Kansas (KS)
Automated Lookup
Operational
Research Kansas notary commissions. NotaVeri can automatically cross-reference Kansas notary details against the official state database.
Visit Kansas Official Notary Database
How to Research a Kansas Notary
1. Go to https://www.sos.ks.gov/general-services/notary_public/notary-search.aspx
2. Enter the notary's first name, last name, city, or commission number.
3. Select 'Starts With' or 'Contains' for the search mode.
4. Click Search and review the results.
5. Verify the commission number, status, and expiration date.
Contact: Kansas Secretary of State -- (785) 296-4564
2. Enter the notary's first name, last name, city, or commission number.
3. Select 'Starts With' or 'Contains' for the search mode.
4. Click Search and review the results.
5. Verify the commission number, status, and expiration date.
Contact: Kansas Secretary of State -- (785) 296-4564
How to Verify a Kansas Notary's Signature
Kansas notaries file their oath and surety bond with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is the primary custodian of notary commission records.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Search the Kansas SOS notary database at https://www.sos.ks.gov/general-services/notary_public/notary-search.aspx
2. Contact the Kansas Secretary of State's General Services Division at (785) 296-4564 to request verification of a notary's commission and signature.
3. Kansas notaries have statewide jurisdiction.
Reference: K.S.A. 53-5a22 et seq. (RULONA)
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Search the Kansas SOS notary database at https://www.sos.ks.gov/general-services/notary_public/notary-search.aspx
2. Contact the Kansas Secretary of State's General Services Division at (785) 296-4564 to request verification of a notary's commission and signature.
3. Kansas notaries have statewide jurisdiction.
Reference: K.S.A. 53-5a22 et seq. (RULONA)
Verifying Older Kansas Documents
The Kansas SOS online notary search includes both active and expired commissions.
1. Search the Kansas SOS notary database -- expired commission data appears in results with an 'Expired' status.
2. If not found online, contact the Kansas Secretary of State at (785) 296-4564 for historical commission records.
Commission term: 4 years.
1. Search the Kansas SOS notary database -- expired commission data appears in results with an 'Expired' status.
2. If not found online, contact the Kansas Secretary of State at (785) 296-4564 for historical commission records.
Commission term: 4 years.
Kansas Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
Kansas requires every notary to provide an official notarial seal for use on notarized documents.
Seal requirements (K.S.A. 53-5a22; K.S.A. 53-105):
- Type: Seal press (embosser) with inked/blackened impression, or rubber stamp with permanent ink -- either is acceptable
- Must include: (i) the notary's name exactly as on the application for appointment, (ii) the words "Notary Public" and "State of Kansas" or equivalent indicating statewide authority
- The seal must be legibly reproducible by photographic process
- Bond amount: $12,000 surety bond (effective Jan 1, 2022)
- Kansas notaries have statewide jurisdiction
Seal requirements (K.S.A. 53-5a22; K.S.A. 53-105):
- Type: Seal press (embosser) with inked/blackened impression, or rubber stamp with permanent ink -- either is acceptable
- Must include: (i) the notary's name exactly as on the application for appointment, (ii) the words "Notary Public" and "State of Kansas" or equivalent indicating statewide authority
- The seal must be legibly reproducible by photographic process
- Bond amount: $12,000 surety bond (effective Jan 1, 2022)
- Kansas notaries have statewide jurisdiction
Contacting a Kansas Notary
The following is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
We make no warranty regarding its accuracy or completeness.
Consult a qualified attorney before taking action.
Kansas — Contacting the Notary for Verification
Kansas requires all notaries to maintain a journal of notarial acts performed on or after January 1, 2022 (KSA § 53-5a20). The journal may be kept in tangible (paper) or electronic format and must chronicle all notarial acts performed by the notary.
Journal maintenance:
- A notary must maintain only one journal at a time in tangible format, or one or more journals in electronic format for acts regarding electronic records.
- The journal must be a permanent, bound register (if tangible) or a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with the Secretary of State's rules.
- Required journal entries include: date and time of the notarial act, description of the record and type of notarial act, full name and address of each signer, identification method (personal knowledge or credential description), and the signature of the signer.
Right to inspect:
- Kansas law does not specifically address public access to notary journals. The journal remains under the control of the notary.
- Access to the journal may be obtained through a court order or subpoena duces tecum issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- The notary may voluntarily provide copies of journal entries if requested, but is not statutorily required to do so absent legal process.
Key considerations:
- Retention period: The notary must retain the journal for 10 years after the performance of the last notarial act chronicled in the journal (KSA § 53-5a20(a)).
- Upon commission expiry, resignation, revocation, or suspension: The notary must retain the journal and inform the Secretary of State where the journal is located. Alternatively, the notary may transmit the journal to a repository approved by the Secretary of State (KSA § 53-5a20(e)(f)).
- Upon death or incompetency: The notary's personal representative, guardian, or any person knowingly in possession of the journal must retain it for the required period or transmit it to a Secretary of State-approved repository (KSA § 53-5a20(g)).
- Lost or stolen journals: The notary must promptly notify the Secretary of State if the journal is lost or stolen (KSA § 53-5a20(b)).
- Thumbprint: Kansas does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
- Contact: Kansas Secretary of State Notary Division — (785) 296-4564, notary@ks.gov
Relevant statutes: KSA §§ 53-5a20, 53-5a21
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.
Kansas requires all notaries to maintain a journal of notarial acts performed on or after January 1, 2022 (KSA § 53-5a20). The journal may be kept in tangible (paper) or electronic format and must chronicle all notarial acts performed by the notary.
Journal maintenance:
- A notary must maintain only one journal at a time in tangible format, or one or more journals in electronic format for acts regarding electronic records.
- The journal must be a permanent, bound register (if tangible) or a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with the Secretary of State's rules.
- Required journal entries include: date and time of the notarial act, description of the record and type of notarial act, full name and address of each signer, identification method (personal knowledge or credential description), and the signature of the signer.
Right to inspect:
- Kansas law does not specifically address public access to notary journals. The journal remains under the control of the notary.
- Access to the journal may be obtained through a court order or subpoena duces tecum issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- The notary may voluntarily provide copies of journal entries if requested, but is not statutorily required to do so absent legal process.
Key considerations:
- Retention period: The notary must retain the journal for 10 years after the performance of the last notarial act chronicled in the journal (KSA § 53-5a20(a)).
- Upon commission expiry, resignation, revocation, or suspension: The notary must retain the journal and inform the Secretary of State where the journal is located. Alternatively, the notary may transmit the journal to a repository approved by the Secretary of State (KSA § 53-5a20(e)(f)).
- Upon death or incompetency: The notary's personal representative, guardian, or any person knowingly in possession of the journal must retain it for the required period or transmit it to a Secretary of State-approved repository (KSA § 53-5a20(g)).
- Lost or stolen journals: The notary must promptly notify the Secretary of State if the journal is lost or stolen (KSA § 53-5a20(b)).
- Thumbprint: Kansas does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
- Contact: Kansas Secretary of State Notary Division — (785) 296-4564, notary@ks.gov
Relevant statutes: KSA §§ 53-5a20, 53-5a21
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.