1. A person who wishes to engage in the business of a document preparation service must be registered by the Secretary of State pursuant to this chapter. An applicant for registration must be:

(a) A natural person;

(b) A citizen or legal resident of the United States or hold a valid Employment Authorization Document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security; and

(c) At least 18 years of age.

2. The Secretary of State shall not register as a document preparation service any person:

(a) Who is suspended or has previously been disbarred from the practice of law in any jurisdiction;

(b) Whose registration as a document preparation service in this State or another state has previously been revoked for cause;

(c) Whose appointment or registration as a notary public in this State or another state has been previously revoked or suspended for cause;

(d) Who has previously been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill or nolo contendere to, a gross misdemeanor or a category D felony pursuant to NRS 240A.290; or

(e) Who has, within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of the application for registration as a document preparation service, been:

(1) Convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill or nolo contendere to, a crime involving theft, fraud or dishonesty;

(2) Convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill or nolo contendere to, the unauthorized practice of law pursuant to NRS 7.285 or the corresponding statute of any other jurisdiction; or

(3) Adjudged by the final judgment of any court to have committed an act involving theft, fraud or dishonesty.

3. An application for registration as a document preparation service must be made under penalty of perjury on a form prescribed by regulation of the Secretary of State and must be accompanied by:

(a) A nonrefundable application fee of $50; and

(b) A cash bond or surety bond meeting the requirements of NRS 240A.120 or proof that the applicant is covered by a bond filed by a business entity pursuant to NRS 240A.123.

4. An applicant for registration must submit to the Secretary of State a declaration under penalty of perjury stating that the applicant has not had a certificate or license as a document preparation service revoked or suspended in this State or any other state or territory of the United States.

5. After the investigation of the history of the applicant is completed, the Secretary of State shall issue a certificate of registration if the applicant is qualified for registration and has complied with the requirements of this section. Each certificate of registration must bear the name of the registrant and a registration number unique to that registrant. The Secretary of State shall maintain a record of the name and registration number of each registrant.

6. An application for registration as a document preparation service that is not completed within 120 days after the date on which the application was submitted must be denied. If an application is denied pursuant to this subsection, the applicant may submit a new application.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 3466; A 2015, 936, 2618; 2017, 196, 1516; 2019, 845)