Oregon (OR)
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Research Oregon notary commissions. NotaVeri can automatically cross-reference Oregon notary details against the official state database.
Visit Oregon Official Notary Database
How to Research a Oregon Notary
1. Go to https://data.oregon.gov/Business/Active-Notaries/j2pk-zk6z
2. Use the search/filter functionality to search for the notary by name.
3. Verify the commission number and expiration date match.
2. Use the search/filter functionality to search for the notary by name.
3. Verify the commission number and expiration date match.
How to Verify a Oregon Notary's Signature
Oregon notaries file their commission signature with the Secretary of State as part of the application process.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division at (503) 986-2200.
2. Notary contact information is not provided to the public (only to law enforcement), but the SOS can confirm whether a person held a valid commission.
3. Oregon notaries are required to retain their journal after commission expiration — the notary may be able to produce the journal entry for a specific notarization.
URL: https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/notary.aspx
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division at (503) 986-2200.
2. Notary contact information is not provided to the public (only to law enforcement), but the SOS can confirm whether a person held a valid commission.
3. Oregon notaries are required to retain their journal after commission expiration — the notary may be able to produce the journal entry for a specific notarization.
URL: https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/notary.aspx
Verifying Older Oregon Documents
The Oregon open data portal lists active notaries. For expired commissions:
1. Contact the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division at (503) 986-2200 for archived records.
2. Oregon notaries retain their journals after commission expiration (journals are only surrendered to the SOS upon revocation), so the former notary may still have records of the notarization.
Commission term: 4 years.
1. Contact the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division at (503) 986-2200 for archived records.
2. Oregon notaries retain their journals after commission expiration (journals are only surrendered to the SOS upon revocation), so the former notary may still have records of the notarization.
Commission term: 4 years.
Oregon Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
Oregon requires an ink stamp (pre-inked or self-inking) on all notarized documents. An embosser alone is not sufficient but may be used as an additional security measure.
Stamp requirements (ORS 194.290):
- Shape: Rectangular format is standard (approximately 1⅛" × 2¾")
- Must include the Oregon state seal and the following text in uppercase, centered to the right of the state seal in descending order:
* "OFFICIAL STAMP"
* Notary's printed name
* "NOTARY PUBLIC-OREGON"
* "COMMISSION NO." followed by the commission number
* "MY COMMISSION EXPIRES" followed by the expiration date
- The stamp must be reasonably legible
Stamp requirements (ORS 194.290):
- Shape: Rectangular format is standard (approximately 1⅛" × 2¾")
- Must include the Oregon state seal and the following text in uppercase, centered to the right of the state seal in descending order:
* "OFFICIAL STAMP"
* Notary's printed name
* "NOTARY PUBLIC-OREGON"
* "COMMISSION NO." followed by the commission number
* "MY COMMISSION EXPIRES" followed by the expiration date
- The stamp must be reasonably legible
Contacting a Oregon 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.
Oregon — Contacting the Notary for Verification
Oregon requires notaries to maintain a journal of all notarial acts performed (ORS 194.300). However, unless the notary is a public official or public employee, or the journal is in the possession of the Secretary of State, the notary is exempt from disclosing journal contents under Oregon's public records law.
Journal requirement:
- Notaries must maintain one or more journals (tangible or electronic format) chronicling all notarial acts.
- Entries must be made contemporaneously with the notarial act and include: date and time of the act, type of notarial act, description of the document or record, name and address of each person for whom the act is performed, method of identification and description of identification credential (including expiration date), signature of each individual for whom the act is performed, and fee charged (if any) (ORS 194.300).
Right to inspect:
- Oregon law does not grant the general public a statutory right to inspect private notaries' journals.
- Unless the notary is a public official or employee, or the journal is held by the Secretary of State, the journal is exempt from Oregon's public records disclosure requirements.
- Notaries are not required to disclose journal information except when requested by the Secretary of State or pursuant to a subpoena.
- Parties seeking journal access should contact the notary directly (who may decline) or obtain a subpoena or court order to compel production.
What can be requested:
- If the notary voluntarily provides access or if compelled by subpoena, the following may be available: date and time of the act, type of notarial act, document description, signer's name and address, method of identification and credential details (including expiration date), signer's signature, and fee charged.
- Thumbprints: Oregon does not require thumbprints for notarial acts.
Key considerations:
- Oregon notary journals are generally not public records available to the general public.
- When disclosing information from a journal (whether voluntarily or by subpoena), the notary must safeguard the confidential information of other signers.
- Upon resignation, revocation, or expiration of a commission, the notary must dispose of the journal and records pursuant to Secretary of State rules within 30 days.
- Upon death, the notary's personal representative or guardian must transmit the journal to the Secretary of State.
- Retention period: 10 years after the last notarial act chronicled in the journal.
- Contact: Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division — (503) 986-2200
Relevant statutes: ORS 194.300
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.
Oregon requires notaries to maintain a journal of all notarial acts performed (ORS 194.300). However, unless the notary is a public official or public employee, or the journal is in the possession of the Secretary of State, the notary is exempt from disclosing journal contents under Oregon's public records law.
Journal requirement:
- Notaries must maintain one or more journals (tangible or electronic format) chronicling all notarial acts.
- Entries must be made contemporaneously with the notarial act and include: date and time of the act, type of notarial act, description of the document or record, name and address of each person for whom the act is performed, method of identification and description of identification credential (including expiration date), signature of each individual for whom the act is performed, and fee charged (if any) (ORS 194.300).
Right to inspect:
- Oregon law does not grant the general public a statutory right to inspect private notaries' journals.
- Unless the notary is a public official or employee, or the journal is held by the Secretary of State, the journal is exempt from Oregon's public records disclosure requirements.
- Notaries are not required to disclose journal information except when requested by the Secretary of State or pursuant to a subpoena.
- Parties seeking journal access should contact the notary directly (who may decline) or obtain a subpoena or court order to compel production.
What can be requested:
- If the notary voluntarily provides access or if compelled by subpoena, the following may be available: date and time of the act, type of notarial act, document description, signer's name and address, method of identification and credential details (including expiration date), signer's signature, and fee charged.
- Thumbprints: Oregon does not require thumbprints for notarial acts.
Key considerations:
- Oregon notary journals are generally not public records available to the general public.
- When disclosing information from a journal (whether voluntarily or by subpoena), the notary must safeguard the confidential information of other signers.
- Upon resignation, revocation, or expiration of a commission, the notary must dispose of the journal and records pursuant to Secretary of State rules within 30 days.
- Upon death, the notary's personal representative or guardian must transmit the journal to the Secretary of State.
- Retention period: 10 years after the last notarial act chronicled in the journal.
- Contact: Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division — (503) 986-2200
Relevant statutes: ORS 194.300
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.