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Introduced Version Senate Bill 4 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
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Senate Bill No. 4

(By Senators Kirkendoll, Cookman, Blair,

Fitzsimmons, D. Hall, Nohe, Wells and McCabe)

____________

[Introduced January 8, 2014; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

____________

 

 

A BILL to repeal §29-4-3, §29-4-4, §29-4-5, §29-4-6, §29-4-7, §29-4-8, §29-4-12, §29-4-13, §29-4-14, §29-4-15 and §29-4-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to repeal §29C-1-101, §29C-1-102, §29C-1-103, §29C-1-104, §29C-1-105, §29C-1-106 and §29C-1-107 of said code; to repeal §29C-2-201, §29C-2-202, §29C-2-203, §29C-2-204, §29C-2-205, §29C-2-206, §29C-2-207, §29C-2-208 and §29C-2-301 of said code; to repeal §29C-3-101 and §29C-3-102 of said code; to repeal §29C-4-101, §29C-4-102, §29C-4-103, §29C-4-104, §29C-4-201, §29C-4-202, §29C-4-203, §29C-4-301, §29C-4-401, §29C-4-402, §29C-4-403, §29C-4-404 and §29C-4-405 of said code; to repeal §29C-5-101, §29C-5-102, §29C-5-103 and §29C-5-104 of said code; to repeal §29C-6-101, §29C-6-102, §29C-6-103, §29C-6-201, §29C-6-202, §29C-6-203 and §29C-6-204 of said code; to repeal §29C-7-101, §29C-7-201 and §29C-7-202 of said code; to repeal §29C-8-101 of said code; to repeal §29C-9-101 of said code; to repeal §39-1A-1, §39-1A-2, §39-1A-3, §39-1A-4, §39-1A-5, §39-1A-6, §39-1A-7, §39-1A-8 and §39-1A-9 of said code; to amend and reenact §39-1-4 and §39-1-5 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §39-4-1, §39-4-2, §39-4-3, §39-4-4, §39-4-5, §39-4-6, §39-4-7, §39-4-8, §39-4-9, §39-4-10, §39-4-11, §39-4-12, §39-4-13, §39-4-14, §39-4-15, §39-4-16, §39-4-17, §39-4-18, §39-4-19, §39-4-20, §39-4-21, §39-4-22, §39-4-23, §39-4-24, §39-4-25, §39-4-26, §39-4-27, §39-4-28, §39-4-29, §39-4-30, §39-4-31, §39-4-32, §39-4-33, §39-4-34, §39-4-35, §39-4-36, §39-4-37 and §39-4-38; to amend and reenact §57-4-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §57-5-9 of said code; and to amend and reenact §59-1-2 of said code, all relating to Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts; establishing effective date of article; establishing operative date of enactment and effect on existing law; establishing authority to perform notarial acts; establishing requirements for certain notarial acts; requiring personal appearance and identification of individual; authorizing right to refuse to perform notarial act; establishing instructions for obtaining signature if individual is unable to sign; setting forth who may perform notarial act in this state; establishing notarial reciprocity with other states, any federally recognized Indian tribe, federal government and foreign states; requiring certificate for notarial act; authorizing short-form certificates; requiring official stamp and maintenance and disposition of stamping device; requiring notaries public to keep journal of notarial acts; authorizing notaries public option of selecting technology for use in notarial acts on electronic records; establishing minimum qualifications and authorizing commissioning of notaries public; requiring bond; requiring notaries public pass examination after course of study offered by Secretary of State; providing grounds to deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend or condition commissions of notaries public; requiring Secretary of State to maintain database of notaries public; prohibiting certain acts; authorizing validity of notarial acts; authorizing Secretary of State to promulgate rules; authorizing continuation of commission in effect on effective date of act; providing that any notarial act performed before effective date of act is not invalidated by act; providing for uniformity of application and construction of act; clarifying relationship to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act; establishing maximum fees that may be charged by notary public; commissioning notaries public for state and local government; establishing civil liability and criminal penalties; authorizing injunctive relief; authorizing Secretary of State to investigate complaints; requiring Secretary of State to maintain certain records; establishing application fee; providing for disposition of fees; repealing statutes regulating notaries public and commissioners including Uniform Notary Act; repealing Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act; and removing obsolete references.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §29-4-3, §29-4-4, §29-4-5, §29-4-6, §29-4-7, §29-4-8, §29-4-12, §29-4-13, §29-4-14, §29-4-15 and §29-4-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; that §29C-1-101, §29C-1-102, §29C-1-103, §29C-1-104, §29C-1-105, §29C-1-106 and §29C-1-107 of said code be repealed; that §29C-2-201, §29C-2-202, §29C-2-203, §29C-2-204, §29C-2-205, §29C-2-206, §29C-2-207, §29C-2-208 and §29C-2-301 of said code be repealed; that §29C-3-101 and §29C-3-102 of said code be repealed; that §29C-4-101, §29C-4-102, §29C-4-103, §29C-4-104, §29C-4-201, §29C-4-202, §29C-4-203, §29C-4-301, §29C-4-401, §29C-4-402, §29C-4-403, §29C-4-404 and §29C-4-405 of said code be repealed; that §29C-5-101, §29C-5-102, §29C-5-103 and §29C-5-104 of said code be repealed; that §29C-6-101, §29C-6-102, §29C-6-103, §29C-6-201, §29C-6-202, §29C-6-203 and §29C-6-204 of said code be repealed; that §29C-7-101, §29C-7-201 and §29C-7-202 of said code be repealed; that §29C-8-101 of said code be repealed; that §29C-9-101 of said code be repealed; that §39-1A-1, §39-1A-2, §39-1A-3, §39-1A-4, §39-1A-5, §39-1A-6, §39-1A-7, §39-1A-8 and §39-1A-9 of said code be repealed; that §39-1-4 and §39-1-5 of said code be amended and reenacted; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §39-4-1, §39-4-2, §39-4-3, §39-4-4, §39-4-5, §39-4-6, §39-4-7, §39-4-8, §39-4-9, §39-4-10, §39-4-11, §39-4-12, §39-4-13, §39-4-14, §39-4-15, §39-4-16, §39-4-17, §39-4-18, §39-4-19, §39-4-20, §39-4-21, §39-4-22, §39-4-23, §39-4-24, §39-4-25, §39-4-26, §39-4-27, §39-4-28, §39-4-29, §39-4-30, §39-4-31, §39-4-32, §39-4-33, §39-4-34, §39-4-35, §39-4-36, §39-4-37 and §39-4-38; that §57-4-2 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §57-5-9 of said code be amended and reenacted and that §59-1-2 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

CHAPTER 39. RECORDS AND PAPERS.

ARTICLE 1. AUTHENTICATION AND RECORD OF WRITINGS.

§39-1-4. Form of certificate of acknowledgment.

    The certificate of acknowledgment mentioned in the preceding section may be in form or effect as follows:

    State (territory or district) of _________________, county of _____________________, to wit:

    I, ________________________, a commissioner, appointed by the Governor of the State of West Virginia, for the said State (or territory or district) of _________; or I, ___________________, a justice of the peace of the county aforesaid; or I, ____________, recorder of said county municipality; or I, _________________, a notary public of said county; or I, _______________________, a prothonotary (or clerk) clerk of the ___________________ court of said county; (or other officer or person authorized to take acknowledgments by section three of this article, as the case may be), do certify that _______________________, whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto annexed) bearing date on the _________ day of _____________, 19 20 ______, has (or have) this day acknowledged the same before me, in my said ____________________.

    Given under my hand this _________ day of __________________, 19 20______.

§39-1-5. Acknowledgment by husband and wife.

    When a husband and wife have signed a writing purporting to sell or convey real estate, the wife may acknowledge the same together with, or separately from her husband. Either the husband or the wife may sign and acknowledge the writing before the other has signed or acknowledged it. If both acknowledge the writing at the same time, the certificate of the acknowledgments may be in form or effect as follows:

    State (territory or district) of .......... county of .........., to wit:

    I, .........., a commissioner appointed by the Governor of the State of West Virginia for the said State of .........., (or territory or district of ..........); or I, .........., a justice of the peace of the said county of ..........; or I, .........., a notary public of the said county of ..........; or I, .........., prothonotary (or clerk) clerk of the ......... court or county of ........; (or other officer or person authorized to take acknowledgments by section three of this article, as the case may be),* do certify .......... and .........., his or her wife whose names are signed to the writing above (or hereto annexed) bearing date the ..... day of .........., 19 20....., have this day acknowledged the same before me in my said ...........

    Given under my hand this ......... day of ........., 19 20.......

    If the husband or wife acknowledge a deed or other writing separately from the other, the certificate of acknowledgment after the star in the foregoing form shall be in form or effect as follows: do certify that .........., the wife of .........., (or the husband of .........., as the case may be), whose name is signed to the writing above (or hereto annexed) bearing date the .......... day of .........., 19 20 ....., has this day acknowledged the same before me in my said ..........

    Given under my hand this .......... day of .........., 19 20 .....

ARTICLE 4. REVISED UNIFORM LAW ON NOTARIAL ACTS.

§39-4-1. Short title.

    This article may be cited as the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts.

§39-4-2. Definitions.

    In this article:

    (1) “Acknowledgment” means a declaration by an individual before a notarial officer that the individual has signed a record for the purpose stated in the record and, if the record is signed in a representative capacity, that the individual 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 having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.

    (3) “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.

    (4) “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.

    (5) “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 this state. The term includes taking an acknowledgment, administering an oath or affirmation, taking a verification on oath or affirmation, witnessing or attesting a signature, certifying or attesting a copy, and noting a protest of a negotiable instrument.

    (6) “Notarial officer” means a notary public or other individual authorized to perform a notarial act.

    (7) “Notary public” means an individual commissioned to perform a notarial act by the West Virginia Secretary of State.

    (8) “Official stamp” means a physical image affixed to or embossed on a tangible record or an electronic image attached to or logically associated with an electronic record.

    (9) “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, statutory trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.

    (10) “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.

    (11) “Sign” means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record:

    (A) To execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or

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

    (12) “Signature” means a tangible symbol or an electronic signature that evidences the signing of a record.

    (13) “Stamping device” means:

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

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

    (14) “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.

    (15) “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.

§39-4-3. Applicability; operative date of enactment; effect on existing law.

    (a) This article applies to a notarial act performed on or after July 1, 2015.

    (b) The repeal of chapter twenty-nine-c of this code and the repeal of articles four, chapter twenty-nine and one-a, chapter thirty-nine of this code and the amendment and reenactment of section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code, pursuant to the provisions of Enrolled [Senate/House] Bill No. ________, as enacted by the Legislature during the regular session, 2014, are operative on June 30, 2015. The prior enactments of chapter twenty-nine-c; articles four, chapter twenty-nine and one-a, chapter thirty-nine; and section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code, whether amended and reenacted or repealed by the passage of Enrolled [Senate/House] Bill No. ________, have full force and effect until the provisions of Enrolled [Senate/House] Bill No. ________, are operative on June 30, 2015, unless after the effective date of Enrolled [Senate/House] Bill No. ________, and prior to the operative date of June 30, 2015, the provisions of Enrolled [Senate/House] Bill No. ________, are otherwise repealed or amended and reenacted.

§39-4-4. Authority to perform notarial act.

    (a) A notarial officer may perform a notarial act authorized by this article or by law of this state other than this article.

    (b) A notarial officer may not perform a notarial act with respect to a record to which the officer or the officer’s spouse is a party, or in which either of them has a direct beneficial interest, financial or otherwise. A notarial act performed in violation of this subsection is voidable.

§39-4-5. 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 subsection (b), section five hundred five, article three, chapter forty-six of this code.

§39-4-6. 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. An individual making the statement or executing the signature does not appear personally if the appearance is by video or audio technology, even if the video is synchronous.

§39-4-7. 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:

    (1) By means of:

    (A) A passport, driver’s license, or government issued nondriver identification card, which is current or expired not more than three years before performance of the notarial act; or

    (B) Another form of government identification issued to an individual, which is current or expired not more than three years before performance of the notarial act, contains the signature or a photograph of the individual, and is satisfactory to the officer; or

    (2) By 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 on the basis of a passport, driver’s license, or government issued nondriver identification card, which is current or expired not more than three years before performance of the notarial act.

    (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.

§39-4-8. 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 law other than this article.

§39-4-9. Signature if individual is 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.

§39-4-10. Notarial act in this state.

    (a) A notarial act may be performed in this state by:

    (1) A notary public of this state;

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

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

    (b) The signature and title of an individual performing a notarial act in this state are 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 subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a), conclusively establish the authority of the officer to perform the notarial act.

§39-4-11. Notarial act in another state.

    (a) A notarial act performed in another state has the same effect under the law of this state as if performed by a notarial officer of this state, if the 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 are 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 subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a), conclusively establish the authority of the officer to perform the notarial act.

§39-4-12. Notarial act under authority of 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 this state, if the 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 are 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 subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a), conclusively establish the authority of the officer to perform the notarial act.

§39-4-13. Notarial act under federal authority.

    (a) A notarial act performed under federal law has the same effect under the law of this state as if performed by a notarial officer of this state, if the 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 are 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 subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of subsection (a), conclusively establish the authority of the officer to perform the notarial act.

§39-4-14. Foreign notarial act.

    (a) In this section, “foreign state” means a government other than the United States, a state, or a federally recognized Indian tribe.

    (b) 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 act has the same effect under the law of this state as if performed by a notarial officer of this state.

    (c) 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 is conclusively established.

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

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

    (f) 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 establishes that the signature of the notarial officer is genuine and that the officer holds the indicated office.

§39-4-15. Certificate of notarial act.

    (a) A notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate. The certificate must:

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

    (2) Be signed and dated by the notarial officer and, if the notarial officer is a notary public, be signed in the same manner as on file with the Secretary of State;

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

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

    (5) If the notarial officer is a notary public, indicate the date of expiration, if any, of the officer’s commission.

    (b) If a notarial act regarding a tangible record is performed by a notary public, an official stamp must be affixed to 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 subdivisions (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (a), an official stamp may be affixed to the certificate. If a notarial act regarding an electronic record is performed by a notarial officer and the certificate contains the information specified in subdivisions (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (a), an official stamp may 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) and:

    (1) Is in a short form set forth in section sixteen of this article;

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

    (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 sections five, six and seven of this article or law of this state other than this article.

    (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 sections four, five and six of this article.

    (e) A notarial officer may 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 must be part of, or securely attached to, the record. If a notarial act is performed regarding an electronic record, the certificate must be affixed to, or logically associated with, the electronic record. If the Secretary of State has established standards pursuant to section twenty-seven of this article, for attaching, affixing, or logically associating the certificate, the process must conform to the standards.

§39-4-16. Short form certificates.

    The following short form certificates of notarial acts are sufficient for the purposes indicated, if completed with the information required by subsections (a) and (b) of section fifteen of this article:

    (1) For an acknowledgment in an individual capacity:

State of ________________________________________

County of ___________________________________

This record was acknowledged before me on ________ by ____________________ Date Name(s) of individual(s)

__________________________________

Signature of notarial officer

Stamp

__________________________________

Title of office

My commission expires: _________

    (2) For an acknowledgment in a representative capacity:

State of _________________________________________

County of ______________________________________

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

Stamp

__________________________________

Title of office

My commission expires: _________

    (3) For a verification on oath or affirmation:

State of _________________________________________

County of ______________________________________

Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on ________ by ______________________      Date Name(s) of individual(s) making statement

__________________________________

Signature of notarial officer

Stamp

__________________________________

Title of office

My commission expires: _________

    (4) For witnessing or attesting a signature:

State of _________________________________________

County of ______________________________________

Signed or attested before me on ________ by _______________________ Date

Name(s) of individual(s)

__________________________________

Signature of notarial officer

Stamp

__________________________________

Title of office

My commission expires: _________

    (5) For certifying a copy of a record:

State of _________________________________________

County of ______________________________________

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

    Dated ___________________________

________________________________

Signature of notarial officer

Stamp

__________________________________

Title of office

My commission expires: _________

§39-4-17. Official stamp.

    The official stamp of a notary public must:

    (1) Include the notary public’s name, address, jurisdiction, commission expiration date, and other information required by the Secretary of State; 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.

§39-4-18. Stamping device.

    (a) A notary public is responsible for the security of the notary public’s stamping device and may not allow another individual to use the device to perform a notarial act. On resignation from, or the revocation or expiration of, the notary public’s commission, or on the expiration of the date set forth in the stamping device, the notary public shall disable the stamping device by destroying, defacing, damaging, erasing, or securing it against use in a manner that renders it unusable. On the death or adjudication of incompetency of a notary public, the notary public’s personal representative or guardian or any other person knowingly in possession of the stamping device shall render it unusable by destroying, defacing, damaging, erasing, or securing it against use in a manner that renders it unusable.

    (b) If a notary public’s stamping device is lost or stolen, the notary public or the notary public’s personal representative or guardian shall notify promptly the Secretary of State on discovering that the device is lost or stolen.

§39-4-19. Journal.

    (a) A notary public shall maintain a journal in which the notary public chronicles all notarial acts that the notary public performs. The notary public shall retain the journal for ten years after the performance of the last notarial act chronicled in the journal.

    (b) A journal may be created on a tangible medium or in an electronic format. A notary public shall maintain only one journal at a time to chronicle all notarial acts, whether those notarial acts are performed regarding tangible or electronic records. If the journal is maintained on a tangible medium, it must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. If the journal is maintained in an electronic format, it must be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules promulgated by the Secretary of State.

    (c) An entry in a journal must 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 identity of the individual is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect;

    (5) If 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 any identification credential; and

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

    (d) If a notary public’s journal is lost or stolen, the notary public promptly shall notify the Secretary of State on 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 public shall retain the notary public’s journal in accordance with subsection (a) and inform the Secretary of State where the journal is located.

    (f) Instead of retaining a journal as provided in subsections (a) and (e), a current or former notary public may transmit the journal to the Secretary of State or a repository approved by the Secretary of State.

    (g) On the death or adjudication of incompetency of a current or former notary public, the notary public’s personal representative or guardian or any other person knowingly in possession of the journal shall transmit it to the Secretary of State or a repository approved by the Secretary of State.

§39-4-20. Notification regarding performance of notarial act on electronic record, selection of technology.

    (a) A notary public may select one or more tamper-evident technologies to perform notarial acts with respect to electronic records. A person may not require a notary public to perform a notarial act with respect to an electronic record with a technology that the notary public has not selected.

    (b) Before a notary public performs the notary public’s initial notarial act with respect to an electronic record, a notary public shall notify the Secretary of State that the notary public will be performing notarial acts with respect to electronic records and identify the technology the notary public intends to use. If the Secretary of State has established standards for approval of technology pursuant to section twenty-seven of this article, the technology must conform to the standards. If the technology conforms to the standards, the Secretary of State shall approve the use of the technology.

§39-4-21. Commission as notary public; qualifications; no immunity or benefit; disposition of fees.

    (a) An individual qualified under subsection (b) may apply to the Secretary of State for a commission as a notary public. The applicant shall comply with and provide the information required by rules promulgated by the Secretary of State and pay any application fee.

    (b) An applicant for a commission as a notary public must:

    (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 place of employment or practice in this state;

    (4) Be able to read and write English;

    (5) Not be disqualified to receive a commission under section twenty-three of this article; and

    (6) Have passed the examination required under section twenty-two of this article.

    (c) Before issuance of a commission as a notary public, an applicant for the commission shall execute an oath of office and submit it to the Secretary of State.

    (d) Before issuance of a commission as a notary public, the applicant for a commission shall submit to the Secretary of State an assurance in the form of a surety bond or its functional equivalent in the amount of $10,000. The assurance must be issued by a surety or other entity licensed or authorized to do business in this state. The assurance must cover acts performed during the term of the notary public’s commission and must be in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State. If a notary public violates law with respect to notaries public in this state, the surety or issuing entity is liable under the assurance. The surety or issuing entity shall give thirty days’ notice to the Secretary of State before canceling the assurance. The surety or issuing entity shall notify the Secretary of State not later than thirty days after making a payment to a claimant under the assurance. A notary public may perform notarial acts in this state only during the period that a valid assurance is on file with the Secretary of State.

    (e) On compliance with this section, the Secretary of State shall issue a commission as a notary public to an applicant for a term of four years.

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

§39-4-22. Examination of notary public.

    (a) An applicant for a commission as a notary public must pass an examination administered by the Secretary of State or an entity approved by the Secretary of State. The examination must be based on the course of study described in subsection (b).

    (b) The Secretary of State or an entity approved by the Secretary of State shall offer regularly a course of study to applicants for commissions as notaries public or government notaries public in this state. The course must cover the laws, rules, procedures, and ethics relevant to notarial acts.

§39-4-23. Grounds to deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or condition commission of notary public.

    (a) The Secretary of State 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 article;

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

    (3) A conviction of the applicant or notary public of any felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit;

    (4) A finding against, or admission of liability by, the applicant or notary public in any legal proceeding or disciplinary action based on the 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 article, rules promulgated by the Secretary of State, 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 of the Secretary of State regarding a notary public;

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

    (9) Failure of the notary public to maintain an assurance as provided in subsection (d), section twenty-one of this article;

    (10) Charging more than the maximum fees specified in section thirty-two of this article;

    (11) Failure to notify the Secretary of State of an address or name change pursuant to subsection (b), section twenty-four of this article.

    (b) If the Secretary of State 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 in accordance with article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.

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

§39-4-24. Database of notaries public.

    (a) The Secretary of State shall maintain an electronic database of notaries public:

    (1) Through which a person may verify the authority of a notary public to perform notarial acts; and

    (2) Which indicates whether a notary public has notified the Secretary of State that the notary public will be performing notarial acts on electronic records.

    (b) Not later than thirty days after a notary public either:

    (1) Changes the address of his or her business or residence; or

    (2) Changes his or her name, the notary public shall notify the Secretary of State of the address or name change.

§39-4-25. Prohibited acts.

    (a) A commission as a notary public does 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 may not engage in false or deceptive advertising.

    (c) A notary public, other than an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, may not use the term “notario” or “notario publico”.

    (d) A notary public, other than an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, may not advertise or represent that the notary public 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 this state in any manner advertises or represents that the notary public offers notarial services, whether orally or in a record, including broadcast media, print media, and the Internet, the notary public shall include the following statement, or an alternate statement authorized or required by the Secretary of State, 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 this state. 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 must 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 may 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.

§39-4-26. Validity of notarial acts.

    Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), section four of this article, the failure of a notarial officer to perform a duty or meet a requirement specified in this article does not invalidate a notarial act performed by the notarial officer. The validity of a notarial act under this article does 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 this state other than this article or law of the United States. This section does not validate a purported notarial act performed by an individual who does not have the authority to perform notarial acts.

§39-4-27. Rules.

    (a) The Secretary of State may promulgate rules, in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to implement this article. Rules promulgated regarding the performance of notarial acts with respect to electronic records may not require, or accord greater legal status or effect to, the implementation or application of a specific technology or technical specification. The rules may:

    (1) Prescribe the manner of performing notarial acts regarding tangible and electronic records;

    (2) Include provisions to ensure that any change to or tampering with a record bearing a certificate of a notarial act is self-evident;

    (3) Include provisions to ensure integrity in the creation, transmittal, storage, or authentication of electronic records or signatures;

    (4) Prescribe the process of granting, renewing, conditioning, denying, suspending, or revoking a notary public commission and assuring the trustworthiness of an individual holding a commission as notary public;

    (5) Include provisions to prevent fraud or mistake in the performance of notarial acts;

    (6) Establish the process for approving and accepting surety bonds and other forms of assurance under subsection (d), section twenty-one of this article;

    (7) Provide for the administration of the examination under subsection (a), section twenty-two of this article, and the course of study under subsection (b), section twenty-two of this article; and

    (8) Establish fees, with legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. Fees collected by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision shall be deposited by the Secretary of State as follows: One-half shall be deposited in the state general revenue fund and one-half shall be deposited in the service fees and collections account established by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code for the operation of the office of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall dedicate sufficient resources from that fund or other funds to provide the services required by the provisions of article four, chapter thirty-nine of this code.

    (b) In promulgating, amending, or repealing rules about notarial acts with respect to electronic records, the Secretary of State shall consider, so far as is consistent with this article:

    (1) The most recent standards regarding electronic records promulgated by national bodies, such as the National Association of Secretaries of State;

    (2) Standards, practices, and customs of other jurisdictions that substantially enact this article; and

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

§39-4-28. Notary public commission and commissioner appointment in effect.

    (a) A commission as a notary public in effect on June 30, 2015, continues until its date of expiration. A notary public who applies for a commission as a notary public on or after July 1, 2015, is subject to and shall comply with this article. A notary public, in performing notarial acts on or after July 1, 2015, shall comply with this article.

    (b) An appointment as commissioner under the repealed provisions of article four, chapter twenty-nine of this code, in effect on June 30, 2015, continues until its date of expiration. A commissioner, in performing notarial acts on or after July 1, 2015, shall comply with this article: Provided, That a person holding a commission pursuant to the provisions of article four, chapter twenty-nine of this code, on June 30, 2015, is not required to obtain or use a stamp required by section seventeen of this article, prior to the expiration of that commission.

§39-4-29. Savings clause.

    This article does not affect the validity or effect of a notarial act performed before July 1, 2015.

§39-4-30. Uniformity of application and construction.

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

§39-4-31. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

    This article modifies, limits, and supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in Section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7003(b).

§39-4-32. Maximum fees.

    (a) The maximum fee in this state for notarization of each signature and the proper recordation thereof in the journal of notarial acts is $5.00 for each signature notarized.

    (b) The maximum fee in this state for certification of a facsimile of a document, retaining a facsimile in the notary's file, and the proper recordation thereof in the journal of notarial acts is $5.00 for each eight and one-half by eleven inch page retained in the notary's file.

    (c) The maximum fee in this state is $5.00 for any other notarial act performed.

§39-4-33. Government notaries public.

    (a) State and local government employees may be commissioned as government notaries public to act for and in behalf of their respective state and local government offices.

    (b) A state or local government employee commissioned under this section shall meet the requirements for qualification and appointment prescribed in this article except that the head of the state or local government office where the applicant is employed, or his or her designee, shall execute a certificate that the application is made for the purposes of the office and in the public interest and submit it to the Secretary of State together with the application for appointment as a notary public. Applicants for commission as a notary public under this section are exempt from fulfilling the surety requirements of subsection (d), section twenty-one of this article.

    (c) The costs of application and all notary supplies for a commissioned state or local government employee shall be paid from funds available to the office in which he or she is employed.

    (d) All fees received for notarial services by a government notary public appointed for and in behalf of a state or local government office shall be remitted by him or her to the state or local government office in which he or she is employed.

    (e) A government notary public must comply with all provisions of this article in the performance of notarial acts.

    (f) A government notary public may acknowledge any document required to be acknowledged by a notary public; Provided, That a government notary public may not operate privately.

§39-4-34. Liability of notary and of an employer of notary.

    (a) A notary public is liable to the persons involved for all damages proximately caused by the notary's official misconduct.

    (b) The employer of a notary public is also liable to the persons involved for all damages proximately caused by the notary's official misconduct, if:

    (1) The notary public was acting within the scope of his or her employment at the time he or she engaged in the official misconduct; and

    (2) The employer consented to the notary public's official misconduct.

    (c) It is not essential to a recovery of damages that a notary’s official misconduct be the only proximate cause of the damages.

    (d) For the purposes of this section, the term "official misconduct" means any act or conduct that:

    (1) May result in the denial, refusal to renew, revocation, suspension or condition commission of a notary public pursuant to section twenty-three of this article; or

    (2) Is prohibited by section twenty-five of this article.

§39-4-35. Criminal penalties.

    (a) A notary public who knowingly and willfully commits any official misconduct is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or confined in jail not more than one year, or both fined and confined.

    (b) A notary public who recklessly or negligently commits any official misconduct is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

    (c) Any person who acts as, or otherwise willfully impersonates, a notary public while not lawfully appointed and commissioned to perform notarial acts is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or confined in jail not more than one year, or both fined and confined.

    (d) Any person who unlawfully possesses a notary's official seal or any papers or copies relating to notarial acts, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

    (e) For the purposes of this section, the term "official misconduct" means any act or conduct that:

    (1) May result in the denial, refusal to renew, revocation, suspension or condition commission of a notary public pursuant to section twenty-three of this article; or

    (2) Is prohibited by section twenty-five of this article.

§39-4-36. Action for injunction; unauthorized practice of law.

    Upon his or her own information or upon complaint of any person, the Attorney General, or his or her designee, may maintain an action for injunctive relief in circuit court against any notary public who renders, offers to render or holds himself or herself out as rendering any service constituting the unauthorized practice of the law. Any organized bar association in this state may intervene in the action, at any stage of the proceeding, for good cause shown. The action may also be maintained by an organized bar association in this state or by the Secretary of State.

§39-4-37. Administrative Complaints and Investigations.

    (a) In addition to the powers and duties contained in this article, the Secretary of State may:

    (1) Investigate, upon complaint or on his or her own initiative, any alleged violations or irregularities of this article.

    (2) Administer oaths and affirmations, issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses, issue subpoenas duces tecum to compel the production of books, papers, records and all other evidence necessary to any investigation.

    (3) Involve the aid of any circuit court in the execution of its subpoena power.

    (4) Report any alleged violations of this article to the appropriate prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction, which prosecuting attorney shall present to the grand jury the alleged violations, together with all evidence relating thereto, no later than the next term of court after receiving the report.

    (b) The Attorney General shall, when requested, provide legal and investigative assistance to the Secretary of State.

§39-4-38. Secretary of State record retention.

    (a) The provisions of subsection (c), section three, article two, chapter five of this code notwithstanding, the Secretary of State may destroy original records of appointment under this article after expiration of the term of a notary public: Provided, that the Secretary of State maintains an electronic copy of the appointment for a minimum of ten years after the expiration of the term of the notary public.

    (b) The Secretary of State may destroy any original journals of notarial acts in his or her possession; Provided, That an electronic copy is maintained in accordance with the retention rules of the Department of Administration.

CHAPTER 57. EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES.

    ARTICLE 4. DEPOSITIONS AND PERPETUATION OF TESTIMONY.

§57-4-2. Taking and certification of depositions -- Out of state and in foreign countries.

    On affidavit that a witness resides out of this state, or is out of it in the service thereof, or of the United States, or is out of this state and for justifiable reasons will probably be out of this state until after the trial of the case in which his or her testimony is needed, his or her deposition may be taken by or before any commissioner appointed by the Governor of this state, or any justice, notary public or other officer authorized to take depositions in the state wherein the witness may be, or, if the deposition is to be taken in a foreign country, by or before such commissioner or commissioners as may be agreed upon by the parties or appointed by the court, or, if there be none such, by or before any American minister, plenipotentiary, charge d'affaires, consul general, consul, vice consul, consular agent, vice deputy consular agent, commercial agent or vice commercial agent, appointed by the government of the United States, or by or before the mayor or other chief magistrate of any city, town or corporation in such the country or any notary public therein. Any person or persons taking such the deposition may administer an oath to the witness and take and certify the deposition with his or her official seal annexed, and if he or she have none, the genuineness of his or her signature shall be authenticated by some officer of the same state or country, under his or her official seal.

ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

§57-5-9. Administration of oaths or taking of affidavits;authentication of affidavit made in another state or country; oaths and affidavits of persons in military service.

    Any judge of this state may administer any oath that is or may be lawful for any person to take, including oaths of office, and also may swear any person to an affidavit, and administer an oath to any person in any proceeding.

    Any oath or affidavit required by law, which is not of such a nature that it must be made otherwise or elsewhere may, unless otherwise provided, be administered by, or made before, a county commissioner, notary public, or a commissioner appointed by the Governor, or by the clerk of any court, or, in case of a survey directed by a court in a case therein pending, by or before the surveyor directed to execute said order of survey.

    An affidavit may also be made before any officer of another state or country authorized by its laws to administer an oath, and shall be deemed duly authenticated if it be subscribed by such the officer, with his or her official seal annexed, and if he or she have none, the genuineness of his or her signature, and his or her authority to administer an oath, shall be authenticated by some officer of the same state or country under his or her official seal.

    Any oath or affidavit required of a person in the military service of the United States (including the Women's Army Corps, Women's Appointed Volunteers for Emergency Service, Army Nurse Corps, Spars, Women's Reserve, or similar women's auxiliary unit officially connected with such the military service of the United States), may be administered by or made before any commissioned officer of any branch of the military service of the United States, or any auxiliary unit officially connected with such the military service. Such oath may be taken or affidavit made at any place either within or outside the United States of America, or any territory, possession or dependency thereof. The jurat to such the oath and certificate to such the affidavit need not state the place where the same is taken and shall require no seal to be affixed thereto. The certificate of the officer before whom such the oath is taken or affidavit is made must state his or her rank, branch of military service, and identification number, and such the certificate may be substantially in form and effect as follows:

IN THE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES:

    I, ..............., being duly sworn on oath (affirmation), do swear (affirm) that I am a member of the military service of the United States (or of ..............., an auxiliary to the military forces of the United States); that ***, etc.

                ...............................

    Taken, subscribed and sworn to before me, ..............., a commissioned officer in the ............... service of the United States, by ..............., a member of the military service of the United States (or of ..............., an auxiliary to the military forces of the United States), this the .......... day of .........., 19 20......

               ..................................

               (Signature of officer)

    ...............................

               (Rank) (Identification Number)

    Any oath or affidavit heretofore taken or made by any person in the military service in substantial compliance with this section shall be valid.

CHAPTER 59. FEES, ALLOWANCES AND COSTS; NEWSPAPERS; LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS.

ARTICLE 1. FEES AND ALLOWANCES.

§59-1-2. Fees to be charged by Secretary of State.

    (a) Except as may be otherwise provided in this code, the Secretary of State shall charge for services rendered in his or her office the following fees to be paid by the person to whom the service is rendered at the time it is done:

    (1) For filing, recording, indexing, preserving a record of and issuing a certificate relating to the formation, amendment, change of name, registration of trade name, merger, consolidation, conversion, renewal, dissolution, termination, cancellation, withdrawal revocation and reinstatement of business entities organized within the state, as follows:

    (A) Articles of incorporation of for-profit

corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50.00

    (B) Articles of incorporation of nonprofit

corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (C) Articles of organization of limited liability

company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00

    (D) Agreement of a general partnership. . . . . . . . 50.00

    (E) Certificate of a limited partnership. . . . . . .100.00

    (F) Agreement of a voluntary association. . . . . . . 50.00

    (G) Articles of organization of a business trust. . . 50.00

    (H) Amendment or correction of articles of incorporation, including change of name or increase of capital stock, in addition to any applicable license tax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (I) Amendment or correction, including change of name, of articles of organization of business trust, limited liability partnership, limited liability company or professional limited liability company or of certificate of limited partnership or agreement of voluntary association. . . . . . . . . . . . .25.00

    (J) Amendment and restatement of articles of incorporation, certificate of limited partnership, agreement of voluntary association or articles of organization of limited liability partnership, limited liability company or professional limited liability company or business trust. . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (K) Registration of trade name, otherwise designated as a true name, fictitious name or D.B.A. (doing business as) name for any domestic business entity as permitted by law. . . . . . . .25.00

    (L) Articles of merger of two corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies or professional limited liability companies, voluntary associations or business trusts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (M) Plus for each additional party to the merger in excess of two. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.00

    (N) Statement of conversion, when permitted, from one business entity into another business entity, in addition to the cost of filing the appropriate documents to organize the surviving entity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25.00

    (O) Articles of dissolution of a corporation, voluntary association or business trust, or statement of dissolution of a general partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (P) Revocation of voluntary dissolution of a corporation, voluntary association or business trust. . . . . . . . . . 15.00

    (Q) Articles of termination of a limited liability company, cancellation of a limited partnership or statement of withdrawal of limited liability partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (R) Reinstatement of a limited liability company or professional limited liability company after administrative dissolution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (2) For filing, recording, indexing, preserving a record of and issuing a certificate relating to the registration, amendment, change of name, merger, consolidation, conversion, renewal, withdrawal or termination within this state of business entities organized in other states or countries, as follows:

    (A) Certificate of authority of for-profit corporation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100.00

    (B) Certificate of authority of nonprofit corporation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00

    (C) Certificate of authority of foreign limited liability companies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150.00

    (D) Certificate of exemption from certificate of

 authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (E) Registration of a general partnership. . . . . . .50.00

    (F) Registration of a limited partnership. . . . . .150.00

    (G) Registration of a limited liability partnership for two-year term. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500.00

    (H) Registration of a voluntary association. . . . . 50.00

    (I) Registration of a trust or business trust. . . . .50.00

    (J) Amendment or correction of certificate of authority of a foreign corporation, including change of name or increase of capital stock, in addition to any applicable license tax. .25.00

    (K) Amendment or correction of certificate of limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company or professional limited liability company, voluntary association or business trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (L) Registration of trade name, otherwise designated as a true name, fictitious name or D.B.A. (doing business as) name for any foreign business entity as permitted by law. . . . . . . . 25.00

    (M) Amendment and restatement of certificate of authority or of registration of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company or professional limited liability company, voluntary association or business trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25.00

    (N) Articles of merger of two corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies or professional limited liability companies, voluntary associations or business trusts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (O) Plus for each additional party to the merger in excess

of two. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

    (P) Statement of conversion, when permitted, from one business entity into another business entity, in addition to the cost of filing the appropriate articles or certificate to organize the surviving entity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25.00

    (Q) Certificate of withdrawal or cancellation of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, voluntary association or business trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25.00

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand eight, the fees described in this subdivision that are collected for the issuance of a certificate relating to the initial registration of a corporation, limited partnership, domestic limited liability company or foreign limited liability company shall be deposited in the general administrative fees account established by this section.

    (3) For receiving, filing and recording a change of the principal or designated office, change of the agent of process and/or change of officers, directors, partners, members or managers, as the case may be, of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company or other business entity as provided by law. . . .$15.00

    (4) For receiving, filing and preserving a reservation of a name for each one hundred twenty days or for any other period in excess of seven days prescribed by law for a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or limited liability company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15.00

    (5) For issuing a certificate relating to a corporation or other business entity, as follows:

    (A) Certificate of good standing of a domestic or foreign corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00

    (B) Certificate of existence of a domestic limited liability company, and certificate of authorization foreign limited liability company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.00

    (C) Certificate of existence of any business entity, trademark or service mark registered with the Secretary of State . . 10.00

    (D) Certified copy of corporate charter or comparable organizing documents for other business entities. . . . . 15.00

    (E) Plus, for each additional amendment, restatement or other additional document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

    (F) Certificate of registration of the name of a foreign corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (G) And for the annual renewal of the name registration

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.00

    (H) Any other certificate not specified in this subdivision

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.00

    (6) For issuing a certificate other than those relating to business entities, as provided in this subsection, as follows:

    (A) Certificate or apostille relating to the authority of certain public officers, including the membership of boards and commissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00

    (B) Plus, for each additional certificate pertaining to the same transaction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

    (C) Any other certificate not specified in this

subdivision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.00

    (D) For acceptance, indexing and recordation of service of process any corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, voluntary association, business trust, insurance company, person or other entity as permitted by law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15.00

    (E) For shipping and handling expenses for execution of service of process by certified mail upon any defendant within the United States, which fee is to be deposited to the special revenue account established in this section for the operation of the office of the Secretary of State.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

    (F) For shipping and handling expenses for execution of service of process upon any defendant outside the United States by registered mail, which fee is to be deposited to the special revenue account established in this section for the operation of the office of the Secretary of State.. . . . . . . . . . .15.00

    (7) For a search of records of the office conducted by employees of or at the expense of the Secretary of State upon request, as follows:

    (A) For any search of archival records maintained at sites other than the office of the Secretary of State

no less than. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00

    (B) For searches of archival records maintained at sites other than the office of the Secretary of State which require more than one hour, for each hour or fraction of an hour consumed in making such a search. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.00

    (C) For any search of records maintained on site for the purpose of obtaining copies of documents or printouts of data

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

    (D) For any search of records maintained in electronic format which requires special programming to be performed by the state information services agency or other vendor any actual cost, but not less than. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00

    (E) The cost of the search is in addition to the cost of any copies or printouts prepared or any certificate issued pursuant to or based on the search.

    (F) For recording any paper for which no specific fee is prescribed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

    (8) For producing and providing photocopies or printouts of electronic data of specific records upon request, as follows:

    (A) For a copy of any paper or printout of electronic data, if one sheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.00

    (B) For each sheet after the first . . . . . . . . . . .50

    (C) For sending the copies or lists by fax

transmission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

    (D) For producing and providing photocopies of lists, reports, guidelines and other documents produced in multiple copies for general public use, a publication price to be established by the Secretary of State at a rate approximating 2.00 plus .10 per page and rounded to the nearest dollar.

    (E) For electronic copies of records obtained in data format on disk, the cost of the record in the least expensive available printed format, plus, for each required disk, which shall be provided by the Secretary of State. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00

    (b) The Secretary of State may propose legislative rules for promulgation for charges for on-line electronic access to database information or other information maintained by the Secretary of State.

    (c) For any other work or service not enumerated in this subsection, the fee prescribed elsewhere in this code or a rule promulgated under the authority of this code.

    (d) The records maintained by the Secretary of State are prepared and indexed at the expense of the state and those records shall not be obtained for commercial resale without the written agreement of the state to a contract including reimbursement to the state for each instance of resale.

    (e) The Secretary of State may provide printed or electronic information free of charge as he or she considers necessary and efficient for the purpose of informing the general public or the news media.

    (f) There is hereby continued in the State Treasury a special revenue account to be known as the "service fees and collections" account. Expenditures from the account shall be used for the operation of the office of the Secretary of State and are not authorized from collections, but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter five-a of this code. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, except as provided in subsection (h) of this section and section two-a of this article, one half of all the fees and service charges established in the following sections and for the following purposes shall be deposited by the Secretary of State or other collecting agency to that special revenue account and used for the operation of the office of the Secretary of State:

    (1) The annual attorney-in-fact fee for corporations and limited partnerships established in section five, article twelve-c, chapter eleven of this code;

    (2) The fees received for the sale of the State Register, code of state rules and other copies established by rule and authorized by section seven, article two, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code;

    (3) The registration fees, late fees and legal settlements charged for registration and enforcement of the charitable organizations and professional solicitations established in sections five, nine and fifteen-b, article nineteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

    (4) The annual attorney-in-fact fee for limited liability companies as designated in section one hundred eight, article one, chapter thirty-one-b of this code and established in section two hundred eleven, article two of said chapter: Provided, That after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand eight, the annual report fees designated in section one hundred eight, article one, chapter thirty-one-b of this code shall upon collection be deposited in the general administrative fees account described in subsection (h) of this section;

    (5) The filing fees and search and copying fees for uniform commercial code transactions established by section five hundred twenty-five, article nine, chapter forty-six of this code;

    (6) The annual attorney-in-fact fee for licensed insurers established in section twelve, article four, chapter thirty-three of this code;

    (7) The fees for the application and record maintenance of all notaries public established by section one hundred seven, article one, chapter twenty-nine-c section twenty-one, article four, chapter thirty-nine of this code.

    (8) The fees for the application and record maintenance of commissioners for West Virginia as established by section twelve, article four, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

    (9) (8) The fees for registering credit service organizations as established by section five, article six-c, chapter forty-six-a of this code;

    (10) (9) The fees for registering and renewing a West Virginia limited liability partnership as established by section one, article ten, chapter forty-seven-b of this code;

    (11) (10) The filing fees for the registration and renewal of trademarks and service marks established in section seventeen, article two, chapter forty-seven of this code;

    (12) (11) All fees for services, the sale of photocopies and data maintained at the expense of the Secretary of State as provided in this section; and

    (13) (12) All registration, license and other fees collected by the Secretary of State not specified in this section.

    (g) Any balance in the service fees and collections account established by this section which exceeds five hundred thousand dollars as of the thirtieth day of June, two thousand three, and each year thereafter, shall be expired to the state fund, General Revenue Fund.

    (h)(1) Effective the first day of July, two thousand eight, there is hereby created in the State Treasury a special revenue account to be known as the general administrative fees account. Expenditures from the account shall be used for the operation of the office of the Secretary of State and are not authorized from collections, but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter eleven-b of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal year ending the thirtieth day of June, two thousand nine, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to an appropriation by the Legislature. Any balance in the account at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the General Revenue Fund but shall remain in the fund and be expended as provided by this subsection.

    (2) After the thirtieth day of June, two thousand eight, all the fees and service charges established in section two-a of this article for the following purposes shall be collected and deposited by the Secretary of State or other collecting agency in the general administrative fees account and used for the operation of the office of the Secretary of State:

    (A) The annual report fees paid to the Secretary of State by corporations, limited partnerships, domestic limited liability companies and foreign limited liability companies;

    (B) The fees for the issuance of a certificate relating to the initial registration of a corporation, limited partnership, domestic limited liability company or foreign limited liability company described in subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section; and

    (C) The fees for the purchase of date and updates related to the State's Business Organizations Database described in section two-a of this article.

    (i) There is continued in the office of the Secretary of State a noninterest-bearing, escrow account to be known as the "prepaid fees and services account". This account shall be for the purpose of allowing customers of the Secretary of State to prepay for services, with payment to be held in escrow until services are rendered. Payments deposited in the account shall remain in the account until services are rendered by the Secretary of State and at that time the fees will be reallocated to the appropriate general or special revenue accounts. There shall be no fee charged by the secretary of state to the customer for the use of this account and the customer may request the return of any moneys maintained in the account at any time without penalty. The assets of the prepaid fees and services account do not constitute public funds of the state and are available solely for carrying out the purposes of this section.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to adopt the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (Uniform Law Commission, 2010) to replace both the current Uniform Notary Act (1984) and the Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act (1971). The bill was recommended for introduction and passage during the Regular Session of the Legislature by the Commission on Interstate Cooperation.


    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.


    All remaining provisions of §29-4 are repealed. The provisions of §29C-1-1, et seq. and §39-1A-1, et seq., are repealed.



    Article 4 of chapter 39 is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.

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