A notary public is a person who is appointed or commissioned by a state to act as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. Notary public appointments are usually handled by a state’s Secretary of State’s office and require a potential notary to meet eligibility requirements, take a notary training course, and pass a state notary exam.

Many different types of legal documents may need to be notarized—such as an affidavit, contract, will, trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for health care, divorce papers, deed, mortgage, or deed of trust.

In Montana, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. To become a notary in Montana, one must meet certain eligibility criteria, which typically include being at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the United States, and able to read and write English. Applicants are required to complete a notary training course and pass a state-administered exam. Montana notaries are authorized to perform various notarial acts, including administering oaths and affirmations, taking acknowledgments, and witnessing or attesting signatures. The types of documents that may require notarization in Montana include affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney (including those for health care), divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. It's important for notaries to adhere to Montana's notarial laws and maintain a record of their notarial acts in a journal.