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Code of the District of Columbia

Chapter 12A. Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts.

§ 1–1231.01. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) "Acknowledgment" means a declaration by an individual that states the individual has signed a record for the purposes stated in the record, and if the record is executed in a representative capacity, that the person signed the record with proper authority and signed it as the act of the individual or entity identified in the record.

(2) "Electronic" means relating to technology that has electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.

(3) "Electronic notary" means an individual who has received an endorsement from the Mayor to perform a notarial act with respect to electronic records under § 1-1231.19(i).

(4) "Electronic signature" means an electronic symbol, sound, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by an individual with the intent to sign the record.

(5) "Foreign state" means a government other than the United States, a state, or a federally recognized Indian tribe.

(6) "In a representative capacity" means acting as:

(A) An authorized officer, agent, partner, trustee, or other representative for a person other than an individual;

(B) A public officer, personal representative, guardian, or other representative, in the capacity stated in a record;

(C) An agent or attorney-in-fact for a principal; or

(D) An authorized representative of another in any other capacity.

(7) "Notarial act" means an act, whether performed with respect to a tangible or electronic record, that a notarial officer may perform under the law of the District. The term "notarial act" includes taking an acknowledgment, administering an oath or affirmation, taking a verification on oath or affirmation, witnessing or attesting a signature, noting a protest of a negotiable instrument, taking and certifying the acknowledgment or proof of powers of attorney, mortgages, deeds, other instruments of writing, and taking affidavits to be used before any court, judge, or officer within the District.

(8) "Notarial officer" or "officer" (except as used in paragraphs (6) and (7) of this section) means a notary public or other individual authorized to perform a notarial act.

(9) "Notarial sealer" means:

(A) A physical device capable of affixing to or embossing on a tangible record an official seal;

(B) An electronic device or process capable of attaching to or logically associating with an electronic record an official seal; or

(C) A stamping device.

(10) "Notary public" means an individual commissioned by the:

(A) Mayor to perform notarial acts in the District; or

(B) Commissioning authority of the federal government, a state, or a federally recognized Indian tribe.

(11) "Official seal" means a physical image affixed to or embossed on a tangible record or an electronic image securely attached directly to or logically associated with an electronic record.

(12) "Person" means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity.

(13) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

(14) "Sign" means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record, to:

(A) Execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or

(B) Attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.

(15) "Signature" means a tangible symbol or an electronic signature that evidences the signing of a record.

(16) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(17) "Tamper-evident technologies" means technology that is designed to allow a person inspecting an electronic record to determine whether there has been any tampering with the integrity of a certificate of notarial act logically associated with a record or with the attachment or association of the notarial act with that electronic record.

(18) "Verification on oath or affirmation" means a declaration, made by an individual on oath or affirmation before a notarial officer, that a statement in a record is true.

§ 1–1231.02. Applicability to future notarial acts.

This chapter, except for §§1-1231.13a, 1-1231.19(i), 1-1231.20, and 1-1231.21(b), shall apply to notarial acts performed on or after December 4, 2018. Sections 1-1231.13a, 1-1231.19(i), 1-1231.20, and 1-1231.21(b) shall apply to notarial acts performed on or after the applicability date of these provisions.

§ 1–1231.03. Authority to perform notarial act.

(a) A notarial officer may perform a notarial act authorized by this chapter or by law of the District other than this chapter.

(b) A notarial officer shall not perform a notarial act if:

(1) The record is incomplete or blank;

(2) The notarial officer or the officer's spouse is a party to the record; or

(3) The notarial officer or the officer's spouse has a direct beneficial interest in the record.

(c) A notarial act performed in violation of this section is voidable.

(d) A notarial officer may certify that a tangible copy of an electronic record is an accurate copy of the electronic record.

§ 1–1231.04. Requirements for certain notarial acts.

(a) A notarial officer who takes an acknowledgment of a record shall determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of the identity of the individual, that the individual appearing before the officer and making the acknowledgment has the identity claimed and that the signature on the record is the signature of the individual.

(b) A notarial officer who takes a verification of a statement on oath or affirmation shall determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of the identity of the individual, that the individual appearing before the officer and making the verification has the identity claimed and that the signature on the statement verified is the signature of the individual.

(c) A notarial officer who witnesses or attests to a signature shall determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of the identity of the individual, that the individual appearing before the officer and signing the record has the identity claimed.

(d) A notarial officer who certifies or attests a copy of a record or an item that was copied shall determine that the copy is a full, true, and accurate transcription or reproduction of the record or item.

(e) A notarial officer who makes or notes a protest of a negotiable instrument shall determine the matters set forth in § 28:3-505(b).

§ 1–1231.05. Personal appearance required.

If a notarial act relates to a statement made in or a signature executed on a record, the individual making the statement or executing the signature shall appear personally before the notarial officer, including an appearance that conforms with § 1-1231.13a.

§ 1–1231.06. Identification of individual.

(a) A notarial officer has personal knowledge of the identity of an individual appearing before the officer if the individual is personally known to the officer through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty that the individual has the identity claimed.

(b) A notarial officer has satisfactory evidence of the identity of an individual appearing before the officer if the officer can identify the individual by means of:

(1) Current government-issued identification that is:

(A) A passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver identification card; or

(B) Another form of government identification issued to an individual, which contains the signature or a photograph of the individual and is satisfactory to the officer; or

(2) A verification on oath or affirmation of a credible witness personally appearing before the officer and known to the officer or whom the officer can identify based on a current passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver identification card.

(c) A notarial officer may require an individual to provide additional information or identification credentials necessary to assure the officer of the identity of the individual.

§ 1–1231.07. Authority to refuse to perform notarial act.

(a) A notarial officer may refuse to perform a notarial act if the officer is not satisfied that:

(1) The individual executing the record is competent or has the capacity to execute the record; or

(2) The individual's signature is knowingly and voluntarily made.

(b) A notarial officer may refuse to perform a notarial act unless refusal is prohibited by a law other than this chapter.

§ 1–1231.08. Signature if individual unable to sign.

If an individual is physically unable to sign a record, the individual may direct an individual other than the notarial officer to sign the individual's name on the record. The notarial officer shall insert "Signature affixed by [name of other individual] at the direction of [name of individual]" or words of similar import.

§ 1–1231.09. Notarial act in the District.

(a) A notarial act may be performed in the District by:

(1) A notary public of the District;

(2) A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of a court of the District; or

(3) Any other individual authorized to perform the specific act by the law of the District.

(b) The signature and title of an individual performing a notarial act in the District shall be prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine and that the individual holds the designated title.

(c) The signature and title of a notarial officer described in subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section shall conclusively establish the authority of the officer to perform the notarial act.

§ 1–1231.10. Notarial act in another state.

(a) A notarial act performed in another state shall have the same effect under the law of the District as if performed by a notarial officer of the District, if the notarial act performed in that state is performed by:

(1) A notary public of that state;

(2) A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of a court of that state; or

(3) Any other individual authorized by the law of that state to perform the notarial act.

(b) The signature and title of an individual performing a notarial act in another state shall be prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine and that the individual holds the designated title.

(c) The signature and title of a notarial officer described in subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section shall conclusively establish the authority of the officer to perform the notarial act.

§ 1–1231.11. Notarial act under authority of a federally recognized Indian tribe.

(a) A notarial act performed under the authority and in the jurisdiction of a federally recognized Indian tribe has the same effect as if performed by a notarial officer of the District, if the notarial act performed in the jurisdiction of the tribe is performed by:

(1) A notary public of the tribe;

(2) A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of a court of the tribe; or

(3) Any other individual authorized by the law of the tribe to perform the notarial act.

(b) The signature and title of an individual performing a notarial act under the authority of and in the jurisdiction of a federally recognized Indian tribe shall be prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine and that the individual holds the designated title.

(c) The signature and title of a notarial officer described in subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section shall conclusively establish the authority of the officer to perform the notarial act.

§ 1–1231.12. Notarial act under federal authority.

(a) A notarial act performed under federal law has the same effect under the law of the District as if performed by a notarial officer of the District, if the notarial act performed under federal law is performed by:

(1) A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of a court;

(2) An individual in military service or performing duties under the authority of military service who is authorized to perform notarial acts under federal law;

(3) An individual designated a notarizing officer by the United States Department of State for performing notarial acts overseas; or

(4) Any other individual authorized by federal law to perform the notarial act.

(b) The signature and title of an individual acting under federal authority and performing a notarial act shall be prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine and that the individual holds the designated title.

(c) The signature and title of an officer described in subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this section shall conclusively establish the authority of the officer to perform the notarial act.

§ 1–1231.13. Foreign notarial act.

(a) If a notarial act is performed under authority and in the jurisdiction of a foreign state or constituent unit of the foreign state or is performed under the authority of a multinational or international governmental organization, the notarial act shall have the same effect under the law of the District as if performed by a notarial officer of the District.

(b) If the title of office and indication of authority to perform notarial acts in a foreign state appears in a digest of foreign law or in a list customarily used as a source for that information, the authority of an officer with that title to perform notarial acts shall be conclusively established.

(c) The signature and official stamp of an individual holding an office described in subsection (b) shall be prima facie evidence that the signature is genuine and the individual holds the designated title.

(d) An apostille in the form prescribed by the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, and issued by a foreign state party to the Hague Convention conclusively shall establish that the signature of the notarial officer is genuine and that the officer holds the indicated office.

(e) A consular authentication issued by an individual designated by the United States Department of State as a notarizing officer for performing notarial acts overseas and attached to the record with respect to which the notarial act is performed conclusively shall establish that the signature of the notarial officer is genuine and that the officer holds the indicated office.

§ 1–1231.13a. Notarial act performed for remotely located individual.

(a) A remotely located individual may comply with § 1-1231.05 by using communication technology to appear before a notary public.

(b) A notary public located in the District may use communication technology to perform a notarial act for a remotely located individual if:

(1) The notary public:

(A) Has personal knowledge pursuant to § 1-1231.06(a) of the identity of the remotely located individual;

(B) Has satisfactory evidence of the identity of the remotely located individual by oath or affirmation from a credible witness appearing before the notary public under § 1-1231.06(b) or this section; or

(C) Has obtained satisfactory evidence of the identity of the remotely located individual by using at least 2 different types of identity proofing;

(2) The notary public is able reasonably to confirm that a record before the notary public is the same record in which the remotely located individual made a statement or on which the individual executed a signature;

(3) The notary public, or a person acting on behalf of the notary public, creates an audio-visual recording of the performance of the notarial act; and

(4) For a remotely located individual located outside a state:

(A) The record:

(i) Is to be filed with or relates to a matter before a public official or court, governmental entity, or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of a state; or

(ii) Involves property located in the territorial jurisdiction of the United States or involves a transaction substantially connected with a state; and

(B) The act of making the statement or signing the record is not prohibited by the foreign state in which the remotely located individual is located.

(c) A notary public located in the District may use communication technology under subsection (b) of this section to take an acknowledgment of a signature on a tangible record physically present before the notary public if the record is displayed to, and identified by, the remotely located individual during the audio-visual recording under subsection (b)(3) of this section.

(d) The requirement under subsection (b)(2) of this section for the performance of a notarial act with respect to a tangible record not physically present before the notary public is satisfied if:

(1) The remotely located individual:

(A) During the audio-visual recording under subsection (c)(3) of this section signs:

(i) The record; and

(ii) A declaration, in substantially the following form, that is part of or securely attached to the record:

"I declare under penalty of perjury that the record of which this declaration is a part or to which it is attached is the same record on which (name of notary public), a notary public, performed a notarial act and before whom I appeared by means of communication technology on (date).

"Signature of remotely located individual

"Printed name of remotely located individual"; and

(B) Sends the record and declaration to the notary public, by first-class United States Mail or delivery by common-carrier or commercial delivery service, not later than 3 days after the notarial act was performed; and

(2) The notary public:

(A) In the audio-visual recording under subsection (b)(3) of this section, records the individual signing the record and declaration; and

(B) After receipt of the record and declaration from the individual, executes a certificate of notarial act under § 1-1231.14 that includes a statement in substantially the following form:

"I (name of notary public) witnessed, by means of communication technology, (name of remotely located individual) sign the attached record and declaration on (date).".

(e) A notarial act performed in compliance with subsection (d) of this section complies with § 1-1231.14(a)(1) and is effective on the date the remotely located individual signed the declaration under subsection (d)(1)(A)(ii) of this section.

(f) Subsection (d) of this section shall not preclude use of another procedure to satisfy subsection (b)(2) of this section for a notarial act performed with respect to a tangible record.

(g) Except as otherwise provided by another law of the District, a notary public located in the District may use communication technology under subsection (b) of this section to administer an oath to a remotely located individual if the notary public:

(1) Identifies the individual under subsection (b)(1) of this section;

(2) Creates or causes the creation under subsection (b)(3) of this section of an audio-visual recording of the individual taking the oath; and

(3) Retains or causes the retention under subsection (j) of this section of the recording.

(h) If a notarial act is performed under this section, the certificate of notarial act under § 1-1231.14 and the short-form certificate under § 1-1231.15 must indicate that the notarial act was performed using communication technology.

(i) A short-form certificate under § 1-1231.15 for a notarial act subject to this section is sufficient if it:

(1) Complies with rules issued under subsection (l)(1) of this section; or

(2) Is in the form under § 1-1231.15 and contains a statement in substantially the following form:

"This notarial act involved the use of communication technology.".

(j) A notary public, a guardian, conservator, or agent of a notary public, or a personal representative of a deceased notary public shall retain the audio-visual recording created under subsection (b)(3) of this section or cause the recording to be retained by a repository designated by or on behalf of the person required to retain the recording. The recording shall be retained for at least 10 years.

(k) Before a notary public performs the notary public's initial notarial act under this section, the notary public must notify the Mayor that the notary public will be performing notarial acts with respect to remotely located individuals and identify the technologies the notary public intends to use. If the Mayor has established standards under subsection (l) of this section and § 1-1231.31 for approval of communication technology or identity proofing, the communication technology and identity proofing used by the notary public must conform to those standards.

(l) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, may issue rules to :

(1) Prescribe the means of performing a notarial act involving a remotely located individual using communication technology;

(2) Establish standards for communication technology and identity proofing;

(3) Establish requirements or procedures to approve providers of communication technology and the process of identity proofing;

(4) Establish standards and a period for the retention of an audio-visual recording under subsection (b)(3) of this section; and

(5) Prescribe methods for a notary public to confirm under subsections (c) and (d) of this section the identity of a tangible record.

(m) Before adopting, amending, or repealing a rule governing performance of a notarial act with respect to a remotely located individual, the Mayor shall consider:

(1) The most recent standards regarding the performance of a notarial act with respect to a remotely located individual promulgated by national standard-setting organizations and the recommendations of the National Association of Secretaries of State;

(2) Standards, practices, and customs of other jurisdictions that have laws substantially similar to this section; and

(3) The views of governmental officials and entities and other interested persons.

(n) By allowing its communication technology or identity proofing to facilitate a notarial act for a remotely located individual or by providing storage of the audio-visual recording under subsection (c)(3) of this section, the provider of the communication technology, identity proofing, or storage shall be deemed to appoint the Mayor as the provider's agent for service of process in any civil action in the District related to the notarial act.

(o) The Office of the Recorder of Deeds may accept for recording a tangible copy of an electronic record containing a notarial certificate as satisfying any requirement that a record accepted for recording be an original, if the notarial officer executing the notarial certificate certifies that the tangible copy is an accurate copy of the electronic record.

(p) For the purposes of this section, the term:

(1) "Communication technology" means an electronic device or process that:

(A) Allows a notary public and a remotely located individual to communicate with each other simultaneously by sight and sound; and

(B) When necessary and consistent with other applicable law, facilitates communication with a remotely located individual who has a vision, hearing, or speech impairment.

(2) "Identity proofing" means a process or service by which a third person provides a notary public with a means to verify the identity of a remotely located individual by a review of personal information from public or private data sources.

(3) "Remotely located individual" means an individual who is not in the physical presence of the notary public who performs a notarial act under subsection (b) of this section.

§ 1–1231.14. Certificate of notarial act.

(a) Notarial acts performed shall be evidenced by a certificate. The certificate shall:

(1) Be executed contemporaneously with the performance of the notarial act;

(2) Be dated;

(3) Identify the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed;

(4) Contain the notarial officer's title of office; and

(5) If the notarial officer is a notary public:

(A) Be signed by the notary public in the same manner as on file with the Mayor; and

(B) Indicate the date of expiration, if any, of the notary's commission.

(b)(1) If a notarial act regarding a tangible record is performed by a notary public, an official seal shall be affixed to or embossed on the certificate. If a notarial act is performed regarding a tangible record by a notarial officer other than a notary public and the certificate contains the information specified in subsection (a)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, an official seal may be affixed to or embossed on the certificate.

(2) If a notarial act regarding an electronic record is performed by an electronic notary and the certificate contains the information specified in subsection (a)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, an official seal shall be attached to or logically associated with the certificate.

(c) A certificate of a notarial act is sufficient if it meets the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section and it:

(1) Is in a short form as set forth in § 1-1231.15;

(2) Is in a form otherwise permitted by the law of the District;

(3) Is in a form permitted by the law applicable in the jurisdiction in which the notarial act was performed; or

(4) Sets forth the actions of the notarial officer and the actions are sufficient to meet the requirements of the notarial act as provided in §§ 1-1231.04, 1-1231.05, and 1-1231.06 or law of the District other than this chapter.

(d) By executing a certificate of a notarial act, a notarial officer certifies that the officer has complied with the requirements and made the determinations specified in §§ 1-1231.03, 1-1231.04, and 1-1231.05.

(e) A notarial officer shall not affix the officer's signature to, or logically associate it with, a certificate until the notarial act has been performed.

(f) If a notarial act is performed regarding a tangible record, a certificate shall be part of, or securely attached directly to, the record. If a notarial act is performed regarding an electronic record, the certificate shall be affixed to, or logically associated with, the electronic record. If the Mayor has issued rules establishing standards pursuant to § 1-1231.31 for attaching, affixing, or logically associating the certificate, the process shall conform to the standards.

§ 1–1231.15. Short forms.

The following short form certificates of notarial acts are sufficient for the purposes indicated, if completed with the information required by § 1-1231.14(a) and (b):

"(1) For an acknowledgment in an individual capacity:

"District of Columbia

"This record was acknowledged before me on ________ by ____________________

"....................................................................................Date...........Name(s) of individual(s)

"__________________________________

" Signature of notarial officer

"[Seal]

"[__________________________________]

" Title of office

"[My commission expires: _________]

"(2) For an acknowledgment in a representative capacity:

"District of Columbia

"This record was acknowledged before me on ________ by _____________________

"....................................................................................Date...........Name(s) of individual(s)

"as (type of authority, such as officer or trustee) of (name of party on behalf of whom record was executed).

"__________________________________

" Signature of notarial officer

"[Seal]

"[__________________________________]

" Title of office

"[My commission expires: _________]

"(3) For a verification on oath or affirmation:

"District of Columbia

"Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on ________ by ______________________

".......................................................................................Date...........Name(s) of individual(s)

" making statement

"

"__________________________________

" Signature of notarial officer

"[Seal]

"[__________________________________]

" Title of office

"[My commission expires: _________]

"(4) For witnessing or attesting a signature:

"District of Columbia

"Signed [or attested] before me on ________ by _______________________

"...............................................................Date...........Name(s) of individual(s)

"__________________________________

" Signature of notarial officer

"[Seal]

"[__________________________________]

" Title of office

"[My commission expires: _________]

"(5) For certifying a copy of a record:

"District of Columbia

"I certify that this is a true and correct copy of a record in the possession

"of ________________________________________.

"Dated ___________________________

"________________________________

" Signature of notarial officer

"[Seal]

"[__________________________________]

" Title of office

"[My commission expires: _________]".

§ 1–1231.16. Official seal.

(a) The official seal of a notary public in the District shall:

(1) Include the following:

(A) The notary public's name, exactly stated on the commission;

(B) The words "District of Columbia";

(C) The commission expiration date; and

(D) Other information required by the Mayor; and

(2) Be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated.

(b) The Mayor shall issue rules regarding the size and form of the seal.

§ 1–1231.17. Notarial sealer.

(a) A notary public shall be responsible for the security of the notary's notarial sealer and shall not allow another individual to use the notarial sealer to perform a notarial act. Upon the death, resignation, or removal from office of a notary public, the notary's records, including all the official papers, shall be deposited with the Mayor.

(b) If a notary public's notarial sealer or signature is lost, stolen, damaged, or otherwise incapable of affixing a legible image, the notary, or the notary's personal representative or guardian shall promptly notify the Mayor.

§ 1–1231.18. Journal.

(a) A notary public shall maintain a journal in which the notary public records all notarial acts that the notary public or electronic notary performs. The notary public shall retain the journal until required to transmit the journal to the Mayor under subsections (e) and (f) of this section.

(b)(1) A journal may be created on a tangible medium or in an electronic format.

(2) A notary public may maintain a separate journal for tangible records and for electronic records. If the journal is maintained on a tangible medium, it shall be a permanent bound register with numbered pages. If the journal is maintained in an electronic format, it shall be in a tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules issued by the Mayor.

(c) An entry in a journal shall be made contemporaneously with performance of the notarial act and contain the following information:

(1) The date and time of the notarial act;

(2) A description of the record, if any, and type of notarial act;

(3) The full name and address of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed;

(4) If the identity of the individual is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect;

(5) If the identity of the individual is based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification and the identification credential presented, if any, including the date of issuance and expiration of an identification credential when such a credential is used;

(6) The fee, if any, charged by the notary public; and

(7) The signature of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.

(d) If a notary public's journal is lost or stolen, the notary promptly shall notify the Mayor upon discovering that the journal is lost or stolen.

(e) On resignation from, or the revocation or suspension of, a notary public's commission, the notary shall transmit the journal to the Mayor.

(f) On the death or adjudication of incompetency of a current or former notary public, the notary's personal representative or guardian or any other person knowingly in possession of the journal shall transmit it to the Mayor.

§ 1–1231.19. Commission as notary public; endorsement as an electronic notary; qualifications; no immunity or benefit.

(a) An individual qualified under subsection (c) of this section may apply to the Mayor for a commission as a notary public. An applicant shall comply with and provide the information required by the rules issued by the Mayor and pay the application fee.

(b) The Mayor shall issue rules setting an application fee; provided, that the application fee shall not be less than $75; provided further, that there is no application fee for a notary public in the service of the governments of the United States or District of Columbia whose notarial duties are confined solely to official government business.

(c) An applicant for a commission as a notary public shall:

(1) Be at least 18 years of age;

(2) Be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States;

(3) Be a resident of or have a primary place of employment or practice in the District;

(4) Not be disqualified to receive a commission under § 1-1231.22; and

(5) Meet any other qualifications prescribed by rules issued by the Mayor.

(d) Before issuance of a commission as a notary public, an applicant for the commission shall:

(1) Take the oath prescribed for civil officers in the District;

(2) Complete a training class provided by the Mayor;

(3) File the notary's signature and deposit an impression of the notary's official seal with the Mayor; and

(4) Indicate, on a form provided by the Mayor, the language(s) of records in which the applicant intends to perform notarial acts; provided, that the applicant shall be required to read and write in the language of any record on which the applicant performs a notarial act.

(e) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, before issuance of a commission as a notary public, the applicant shall submit to the Mayor an assurance in the form of a surety bond or its functional equivalent in the amount of $2,000, or other amount prescribed by rules issued by the Mayor. The assurance shall be issued by a surety or other entity licensed or authorized to do business in the District. The assurance shall cover acts performed during the term of the notary public's commission and shall be in the form prescribed by the Mayor. If a notary public violates law with respect to notaries public in the District, the surety or issuing entity is liable under the assurance. The surety or issuing entity shall give 30-days' notice to the Mayor before canceling the assurance. The surety or issuing entity shall notify the Mayor not later than 30 days after making a payment to a claimant under the assurance. A notary public may perform notarial acts in the District only during the period that a valid assurance is on file with the Mayor.

(f) A notary public commissioned on behalf of the government of the District of Columbia is exempt from the requirement of a surety bond under subsection (e) of this section.

(g) Upon an applicant's compliance with this section, the Mayor shall issue a commission as a notary public to an applicant for a term of 5 years subject to removal pursuant to § 1-1231.22. A certificate issued by the Mayor granting this commission shall be signed by the Secretary of the District of Columbia or the Secretary's designee.

(h) A commission to act as a notary public authorizes the notary public to perform notarial acts only within the District. The commission does not provide the notary public any immunity or benefit conferred by law of the District on public officials or employees.

(i) An individual who holds a commission as a notary public may apply to the Mayor for an endorsement as an electronic notary. The applicant shall comply with and provide the information required by rules issued by the Mayor and pay an application fee for such endorsement.

§ 1–1231.20. Requirement of endorsement as electronic notary; selection of technology.

(a) A notary public shall not perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records unless the notary public has received an endorsement as an electronic notary pursuant to § 1-1231.19(i).

(b) An electronic notary may select one or more tamper-evident technologies to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records. An electronic notary shall not be required to perform a notarial act with respect to an electronic record with a technology that the electronic notary has not selected.

(c) Before a notary public holding an endorsement as an electronic notary performs the notary's initial notarial act with respect to an electronic record, the notary shall complete a training course provided by the Mayor, shall take the oath prescribed for civil officers in the District of Columbia, identify the tamper-evident technologies the electronic notary intends to use, and file an exemplar of the electronic notary's electronic signature and official seal. If the Mayor has issued rules establishing standards for approval of technology pursuant to § 1-1231.31, the technology shall conform to the prescribed standards. If the technology conforms to the standards, the Mayor shall approve the use of the technology.

§ 1–1231.21. Mandatory training of a notary public.

(a) An applicant for a commission as a notary public in the District that does not already hold such a commission from the Mayor shall satisfactorily complete the training provided by the Mayor.

(b) The Mayor shall establish courses of study for notary publics and applicants for endorsement as electronic notaries. Trainings shall cover laws, rules, procedures, and ethics relevant to notarial acts.

§ 1–1231.22. Grounds to deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or condition commission of notary public.

(a) The Mayor may deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or impose a condition on a commission as notary public for any act or omission that demonstrates the individual lacks the honesty, integrity, competence, or reliability to act as a notary public, including:

(1) Failure to comply with this chapter;

(2) A fraudulent, dishonest, or deceitful misstatement or omission in the application for a commission as a notary public submitted to the Mayor;

(3) A conviction of an applicant or notary public of any felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit, including fraud, forgery, deceptive labeling, counterfeiting, false personation, perjury, false statements, tampering with physical evidence, or theft previously known as larceny, larceny by trick, larceny by trust, embezzlement, or false pretenses;

(4) A finding against, or admission of liability by, an applicant or notary public in any legal proceeding or disciplinary action based on an applicant's or notary public's fraud, dishonesty, or deceit;

(5) Failure by the notary public to discharge any duty required of a notary public, whether by this chapter, rules of the Mayor, or any federal or state law;

(6) Use of false or misleading advertising or representation by the notary public representing that the notary has a duty, right, or privilege that the notary does not have;

(7) Violation by the notary public of a rule issued by the Mayor regarding a notary public;

(8) Denial, refusal to renew, revocation, suspension, or conditioning of a notary public commission in another state; or

(9) Failure of the notary public to maintain an assurance as provided in § 1-1231.19(e).

(b) If the Mayor denies, refuses to renew, revokes, suspends, or imposes conditions on a commission as a notary public, the applicant or notary public is entitled to timely notice and hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings pursuant to § 2-1831.03(b-20).

(c) The authority of the Mayor to deny, refuse to renew, suspend, revoke, or impose conditions on a commission as a notary public shall not prevent a person from seeking and obtaining other criminal or civil remedies provided by law.

§ 1–1231.23. Fees.

(a)(1) A notary public may charge fees for performing notarial acts as established by the Mayor by rule issued pursuant to § 1-1231.31.

(2) A notary public who is exempted from the payment of the application fee pursuant to § 1-1231.19(b) shall not collect a notary fee.

(b) A notary public may charge, upon agreement of the person to be charged, an amount not-to-exceed the actual and reasonable expense of traveling to a place where a notarial act is to be performed if it is not the usual place where the notary public performs notarial acts. Traveling expenses shall be in writing, itemized, and separate from the fee for the notarial act.

(c) A notary public may waive a scheduled fee or charge an amount less than the scheduled fee.

(d) A notarial officer other than a notary public shall not charge a fee for performing notarial acts.

§ 1–1231.24. Notaries public electronic database.

The Mayor shall maintain an electronic database of notaries public commissioned in the District that is accessible to the public and available at no cost. The database shall note whether a notary public has the electronic notary endorsement pursuant to § 1-1231.19(i).

§ 1–1231.25. Prohibited acts.

(a) A commission as a notary public shall not authorize an individual to:

(1) Assist persons in drafting legal records, give legal advice, or otherwise practice law;

(2) Act as an immigration consultant or an expert on immigration matters;

(3) Represent a person in a judicial or administrative proceeding relating to immigration to the United States, United States citizenship, or related matters; or

(4) Receive compensation for performing any of the activities listed in this subsection.

(b) A notary public shall not engage in false or deceptive advertising.

(c) A notary public, other than an attorney licensed to practice law in the District, shall not use the term "notario" or "notario publico".

(d) A notary public, other than an attorney licensed to practice law in the District, shall not advertise or represent that the notary may assist persons in drafting legal records, give legal advice, or otherwise practice law. If a notary public who is not an attorney licensed to practice law in the District in any manner advertises or represents that the notary offers notarial services, whether orally or in a record, including broadcast media, print media, and the Internet, then the notary shall include the following statement, or an alternate statement pursuant to rules issued by the Mayor, in the advertisement or representation, prominently and in each language used in the advertisement or representation: "I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in the District. I am not allowed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters, including immigration, or charge a fee for those activities." If the form of advertisement or representation is not broadcast media, print media, or the Internet and does not permit inclusion of the statement required by this subsection because of size, it shall be displayed prominently or provided at the place of performance of the notarial act before the notarial act is performed.

(e) Except as otherwise allowed by law, a notary public shall not withhold access to or possession of an original record provided by a person that seeks performance of a notarial act by the notary public.

(f) A notary public shall not charge a higher fee than permitted in rules issued by the Mayor.

§ 1–1231.26. Validity of notarial acts.

Except as otherwise provided in § 1-1231.03(c), the failure of a notarial officer to perform a duty or meet a requirement specified in this chapter shall not invalidate a notarial act performed by the officer. The validity of a notarial act under this chapter shall not prevent an aggrieved person from seeking to invalidate the record or transaction that is the subject of the notarial act or from seeking other remedies based on law of the District other than this chapter or law of the United States. This section shall not validate a purported notarial act performed by an individual who does not have the authority to perform notarial acts.

§ 1–1231.27. Existing notary public commission.

A commission as a notary public in effect on December 4, 2018 shall continue until its date of expiration. A notary public who applies to renew a commission as a notary public on or after December 4, 2018 is subject to and shall comply with this chapter. A notary public, in performing notarial acts after December 4, 2018, shall comply with this chapter.

§ 1–1231.28. Savings clause.

(a) This chapter shall not affect the validity or effect of a notarial act performed before December 4, 2018.

(b) A notary public appointed before December 4, 2018 shall continue in such capacity until the expiration of the notary's commission.

§ 1–1231.29. Uniformity of application and construction.

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of this chapter with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

§ 1–1231.30. Relation to electronic signatures in global and national commerce act.

This chapter modifies, limits, and supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, approved June 30, 2000 (114 Stat. 464; 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq.), but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101(c) (15 U.S.C. § 7001(c)) of that act, or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 103(b) (15 U.S.C. § 7003(b)) of that act.

§ 1–1231.31. Rules.

(a) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

(b) Rules issued regarding the performance of notarial acts with respect to electronic records shall not require, or accord greater legal status or effect to, the implementation or application of a specific technology or technical specification.