What statute governs Oklahoma acknowledgment forms?

Title 49, Section 119 of the Oklahoma Statutes sets the short form certificates of notarial acts, including the individual acknowledgment.

What happens if an Oklahoma notary changes their name?

A mid-term name change costs twenty-five dollars, sets a new expiration date, and requires both a new seal and a new bond filed with the court clerk.

Can a non-resident be an Oklahoma notary?

Yes. An applicant must be eighteen or older and a United States citizen, and either employed within Oklahoma or a legal resident of the state.

Oklahoma Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form, Wording & Seal Rules

This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects Title 49 of the Oklahoma Statutes, sections 5 and 119, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the Oklahoma Secretary of State before relying on it.

Quick answer: An Oklahoma acknowledgment certifies that a named person appeared and acknowledged signing an instrument. The short form in Title 49, Section 119 reads "This instrument was acknowledged before me on (date) by (name)." The venue names the state and county. Oklahoma splits the details in an unusual way: the seal carries only the state, the words Notary Public, and your name, while the commission number sits beside your signature.

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Fillable Oklahoma acknowledgment certificate

Enter the details, including the commission number Oklahoma requires next to the signature, and the certificate updates live with the statutory wording. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity.

What is the exact Oklahoma acknowledgment wording?

Oklahoma's individual short form under Title 49, Section 119 uses "instrument," followed by the signature block with the commission number and expiration date.

State of Oklahoma
County of ______

This instrument was acknowledged before me on ______ (date) by ____________ (name(s) of person(s)).

___________________________________
(Signature of notarial officer)
(Seal, if any)
Title (and Rank): ______
Commission number: ______
My commission expires: ______

What does an Oklahoma notary seal contain?

An Oklahoma notary seal contains only the words "State of Oklahoma" and "Notary Public" along with the notary's name, and nothing more. The commission number and the expiration date are not part of the seal; Section 5 requires the notary to add them to the official signature instead. That split trips up notaries who order a stamp with everything crammed in, or who assume the stamp alone completes the certificate. The seal may be a metal embosser or a rubber stamp used with an ink pad, and every official act must be authenticated with it.

Where does the commission number go on an Oklahoma certificate?

The commission number goes with the notary's official signature, not inside the seal impression. Section 5 states that the notary adds the commission number and the date the commission expires to the official signature on each act. In practice that means writing or stamping both lines beneath the signature, next to the seal impression. A certificate carrying a clean seal but no commission number is incomplete under Oklahoma law, and a recorder can question it, so check both elements before releasing the document.

Element	Where it belongs
State of Oklahoma, Notary Public, name	On the seal
Commission number	With the official signature
Commission expiration date	With the official signature
Venue, date, signer's name	In the certificate wording

What happens if an Oklahoma notary moves or changes their name?

Moving between Oklahoma counties requires written notice to the Secretary of State within thirty days, but no new bond and no new seal, since an Oklahoma commission is statewide. A name change during the term is treated far more seriously: it costs twenty-five dollars, a new commission expiration date is set, and the notary must buy a new seal and obtain a new bond for filing with the court clerk. Notaries who marry or divorce mid-term often overlook the new bond, which leaves them acting on a commission that no longer matches their filings.

Who appoints notaries in Oklahoma?

The Secretary of State appoints and commissions Oklahoma notaries for a four-year term, and every commission runs in the name of the State of Oklahoma under the Great Seal. An applicant must be at least eighteen, a United States citizen, and either employed within Oklahoma or a legal resident, which lets people who work in the state but live elsewhere qualify. A new application costs twenty-five dollars and a renewal twenty dollars, plus ten dollars payable when the bond is filed. A felony conviction is grounds for removal from the office.

Oklahoma acknowledgment: frequently asked questions

What statute governs Oklahoma acknowledgment forms?: Title 49, Section 119 of the Oklahoma Statutes sets the short form certificates of notarial acts, including the individual acknowledgment.
What does an Oklahoma notary seal contain?: Only the words "State of Oklahoma" and "Notary Public" plus the notary's name. The commission number and expiration date go beside the signature.
Does an Oklahoma notary need a new seal after moving counties?: No. Moving between counties requires written notice to the Secretary of State within thirty days, but no new bond and no new seal.
What happens if an Oklahoma notary changes their name?: A mid-term name change costs twenty-five dollars, sets a new expiration date, and requires both a new seal and a new bond filed with the court clerk.
Can a non-resident be an Oklahoma notary?: Yes. An applicant must be eighteen or older and a United States citizen, and either employed within Oklahoma or a legal resident of the state.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Oklahoma Statutes Title 49, sections 1, 5, 11 and 119 (Oklahoma State Senate); the Oklahoma Secretary of State Notary Public Guide. Confirm current wording before relying on it.