ORS 194.340: Grounds to deny, revoke, suspend or condition commission of notary public.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
(1) The Secretary of State may deny, revoke, suspend or impose a condition on a commission as a notary public for: (a) Failure of the applicant or notary public to comply with any provision of this chapter, any rule adopted by the Secretary of State under this chapter or any other state or federal law relating to any duty required of a notary public; (b) A fraudulent, dishonest or deceitful misstatement or omission in the application for a commission as a notary public submitted to the secretary; (c) A conviction of the applicant or notary public for any felony or for a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit; (d) A conviction of the applicant or notary public for: (A) Acting as or otherwise impersonating a notary public as described in ORS 194.990 (1)(b); (B) Obstructing governmental or judicial administration under ORS 162.235 (1)(b); or (C) Engaging in the unlawful practice of law as described in ORS 9.160; (e) A finding by a court that the applicant or notary public: (A) Practiced law without a license in a suit under ORS 9.166; or (B) Engaged in an unlawful trade practice described in ORS 646.608 (1)(uuu); (f) Entering into an assurance of voluntary compliance, pursuant to ORS 646.632, based on an alleged violation of ORS 646.608 (1)(uuu); (g) 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; (h) Use of false or misleading advertising or representation by the notary public representing that the notary public has powers, qualifications, rights or privileges that the notary public does not have, including the power to counsel on immigration matters; (i) Denial, revocation, suspension or conditioning of a commission as a notary public in another state; or (j) Execution of any certificate as a notary public containing a statement known to the notary public to be false. (2) If the Secretary of State denies, revokes, suspends or imposes a condition on a commission as a notary public, opportunity for hearing shall be accorded as provided in ORS chapter 183 for a contested case. (3) The authority of the Secretary of State to deny, revoke, suspend or impose a condition on a commission as a notary public does not prevent a person from seeking and obtaining other criminal or civil remedies provided by law. [2013 c.219 §22; 2016 c.47 §4; 2023 c.410 §8]
Administrative rules citing this section
This rule cites
- ORS 194.990 — resolved
- ORS 162.235 — resolved
- ORS 9.160 — resolved
- ORS 9.166 — resolved
- ORS 646.608 — resolved
- ORS 646.632 — resolved
- ORS chapter 183 — target_record_not_published
Cited by
- ORS 194.315: Commission as notary public; qualifications; no immunity or benefit.
- ORS 194.980: Civil penalties; factors; notice; hearing; rules.
- OAR 160-100-0000: Definitions
- OAR 160-100-0510: Conviction of a Lesser Offense Incompatible with the Duties of a Notary Public
- OAR 160-100-0610: Conduct Which Constitutes Official Misconduct
- OAR 160-100-0620: Appeal Process
Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors194.html