reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-7 - Statement of personal qualification.

§ 10B-7. 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 writes 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 provided in an application that relates to subdivisions (2), (3), (6), and (7) of subsection (a) of this section shall be considered confidential information and shall not be subject to disclosure under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. (2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-8 - Course of study and examination.

§ 10B-8. 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. (2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-9 - Length of term and jurisdiction.

§ 10B-9. 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. (1891, c. 248; Rev., s. 2351; c.s., s. 3176; 1973, c. 680, s. 1; 1991, c. 683, s. 2; 2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-10 - Commission; oath of office.

§ 10B-10. 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) Except as provided in subsection (b1) of this section, 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.
(b1) A register of deeds may administer the required oath to such appointee using video conference technology provided the appointee is personally known to the register of deeds or the appointee provides satisfactory evidence of the appointee's identity to the register of deeds. As used in this subsection, video conference technology and satisfactory evidence are as defined in G.S. 10B-25.
(c) After the appointee qualifies by taking the oath of office required under subsection (b) of this section, the register of deeds shall 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 the time prescribed in this section, 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. (Code, ss. 3304, 3305; Rev., ss. 2347, 2348; C.S., s. 3173; 1969, c. 912, s. 2; 1973, c. 680, s. 1; 1991, c. 683, s. 2; 2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 4; 2020-3, s. 4.1(b); 2020-74, s. 27(a); 2020-80, s. 2.9(a); 2022-54, s. 3(a); 2023-57, s. 1(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-11 - Recommissioning.

§ 10B-11. 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 meeting the requirements of G.S. 10B-6, except for G.S. 10B-6(2).
(2) Meet all the requirements of G.S. 10B-5(b), except for G.S. 10B-5(b)(5), (6), and (9).
(3) Achieve a passing score on the written examination required under G.S. 10B-8(b). This requirement does not apply if the notary is a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar, or if the notary has been continuously commissioned in North Carolina since July 10, 1991, and has never been disciplined by the Secretary.
(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-8(a), unless the Secretary waives that requirement. (1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1995, c. 226, s. 2; 2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 5.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-12 - Notarized declaration.

§ 10B-12. 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)
(2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-14 - Instructor's certification.

§ 10B-14. Instructor's certification.
(a) The course of study required by G.S. 10B-5(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).
(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-8 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. (1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1998-212, s. 29A.9(a); 1998-228, s. 4; 1999-337, s. 3(b); 2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-21 - Notaries ex officio.

§ 10B-21. 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-5(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-5(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-31. 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-5. (1833, c. 7, ss. 1, 2; R.C., c. 75, s. 3; Code, s. 3306; Rev., s. 2349; C.S., s. 3174; 1973, c. 680, s. 1; 1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1998-228, s. 8.; 2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-22 - False certificate; foreign language certificates.

§ 10B-22. False certificate; foreign language certificates.
(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 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. (2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-23 - Improper records.

§ 10B-23. Improper records.
(a) A notary shall not notarize a signature on a record without a notarial certificate indicating what type of notarial act was performed. However, a notary may administer an oath or affirmation without completing a jurat.
(b) A notary shall neither certify, notarize, nor authenticate a photograph. A notary may notarize an affidavit regarding and attached to a photograph. (2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 13.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-24 - Testimonials.

§ 10B-24. 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. (2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-30 - Imposition and waiver of fees.

§ 10B-30. 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.
(c) Nothing in this Chapter shall compel a notary to charge a fee.
(d) A notary may not charge any fee for witnessing and affixing a notarial seal to an absentee ballot application or certificate under G.S. 163-231. (2005-391, s. 4; 2013-381, s. 4.7; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 6.1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-31 - Fees for notarial acts.

§ 10B-31. 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, ten dollars ($10.00) per notarized principal signature.
(2) For oaths or affirmations without a signature, ten dollars ($10.00) per person, except for an oath or affirmation administered to a credible witness to vouch for the identity of a principal or subscribing witness.
(3) For an electronic acknowledgement or, jurats, fifteen dollars ($15.00) per electronically notarized principal signature.
(3a) For an electronic oath or affirmation without a signature, fifteen dollars ($15.00) per person, except for an oath or affirmation administered to a credible witness to vouch for the identity of a principal or subscribing witness.
(4) For remote notarization under Part 4A of Article 2 of this Chapter, twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per notarized principal signature.
(5) For any notarial act under this Chapter, actual mileage at the federal business mileage rate if the travel reimbursement is agreed to by the principal in writing prior to the travel. (Code, s. 3749; 1889, c. 446; 1895, c. 296; 1903, c. 734; Rev., s. 2800; C.S., s. 3178; 1973, c. 680, s. 1; 1977, c. 429, ss. 1, 2; 1981, c. 872; 1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1998-228, s. 6; 2005-328,s. 1; 2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 14; 2022-54, s. 3(e); 2023-57, s. 5.5(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-32 - Notice of fees.

§ 10B-32. 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. (2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-35 - Official signature.

§ 10B-35. Official signature.
When notarizing a paper record, a notary shall sign by hand in ink on the notarial certificate. The notary shall comply with the requirements of G.S. 10B-20(b)(1) and (b)(2). The notary shall affix the official signature only after the notarial act is performed. The notary shall not sign a paper record using the facsimile stamp or an electronic or other printing method. (2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 15.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-36 - Official seal.

§ 10B-36. Official seal.
(a) A notary shall keep an official seal or stamp that is the exclusive property of the notary. The notary shall keep the seal in a secure location. 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 affixed only after 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 notary's signature shall appear on the same page of a record as the text of the notarial certificate.
(c) A notary shall do the following within 10 days of discovering that the notary's seal has been lost or stolen:
(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) Repealed by Session Laws 2023-57, s. 4(d), effective July 1, 2023.
(e) A vendor or manufacturer shall not provide a notary seal to a purchaser claiming to be a notary, unless the purchaser presents a notary commission issued by the Secretary and one of the following applies:
(1) In the case of a purchaser appearing in person, the vendor or manufacturer identifies this individual as the person named in the commission, through either personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of identity.
(2) In the case of a purchaser ordering a seal by mail or delivery service, the vendor or manufacturer confirms the notary's standing as a commissioned notary as established by rules issued by the Secretary. Such rules may include the establishment of an internet site or other means maintained by the Secretary for this purpose. (1973, c. 680, s. 1; 1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1998-228, s. 7; 2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 16; 2023-57, ss. 4(d), (e).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-37 - Seal image.

§ 10B-37. Seal image.
(a) A notary shall affix the notary's official seal near the notary's official signature on the notarial certificate of a record.
(b) A notary's official seal shall include all of 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.".
(4) The words "North Carolina" or the abbreviation "N.C." or "NC".
(c) The notary seal may be either circular or rectangular in shape. Upon receiving a commission or a recommission on or after October 1, 2006, a notary shall not use a circular seal that is 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.
(c1) Alterations to any information contained within the seal as embossed or stamped on the record are prohibited.
(d) A notarial seal, as it appears on a record, may contain the permanently imprinted, handwritten, or typed date the notary's commission expires.
(e) Any reference in the General Statutes to the seal of a notary shall include the stamp of a notary, and any reference to the stamp of a notary shall include the seal of the notary.
(f) The failure of a notarial seal to comply with the requirements of this section shall not affect the sufficiency, validity, or enforceability of the notarial certificate, but shall constitute a violation of the notary's duties. (2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 17; 2013-204, s. 1.2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-38 - Journal.

§ 10B-38. Journal.
Each notary shall maintain a journal of all notarial acts performed in the manner required for that type of notarial act and in accordance with rules adopted by the Secretary. (2023-57, s. 4(f).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-41 - Notarial certificate for an acknowledgment.

§ 10B-41. Notarial certificate for an acknowledgment.
(a) When properly completed by a notary, a notarial certificate that substantially complies with the following form may be used and shall be sufficient under the law of this State to satisfy the requirements for a notarial certificate for the acknowledgment of a principal who is an individual acting in his or her own right or who is an individual acting in a representative or fiduciary capacity. The authorization of the form in this section does not preclude the use of other forms.
______________ County, North Carolina
I certify that the following person(s) personally appeared before me this day, each acknowledging to me that he or she signed the foregoing document: name(s) of principal(s).
Date: ____________________ Official Signature of Notary
Notary's printed or typed name, Notary Public
(Official Seal) My commission expires: _____________
(b) Repealed by Session Laws 2006-59, s. 19, effective October 1, 2006, and except as otherwise set forth in the act, applicable to notarial acts performed on or after October 1, 2006.
(c) The notary's printed or typed name as shown in the form provided in subsection (a) of this section is not required if the legible appearance of the notary's name may be ascertained from the notary's typed or printed name near the notary's signature or from elsewhere in the notarial certificate or from the notary's seal if the name is legible. (2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 19.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-42 - Notarial certificate for a verification or of subscribing witness.

§ 10B-42. Notarial certificate for a verification or of subscribing witness.
(a) When properly completed by a notary, a notarial certificate in substantially the following form may be used and shall be sufficient under the law of this State to satisfy the requirements for a notarial certificate for the verification or proof of the signature of a principal by a subscribing witness. The authorization of the form in this section does not preclude the use of other forms.
__________________ County, North Carolina
I certify that (name of subscribing witness) personally appeared before me this day and certified to me under oath or by affirmation that he or she is not a grantee or beneficiary of the transaction, signed the foregoing document as a subscribing witness, and either (i) witnessed (name of principal) sign the foregoing document or (ii) witnessed (name of principal) acknowledge his or her signature on the already-signed document.
Date: ____________________ Official Signature of Notary
Notary's printed or typed name, Notary Public
(Official Seal) My commission expires: ________
(b) Repealed by Session Laws 2006-59, s. 20, effective October 1, 2006, except as otherwise set forth in the act, and applicable to notarial acts performed on or after October 1, 2006.
(c) The notary's printed or typed name as shown in the form provided in subsection (a) of this section is not required if the legible appearance of the notary's name may be ascertained from the notary's typed or printed name near the notary's signature or from elsewhere in the notarial certificate or from the notary's seal if the name is legible. (2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 20.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-42.1 - Notarial certificate for a verification of nonsubscribing witness.

§ 10B-42.1. Notarial certificate for a verification of nonsubscribing witness.
(a) When properly completed by a notary, a notarial certificate in substantially the following form may be used and shall be sufficient under the law of this State to satisfy the requirements for a notarial certificate for the verification or proof of the signature of a principal or subscribing witness by a nonsubscribing witness. The authorization of the form in this section does not preclude the use of other forms.
__________________ County, North Carolina
I certify (name of nonsubscribing witness) personally appeared before me this day and certified to me under oath or by affirmation that he or she is not a grantee or beneficiary of the transaction, that (name of nonsubscribing witness) recognizes the signature of (name of the principal or the subscribing witness) and that the signature is genuine.
Date: ________________________ Official Signature of Notary
Notary's printed or typed name, Notary Public
(Official Seal) My commission expires: _________
(b) The notary's printed or typed name as shown in the form provided in subsection (a) of this section is not required if the legible appearance of the notary's name may be ascertained from the notary's typed or printed name near the notary's signature or from elsewhere in the notarial certificate or from the notary's seal if the name is legible. (2006-59, s. 21.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-43 - Notarial certificate for an oath or affirmation.

§ 10B-43. Notarial certificate for an oath or affirmation.
(a) When properly completed by a notary, a notarial certificate that substantially complies with either of the following forms may be used and shall be sufficient under the law of this State to satisfy the requirements for a notarial certificate for an oath or affirmation. The authorization of the forms in this section does not preclude the use of other forms.
__________________ County, North Carolina
Signed and sworn to before me this day by (name of principal).
Date: ________________ Official Signature of Notary
Notary's printed or typed name, Notary Public
(Official Seal) My commission expires: _____________
-OR-
__________________ County, North Carolina
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by (name of principal).
Date: ________________ Official Signature of Notary
Notary's printed or typed name, Notary Public
(Official Seal) My commission expires: _____________
(b) Repealed by Session Laws 2006-59, s. 22, effective October 1, 2006, except as otherwise set forth in the act, and applicable to notarial acts performed on or after October 1, 2006.
(c) The notary's printed or typed name as shown in the form provided in subsection (a) of this section is not required if the legible appearance of the notary's name may be ascertained from the notary's typed or printed name near the notary's signature or from elsewhere in the notarial certificate or from the notary's seal if the name is legible.
(d) In either of the forms provided under subsection (a) of this section all of the following shall apply:
(1) The name of the principal may be omitted if the name of the principal is located near the jurat, and the principal who so appeared before the notary is clear from the record itself.
(2) The words "affirmed" or "sworn to or affirmed" may be substituted for the words "sworn to". (2005-391, s. 4; 2006-59, s. 22.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-50 - Change of address.

§ 10B-50. Change of address.
(a) 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 an online notification to the extent it is made available by the Secretary, fax, e-mail, or certified mail, return receipt requested, a signed notice of the change, giving both old and new mailing and email addresses or telephone numbers.
(b) Information provided by a notary in accordance with this section shall be treated as if submitted in an application under G.S. 10B-7 or G.S. 10B-106. (1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1995, c. 226, s. 3; 2005-391, s. 4; 2023-57, s. 5(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-51 - Change of name.

§ 10B-51. Change of name.
(a) Within 45 days after the legal change of a notary's name, the notary shall send to the Secretary by an online notification to the extent it is made available by the Secretary, 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.
(c) Upon completion of the requirements in subsection (b) of this section, the notary shall use the new name. (1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1995, c. 226, s. 3; 2005-391, s. 4; 2023-57, s. 5(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-52 - Change of county.

§ 10B-52. 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. (1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1995, c. 226; s. 3; 2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-53 - Change of both name and county.

§ 10B-53. Change of both name and county.
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. (1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1995, c. 226, s. 3; 2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-54 - Resignation.

§ 10B-54. Resignation.
(a) A notary who resigns the notary's commission shall send to the Secretary by an online notification to the extent it is made available by the Secretary, 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 hand delivery, certified mail, return receipt requested, or other means offered by the United States Postal Service allowing confirmation of delivery by signature. (2005-391, s. 4; 2023-57, s. 5(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-55 - Disposition of seal; death of notary.

§ 10B-55. Disposition of seal; death of notary.
(a) When a notary commission has expired, has been revoked, or the notary has resigned, the notary shall deliver the notary's seal to the Secretary within 45 days of the expiration, resignation, or revocation. Delivery shall be accomplished by hand delivery, courier service, certified mail, return receipt requested, or other means offered by the United States Postal Service allowing confirmation of delivery by signature. 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. A personal representative who is not a notary does not have to comply with the provisions of this subsection if he or she provides a statement under oath in any enforcement proceeding that he or she was unaware that the decedent was a commissioned notary public at the time of death. (2005-391, s. 4; 2013-204, s. 1.3; 2023-57, s. 5(d).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-65 - Acts of notaries public in certain instances validated.

§ 10B-65. 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 validated. The acknowledgment and instrument 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 that 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-37.
(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-20.
(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.
(5) The date of the acknowledgement, the verification or proof, or the oath or affirmation states the correct day and month but lacks a year or states an incorrect year.
(c) All deeds of trust in which the notary was named in the document as a trustee only are validated.
(d) All notary acknowledgments performed before July 1, 2013, bearing a notarial seal are validated.
(e) This section applies to notarial acts performed on or before April 1, 2021. (1945, c. 665; 1947, c. 313; 1949, c. 1; 1953, c. 702; 1961, cc. 483, 734; 1965, c. 37; 1969, c. 83; c. 716, s. 1; 1971, c. 229, s. 1; 1973, c. 680, s. 1; 1977, c. 734, s. 1; 1979, c. 226, s. 2; c. 643, s. 1; 1981, c. 164, ss. 1, 2; 1983, c. 205, s. 1; 1985, c. 71, s. 1; 1987, c. 277, s. 9; 1989, c. 390, s. 9; 1991, c. 683, s. 2; 1997-19, s. 1; 1997-469, s. 2; 1998-228, s. 10; 1999-21, s. 2; 2001-154, s. 1; 2002-159, s. 27; 2003-38, s. 1; 2004-199, s. 6.; 2005-391, s. 4; 2008-194, s. 5; 2013-204, s. 1.5; 2021-91, s. 4(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-66 - Certain notarial acts validated.

§ 10B-66. 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. (2005-391, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-67 - Erroneous commission expiration date cured.

§ 10B-67. Erroneous commission expiration date cured.
An erroneous statement of the date that the notary's commission expires shall not affect the sufficiency, validity, or enforceability of the notarial certificate or the related record if the notary is, in fact, lawfully commissioned at the time of the notarial act. This section applies to notarial acts whenever performed. (2006-59, s. 24; 2013-204, s. 1.6.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-68 - Technical defects cured.

§ 10B-68. Technical defects cured.
(a) Technical defects, errors, or omissions in a notarial certificate shall not affect the sufficiency, validity, or enforceability of the notarial certificate or the related instrument or document.
(b) Defects in the commissioning or recommissioning of a notary that are approved by the Department are cured. This subsection applies to commissions and recommissions issued on or after December 1, 2005.
(c) As used in this section, a technical defect includes those cured under G.S. 10B-37(f) and G.S. 10B-67. Other technical defects include, but are not limited to, the absence of the legible appearance of the notary's name exactly as shown on the notary's commission as required in G.S. 10B-20(b), the affixation of the notary's seal near the signature of the principal or subscribing witness rather than near the notary's signature, minor typographical mistakes in the spelling of the principal's name, the failure to acknowledge the principal's name exactly as signed by including or omitting initials, or the failure to specify the principal's title or office, if any. (2006-59, s. 24; 2006-199, s. 2; 2013-204, s. 1.7.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-69 - Official forms cured.

§ 10B-69. Official forms cured.
(a) The notarial certificate contained in a form issued by a State agency prior to April 1, 2021, is deemed to be a valid certificate so long as the certificate complied with the law at the time the form was issued.
(b) The notarization using a certificate under subsection (a) of this section is deemed valid if executed in compliance with the law at the time the form was issued. (2006-59, s. 24; 2013-204, s. 1.8; 2021-91, s. 4(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-70 - Certain notarial acts for local government agencies validated.

§ 10B-70. Certain notarial acts for local government agencies validated.
(a) Any acknowledgment taken and any instrument notarized for a local government agency by a person prior to qualification as a notary public but after commissioning or recommissioning as a notary public, by a person whose notary commission has expired, or by a person who failed to qualify within 45 days of commissioning as required by G.S. 10B-10, 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. This section shall apply to notarial acts performed for a local government agency on or after October 31, 2006, and before June 30, 2007.
(b) Any electronic document filed in the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds office that purports to be notarized in the Commonwealth of Virginia and that contains the typed name of a Virginia notary together with the notary's expiration date shall be given the same legal effect as if the person performed a lawful notarization in Virginia. (2007-484, s. 27; 2008-194, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-71 - Certain notarial acts validated when recommissioned notary failed to again take oath.

§ 10B-71. Certain notarial acts validated when recommissioned notary failed to again take oath.
Any acknowledgment taken and any instrument notarized by a person who after recommissioning failed to again take the oath as a notary public is validated. The acknowledgment and instrument have the same legal effect as if the person qualified as a notary public at the time the person performed the act. This section applies to notarial acts performed on or after May 15, 2004, and before April 1, 2021. (2009-358, s. 1; 2013-204, s. 1.9; 2021-91, s. 4(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 1 - Notary Public Act. › § 10B-99 - Presumption of regularity.

§ 10B-99. Presumption of regularity.
(a) In the absence of evidence of fraud on the part of the notary, or evidence of a knowing and deliberate violation of this Article by the notary, the courts shall grant a presumption of regularity to notarial acts so that those acts may be upheld, provided there has been substantial compliance with the law. Nothing in this Chapter modifies or repeals the common law doctrine of substantial compliance in effect on November 30, 2005.
(b) A notarial act shall be deemed valid if it complies with the law as it existed on or before December 1, 2005. This section applies to notarial acts whenever performed. (2006-59, s. 24; 2006-199, s. 4; 2013-204, s. 1.10.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 2 - Electronic Notary Act. › § 10B-102 - (Effective until July 1, 2024) Scope of this Article.

§ 10B-102. (Effective until July 1, 2024) 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, in which case provisions of Article 2 shall control. (2005-391, s. 4.)
§ 10B-102. (Effective July 1, 2024) Scope of this Article.
(a) 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, in which case provisions of Article 2 shall control.
(b) When conducting a remote electronic notarization, the electronic notary shall comply with the requirements of Article 1 of this Chapter. (2005-391, s. 4; 2022-54, s. 2(d); 2023-57, ss. 2, 7(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 10B - Notaries › Article 2 - Electronic Notary Act. › § 10B-105 - (Effective until July 1, 2024) Qualifications.

§ 10B-105. (Effective until July 1, 2024) 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-107.
(4) Submit an electronic registration form containing no significant misstatement or omission of fact.
(b) The Secretary may deny a registration as an electronic notary as authorized in G.S. 10B-5(d). (2005-391, s. 4.)
§ 10B-105. (Effective July 1, 2024) 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-107.
(4) Submit an electronic registration form containing no significant misstatement or omission of fact.
(b) The Secretary may deny a registration as an electronic notary as authorized in G.S. 10B-5(d). (2005-391, s. 4; 2022-54, s. 2(e); 2023-57, ss. 2, 7(c).)