Washington (WA)
Manual Only
Research Washington notary commissions. Washington requires manual lookup through the official state database.
Visit Washington Official Notary Database
How to Research a Washington Notary
Washington notary commissions are administered by the Department of Licensing (DOL), not the Secretary of State.
To verify a Washington notary commission:
1. Go to https://professions.dol.wa.gov/s/license-lookup
2. Select 'Notary Public' as the license type.
3. Enter the notary's name and click Search.
4. Review the results for commission status and expiration date.
5. Alternatively, call the DOL at (360) 664-1550 (Mon-Fri, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT) or email notaries@dol.wa.gov.
Reference: https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/notaries-public
To verify a Washington notary commission:
1. Go to https://professions.dol.wa.gov/s/license-lookup
2. Select 'Notary Public' as the license type.
3. Enter the notary's name and click Search.
4. Review the results for commission status and expiration date.
5. Alternatively, call the DOL at (360) 664-1550 (Mon-Fri, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT) or email notaries@dol.wa.gov.
Reference: https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/notaries-public
How to Verify a Washington Notary's Signature
Washington notaries file their oath of office and bond with the Department of Licensing. The county auditor in the notary's county of residence also maintains commission records.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the county auditor in the county where the notary resides -- the auditor maintains the notary's signature on file.
2. You may also contact the Department of Licensing at (360) 664-1550 to confirm commission status.
Reference: RCW 42.45 (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts)
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the county auditor in the county where the notary resides -- the auditor maintains the notary's signature on file.
2. You may also contact the Department of Licensing at (360) 664-1550 to confirm commission status.
Reference: RCW 42.45 (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts)
Verifying Older Washington Documents
Washington does not maintain a public online archive of expired notary commissions.
1. Contact the Department of Licensing at (360) 664-1550 for historical commission records.
2. Provide the notary's name and the approximate date of notarization.
3. The county auditor in the notary's county of residence may also have historical oath and bond records.
Commission term: 4 years.
1. Contact the Department of Licensing at (360) 664-1550 for historical commission records.
2. Provide the notary's name and the approximate date of notarization.
3. The county auditor in the notary's county of residence may also have historical oath and bond records.
Commission term: 4 years.
Washington Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
Washington requires every notary to use an official stamp on notarized documents.
Seal/stamp requirements (RCW 42.45.150):
- Must include: "Notary Public", "State of Washington", the notary's name as commissioned, and commission expiration date
- Minimum 8 point type
- Minimum 1 5/8 inches in diameter if circular, or 1 inch wide by 1 5/8 inches long if rectangular
- Must not contain the Washington state seal
- Must be capable of being copied together with the record
- Washington notaries have statewide jurisdiction
Seal/stamp requirements (RCW 42.45.150):
- Must include: "Notary Public", "State of Washington", the notary's name as commissioned, and commission expiration date
- Minimum 8 point type
- Minimum 1 5/8 inches in diameter if circular, or 1 inch wide by 1 5/8 inches long if rectangular
- Must not contain the Washington state seal
- Must be capable of being copied together with the record
- Washington notaries have statewide jurisdiction
Contacting a Washington 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.
Washington — Contacting the Notary for Verification
Washington requires notaries to maintain a journal of all notarial acts performed (RCW 42.45.180), with an exception for attorneys licensed to practice law in Washington who otherwise maintain documentation of notarial acts. Whether the journal is a public record depends on the notary's employment status.
Journal requirement:
- Notaries must maintain a journal (tangible or electronic format) chronicling all notarial acts.
- The journal must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages (for tangible journals).
- 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, signature of each individual, and fee charged (if any) (RCW 42.45.180).
- The journal must be kept in a locked and secured area under the direct and exclusive control of the notary.
- Exception: Attorneys licensed to practice law in Washington are not required to maintain a journal if they otherwise document notarial acts by professional practice.
Right to inspect:
- Whether the journal is a public record subject to inspection depends on the notary's employment status.
- If the notary is a state or local government employee, journal entries created during the course of employment are likely public records subject to Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).
- If the notary is a private individual (not a government employee), the journal is generally considered private property and not subject to public access requirements.
- Parties seeking journal access from private notaries should contact the notary directly (who may decline) or obtain a subpoena or court order to compel production.
What can be requested:
- For government employee notaries, the following may be available under public records requests: date and time of the act, type of notarial act, document description, signer's name and address, method of identification and credential details, signer's signature, and fee charged.
- For private notaries, access typically requires the notary's cooperation or a court order/subpoena.
- Thumbprints: Washington does not require thumbprints for notarial acts.
Key considerations:
- The journal must be kept secure and under the notary's direct and exclusive control.
- Upon resignation, revocation, or suspension of a commission, the notary must retain the journal for 10 years and inform the Department of Licensing where the journal is located.
- Upon death or incompetency, the notary's personal representative must follow disposition procedures set forth in RCW 42.45.180(6) and provide access instructions to the Department for any electronic journals.
- Retention period: 10 years after the last notarial act chronicled in the journal, then destroyed as required by rule.
- Contact: Washington Department of Licensing, Notary Public Program — (360) 664-1550
Relevant statutes: RCW 42.45.180, RCW 42.56 (Public Records Act), WAC 308-30-190, WAC 308-30-200
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.
Washington requires notaries to maintain a journal of all notarial acts performed (RCW 42.45.180), with an exception for attorneys licensed to practice law in Washington who otherwise maintain documentation of notarial acts. Whether the journal is a public record depends on the notary's employment status.
Journal requirement:
- Notaries must maintain a journal (tangible or electronic format) chronicling all notarial acts.
- The journal must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages (for tangible journals).
- 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, signature of each individual, and fee charged (if any) (RCW 42.45.180).
- The journal must be kept in a locked and secured area under the direct and exclusive control of the notary.
- Exception: Attorneys licensed to practice law in Washington are not required to maintain a journal if they otherwise document notarial acts by professional practice.
Right to inspect:
- Whether the journal is a public record subject to inspection depends on the notary's employment status.
- If the notary is a state or local government employee, journal entries created during the course of employment are likely public records subject to Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).
- If the notary is a private individual (not a government employee), the journal is generally considered private property and not subject to public access requirements.
- Parties seeking journal access from private notaries should contact the notary directly (who may decline) or obtain a subpoena or court order to compel production.
What can be requested:
- For government employee notaries, the following may be available under public records requests: date and time of the act, type of notarial act, document description, signer's name and address, method of identification and credential details, signer's signature, and fee charged.
- For private notaries, access typically requires the notary's cooperation or a court order/subpoena.
- Thumbprints: Washington does not require thumbprints for notarial acts.
Key considerations:
- The journal must be kept secure and under the notary's direct and exclusive control.
- Upon resignation, revocation, or suspension of a commission, the notary must retain the journal for 10 years and inform the Department of Licensing where the journal is located.
- Upon death or incompetency, the notary's personal representative must follow disposition procedures set forth in RCW 42.45.180(6) and provide access instructions to the Department for any electronic journals.
- Retention period: 10 years after the last notarial act chronicled in the journal, then destroyed as required by rule.
- Contact: Washington Department of Licensing, Notary Public Program — (360) 664-1550
Relevant statutes: RCW 42.45.180, RCW 42.56 (Public Records Act), WAC 308-30-190, WAC 308-30-200
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.