As Amended
SEC. 25-33-1. Appointment, bond and oath.
The Governor may appoint notaries public who may serve in any or all counties of this state. A notary public shall hold office for a term of four (4) years. Notaries public who are appointed and commissioned after July 1, 1988, shall give bond, with sufficient sureties, in the penalty of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). All such bonds shall be conditioned and approved as bonds of state officers are required to be, except that notaries public shall not otherwise be considered as state officers. Each notary public shall take the oath of office prescribed by Section 268 of the Constitution. A notary public shall qualify by filing the oath and bond in the office of the Secretary of State.
The bond requirements, unexpired appointments and commissions of notaries public issued prior to July 1, 1988, shall be sufficient, regardless of any jurisdictional limitations, to authorize notaries public appointed and commissioned prior to July 1, 1988, to serve any or all counties of this state. Any notary public commission containing language limiting the jurisdiction of a notary public may be returned to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall then issue a new certificate indicating that such notary public may serve in any and all counties of this state.
SOURCES: Codes, 1880, Sec. 426; 1892, Sec. 3040; 1906, Sec. 3447; Hemingway's 1917, Sec. 2780; 1930, Sec. 2858; 1942, Sec. 4016; Laws, 1904, ch. 159; 1926, ch. 190; 1981, ch. 426, Sec. 1; 1988, ch. 456, Sec. 1, eff from and after July 1, 1988.