

(b) The Secretary shall adopt rules necessary to establish standards, procedures, practices, forms, and records relating to a notary's electronic signature and electronic seal. The notary's electronic seal and signature shall conform to any standards adopted by the Secretary.

"§ 10B-52. Security measures.

(a) A notary shall safeguard the notary's electronic signature, the notary's electronic seal, and all other notarial records. Notarial records shall be maintained by the notary, and the notary shall not surrender or destroy the records except as required by a court order or as allowed under rules adopted by the Secretary.

(b) When not in use, the notary shall keep the notary's electronic signature, electronic seal, and all other notarial records secure, under the exclusive control of the notary, and shall not allow them to be used by any other notary or any other person.

(c) Within 10 days after the notary's electronic signature or any other notarial records maintained by the notary are stolen, lost, destroyed, damaged, or otherwise rendered unusable or unreadable, the notary, after informing the appropriate law enforcement agency in the case of theft or vandalism, shall notify the Secretary by any tangible receipt or acknowledgement, including certified mail and electronic transmission, and also provide a copy or number of any pertinent police report.

(d) The Secretary may adopt rules necessary to insure the integrity, security, and authenticity of electronic notarizations.

(e) The Secretary may require an electronic notary to create and to maintain a record, journal, or entry of each electronic notarial act. The rule-making authority contained in this subsection shall become effective 18 months after the effective date of this act.

(f) The failure of an electronic notary to produce within 10 days of the Department's request any record required by a rule adopted under this section shall result in the suspension of the electronic notary's power to act as a notary under the provision of this Chapter until the Secretary reinstates the notary's commission.

(g) Upon resignation, revocation, or expiration of an electronic notary commission, or death of the notary, all notarial records required by statute or rule shall be delivered to the Secretary.

"§ 10B-53. Maintenance of electronic device.

(a) An electronic notary shall take reasonable steps to ensure that any registered device used to create the notary's electronic signature is current and has not been revoked or terminated by its issuing or registering authority.

(b) If the registration of the device used to create electronic signatures either expires or is changed during the electronic notary's term of office, the notary shall cease performing electronic notarizations until:

(1) A new device is duly issued or registered to the notary; and

(2) An electronically signed notice is sent to the Secretary that shall include the starting and expiration dates of any new registration term and any other new information at variance with information in the most recently executed electronic registration form.

"§ 10B-54. Disposition of records.

(a) Upon compliance with G.S. 10B-54 and except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, when an electronic notary's commission expires or is resigned or revoked, or when an electronic notary dies, the notary or the notary's duly authorized representative shall erase, delete, or destroy the coding, disk, certificate, card, software, file, or program that enables electronic affixation of the notary's official electronic signature.

(b) A former electronic notary whose previous commission or application was not revoked or denied by the Secretary need not erase, delete, or destroy the coding, disk, certificate, card, software, file, or program enabling electronic affixation of the official electronic signature if he or she is recommissioned and reregistered as an electronic notary using the same electronic signature within three months after commission expiration.

"Part 5. Certificate Forms.

"§ 10B-55. Validity of notarial certificates.

The provisions contained in Article 1, Part 6, of this Chapter, with regard to notarial certificate forms, are applicable for the purposes of this Article.

"§ 10B-56. Form of evidence of authority of electronic notarial act.

Electronic evidence of the authenticity of the official signature and seal of an electronic notary of this State, if required, shall be attached to, or logically associated with, a notarized electronic document transmitted to another state or nation and shall be in the form of an electronic certificate of authority signed by the Secretary in conformance with any current and pertinent international treaties, agreements, and conventions subscribed to by the government of the United States.

"§ 10B-57. Certificate of authority for electronic notarial act.

(a) An electronic certificate of authority evidencing the authenticity of the official signature and seal of an electronic notary of this State shall contain substantially the following words:

Certificate of Authority for an Electronic Notarial Act

I, _________ (name, title, jurisdiction of commissioning official) certify that _______ (name of electronic notary), the person named as an electronic notary public in the attached or associated document, was indeed registered as an electronic notary public for the State of North Carolina and authorized to act as such at the time of the document's electronic notarization.

To verify this Certificate of Authority for an Electronic Notarial Act, I have included herewith my electronic signature this _____ day of _______, 20 ___.

(Electronic signature (and seal) of commissioning official)

(b) The Secretary may charge ten dollars ($10.00) for issuing an electronic certificate of authority.

"Part 6. Enforcement.

"§ 10B-58. Restriction or revocation of registration.

The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall have the authority to warn, restrict, suspend, or revoke an electronic notary registration for a violation of this Chapter and on any ground for which electronic notary registration may be denied under this Chapter.

"§ 10B-59. Wrongful manufacture, distribution, or possession of software or hardware.

(a) Any person who knowingly creates, manufactures, or distributes software for the purpose of allowing a person to act as an electronic notary without being commissioned and registered in accordance with this act shall be guilty of a Class G felony.

(b) Any person who wrongfully obtains, conceals, damages, or destroys the certificate, disk, coding, card, program, software, file, or hardware enabling an electronic notary to affix an official electronic signature is guilty of a Class I felony.

"Article 3.

"Notary Public Special Fund.

"§ 10B-60. Notary Public Special Fund; established.

There is established the Notary Public Special Fund in the Secretary of State's Office. The Secretary shall hold the Fund separate and apart from all other moneys, funds, and accounts. Investment earnings credited to the assets of the Fund shall become part of the Fund. Any balance remaining in the Fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried-forward in the Fund for the next succeeding fiscal year. Moneys from the Fund are appropriated annually and shall be used for the administration of this Chapter."

SECTION 3. G.S. 66-271 reads as rewritten:

"§ 66-271. Definitions.

The following definitions apply in this Article:

…

(5) Notary public. - Defined in ~~G.S. 10A-3.~~G.S. 10B-3.

…."

SECTION 4. G.S. 66-272 reads as rewritten:

"§ 66-272. Certificate of authentication.

To authenticate a document, the Secretary must compare the official's seal and signature on the document with a specimen of the official's seal and signature on file in the Department. If no specimen is on file in the Department, the Secretary must require that the document be authenticated by an official for whom the Department does have a specimen. The Secretary must also verify the official's authority to perform a particular act when the law of a foreign jurisdiction requires it to be verified before it will recognize the authenticity of the document. When the Secretary is able to authenticate the official's seal, signature, position, and authority, the Secretary shall sign and issue a certificate of authentication. The certificate of authentication ~~may be placed on the document itself, if space is available, or by appending it~~ shall be appended to the document on a separate sheet."

SECTION 5. G.S. 66-273 reads as rewritten:

"§ 66-273. Prerequisites for authentication.

All of the following conditions must be met before a document can be authenticated:

(1) All seals and signatures must be originals.

(2) All dates must follow in chronological order on all certifications.

(3) All acknowledgments to be authenticated by the Secretary shall be in ~~English or accompanied by a certified or notarized English translation.~~ English and must comply with Chapter 10B of the General Statutes.

(4) Whenever a copy is used, it must include a statement that it is a true and accurate copy.

(5) Whenever a document is to be authenticated by the United States Department of State, it must comply with all applicable statutes, rules, and regulations of that office."

SECTION 6. G.S. 161-10(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a) Except as provided in G.S. 161-11.1 or 161-11.2, all fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the county general fund. While performing the duties of the office, the register of deeds shall collect the following fees which shall be uniform throughout the State:

…

(12) Notarial Acts. - For taking an acknowledgment, oath, or affirmation or performing any other notarial act the maximum fee set in ~~G.S. 10A-10.~~ G.S. 10B-20 or G.S. 10B-50 for electronic notarial acts. This fee shall not be charged if the act is performed as a part of one of the services for which a fee is provided by this subsection; except that this fee shall be charged in addition to the fees for registering, filing, or recording instruments or plats as provided by subdivisions (1) and (3) of this subsection.

….

(17) Qualification of Notary Public. - For administering the oaths of office to a notary public and making the appropriate record entries as provided in ~~G.S. 10A-8~~ G.S. 10B-9 ten dollars ($10.00).

…"

SECTION 7. This act becomes effective December 1, 2005, and applies to notarial acts and applications for notary commissions and recommissions made on or after that date. Notary commissions issued under Chapter 10A of the General Statutes prior to December 1, 2005, shall remain valid unless otherwise revoked or suspended by the Secretary until those commissions expire as provided in Chapter 10A. G.S. 10B-37 and G.S. 10B-59 apply to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2005, without regard to whether a commission was issued under Chapter 10A or Chapter 10B of the General Statutes.